While that may have been the intent, the reality is that a lot of meta-magic isn't as gamebreakingly powerful as it needs to be for it to come out like that. Aside from Twinned and quickened far too much of it is too costly, too situational, or not strong enough to even remotely justify how limited the spell list is. Even twinned and quickened aren't AS strong as some people like to think. They definitely get their moments to shine, but are, in no way, capable of making up the gap. Something like transmuted is just not relevant most of the time, by comparison. Sure, if you end up dealing with a load of fire elementals being able to fireball using frost as an element is nice, but that's a rare situation.
As a DM, for Sorcerers, I would allow Self Focus (?) as a meta-magic ability, thus eliminating the use of other meta-magic because only one meta-magic can be applied to a spell. You can make a variation of this 'rule' for other classes using Self Focus by disallowing any other spell 'enhancement' when using Self Focus as the Arcane Focus. This allows the spell caster to use an Arcane Focus normally, while allowing Self Focus in 'emergency' situations with the heavier restriction.
With Self Focus/Arcane Focus, remember that "if a COST is indicated for a (material) component, a character must have that specific component before he or she can cast the spell," meaning that neither Arcane Focus nor Self Focus may be used with that spell. The same goes should the material component be consumed; can't use Arcane Focus, thus can't use Self Focus.
Using the above, the caster (especially a Sorcerer) is able to use the 'innate' magic of their being without an external focus, but is able to do more with their meta-magic when using an Arcane Focus or the proscribed material component.
There isn’t even any special benefit of using a focus over a component pouch other than flavor. I would give the guys borrowing wizard spells arcane focus as an option.
The rules on components are strange. Why when a paladin casts a v/s/m spell they can use their shield with a holy symbol to cast, but not for a v/s spell?
There is one difference, there is no +1 component pouch. But there are +1, +2, +3 arcane focus.
While that may not tip the balance of anything, it can change things up a bit.
As a DM, for Sorcerers, I would allow Self Focus (?) as a meta-magic ability, thus eliminating the use of other meta-magic because only one meta-magic can be applied to a spell. You can make a variation of this 'rule' for other classes using Self Focus by disallowing any other spell 'enhancement' when using Self Focus as the Arcane Focus. This allows the spell caster to use an Arcane Focus normally, while allowing Self Focus in 'emergency' situations with the heavier restriction.
My issue with this is that Sorcs don't get many Metamagics in the first place. Having Self-as-component be an independent Meta-Magic that takes up a slot for a more generally useful Meta-Magic is a very steep opportunity cost.
While I'm not against tying the Self-as-component ability to Subtle MM per se, I also don't think that's the intention of the poster. There is no reason that a "Magic is in my blood!"-themed spellcaster should have to pick the Subtle MM. I think its more thematically appropriate if all Sorcercers get it at level 5 or 6. That way, people won't dip Sorc for cheap hands-free casting while it also demonstrates that the character has gone through a period of self-training as a Sorcerer before being able to channel themselves as the focus.
I would think that the Paladin's shield is used as an Arcane Focus (Divine Focus?) which is only used as a replacement for material components that have No Cost and are Not Consumed. An arcane focus for wizards, sorcerers, etcetera, does not replace somatic gestures nor verbal components, thus preventing a Paladin from replacing V or S keeps the game in balance.
I would think that the Paladin's shield is used as an Arcane Focus (Divine Focus?) which is only used as a replacement for material components that have No Cost and are Not Consumed. An arcane focus for wizards, sorcerers, etcetera, does not replace somatic gestures nor verbal components, thus preventing a Paladin from replacing V or S keeps the game in balance.
The shield allows you to perform somatic components, but only if the spell has a material component. It’s a stupid rule that almost always gets ignored for justifiable reasons.
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I fairly like this approach—having Self-Focus as a learned ability at level 6, possibly as a Sorcerous Origin feature, instead of as a meta-magic. After all, the sorcerer learned how to use an Arcane Focus through magic-awareness/self-awareness. Why not have a 'practiced' sorcerer learn to use Self-Focus at mid-range level. Of course the flip side, having Self Focus as part of the Subtle Spell meta magic at 3rd level is also a possibility, but then you can always hold the focus in your hand inside a pocket or pouch or cloaked in some other way, to hid its use.
Then again, I've had DMs insist that something 'strange' happens to the Arcane Focus when used in the stead of a material component or component pouch such as a crystal glows brightly, a metal rod shapes itself into a circle, a wand writhes like a snake, or the polished stone must be held to the forehead—definitely adds flavor to the game.
But why? If you use 'Subtle Spell' while using your Arcane Focus, just hold the arcane focus in your hand and stuff your hand into a pocket, pouch, inside your cloak, under a table or somewhere else out of sight (I can already hear the suggestions for that one). Now you need not speak, need not gesture, and need not use a spell component nor dig around in a spell pouch! Thus no V, S nor M to the spell!
Without the Arcane Focus or access to the material component, a nasty DM (as I've been known to be) could say the power of the spell causes the Sorcerer to lose the tip of their finger (taking damage), or endure a migraine (preventing concentration for a number of turns, minutes or hours!), or force a negative on Wisdom saves (for being so stupid?) or possibly Constitution saves (using yourself as the focus weakens the body's immune system?) until after a long rest, or possibly something less or worse. Or the DM could have the person roll on the Wild Surge table or the table for Wand of Wonder.
Considering all the possible nastiness, USING a physical Arcane Focus is a small price to pay as a replacement for material components, even considering the rare event of having it taken away or destroyed.
One very limiting factor I've noticed about Arcane Focus items is that the smallest item (the crystal) is 1 pound in weight. That is a heavy crystal!
Another rule mentioned is that the Arcane Focus must be held, not worn, though it can be held in the same hand used for somatic gestures. Thus a finger or toe ring might be too small to comply with the guidelines, but a circlet (a type of crown) torc held in the hand might be approved by your DM.
Again, however, it is up to your DM/GM as to what will be allowed.
My point being is that the player is attempting to bypass the rule for the unlikely scenario that their sorcerer might be disarmed, instead of playing the character taking precautions not to be disarmed while playing within the rules! One of the best things about being a sorcerer is that the character doesn't have to appear to be a sorcerer (can appear to be a traveling merchant or noble or a regular townsfolk visiting a city or vice versa), yet still retain their spell casting abilities with a hidden arcane focus instead of having an exposed materials pouch, or robe of pockets, or something more obvious. The DM could easily allow smaller focus items (thumb-sized crystals much less than a pound weight, or a ring or some such) or allow the focus to be worn, not held, [REDACTED]. Seems to me the player is just trying to make their sorcerer character more powerful than it already is, which would put the game out of balance; especially when considering the meta-magics included in Tashas Cauldron.
There are so many more interesting ways to rightly play a sorcerer character with an arcane focus than allowing a feature that every other spell caster will want. Then again, if that's the way you want to play it, then why not just say an arcane focus is unnecessary and the materials not needed when the component would not be destroyed and the cost is zero, and apply it to all spell casters?
Still, all the above is just my opinion, [REDACTED]
While that may have been the intent, the reality is that a lot of meta-magic isn't as gamebreakingly powerful as it needs to be for it to come out like that. Aside from Twinned and quickened far too much of it is too costly, too situational, or not strong enough to even remotely justify how limited the spell list is. Even twinned and quickened aren't AS strong as some people like to think. They definitely get their moments to shine, but are, in no way, capable of making up the gap. Something like transmuted is just not relevant most of the time, by comparison. Sure, if you end up dealing with a load of fire elementals being able to fireball using frost as an element is nice, but that's a rare situation.
As a DM, for Sorcerers, I would allow Self Focus (?) as a meta-magic ability, thus eliminating the use of other meta-magic because only one meta-magic can be applied to a spell. You can make a variation of this 'rule' for other classes using Self Focus by disallowing any other spell 'enhancement' when using Self Focus as the Arcane Focus. This allows the spell caster to use an Arcane Focus normally, while allowing Self Focus in 'emergency' situations with the heavier restriction.
With Self Focus/Arcane Focus, remember that "if a COST is indicated for a (material) component, a character must have that specific component before he or she can cast the spell," meaning that neither Arcane Focus nor Self Focus may be used with that spell. The same goes should the material component be consumed; can't use Arcane Focus, thus can't use Self Focus.
Using the above, the caster (especially a Sorcerer) is able to use the 'innate' magic of their being without an external focus, but is able to do more with their meta-magic when using an Arcane Focus or the proscribed material component.
There is one difference, there is no +1 component pouch. But there are +1, +2, +3 arcane focus.
While that may not tip the balance of anything, it can change things up a bit.
My issue with this is that Sorcs don't get many Metamagics in the first place. Having Self-as-component be an independent Meta-Magic that takes up a slot for a more generally useful Meta-Magic is a very steep opportunity cost.
While I'm not against tying the Self-as-component ability to Subtle MM per se, I also don't think that's the intention of the poster. There is no reason that a "Magic is in my blood!"-themed spellcaster should have to pick the Subtle MM. I think its more thematically appropriate if all Sorcercers get it at level 5 or 6. That way, people won't dip Sorc for cheap hands-free casting while it also demonstrates that the character has gone through a period of self-training as a Sorcerer before being able to channel themselves as the focus.
I would think that the Paladin's shield is used as an Arcane Focus (Divine Focus?) which is only used as a replacement for material components that have No Cost and are Not Consumed. An arcane focus for wizards, sorcerers, etcetera, does not replace somatic gestures nor verbal components, thus preventing a Paladin from replacing V or S keeps the game in balance.
The shield allows you to perform somatic components, but only if the spell has a material component. It’s a stupid rule that almost always gets ignored for justifiable reasons.
Royalty among the charge kingdom. All will fall before our glorious assault!
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I fairly like this approach—having Self-Focus as a learned ability at level 6, possibly as a Sorcerous Origin feature, instead of as a meta-magic. After all, the sorcerer learned how to use an Arcane Focus through magic-awareness/self-awareness. Why not have a 'practiced' sorcerer learn to use Self-Focus at mid-range level. Of course the flip side, having Self Focus as part of the Subtle Spell meta magic at 3rd level is also a possibility, but then you can always hold the focus in your hand inside a pocket or pouch or cloaked in some other way, to hid its use.
Then again, I've had DMs insist that something 'strange' happens to the Arcane Focus when used in the stead of a material component or component pouch such as a crystal glows brightly, a metal rod shapes itself into a circle, a wand writhes like a snake, or the polished stone must be held to the forehead—definitely adds flavor to the game.
I mean, the special effect happening is cool. Xanathar’s might have some ideas on what happens if a sorcerer is the focus for their own spell
Royalty among the charge kingdom. All will fall before our glorious assault!
Quest offer! Enter the deep dungeon here
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"add it to the Subtle Spell Metamagic."
But why? If you use 'Subtle Spell' while using your Arcane Focus, just hold the arcane focus in your hand and stuff your hand into a pocket, pouch, inside your cloak, under a table or somewhere else out of sight (I can already hear the suggestions for that one). Now you need not speak, need not gesture, and need not use a spell component nor dig around in a spell pouch! Thus no V, S nor M to the spell!
Without the Arcane Focus or access to the material component, a nasty DM (as I've been known to be) could say the power of the spell causes the Sorcerer to lose the tip of their finger (taking damage), or endure a migraine (preventing concentration for a number of turns, minutes or hours!), or force a negative on Wisdom saves (for being so stupid?) or possibly Constitution saves (using yourself as the focus weakens the body's immune system?) until after a long rest, or possibly something less or worse. Or the DM could have the person roll on the Wild Surge table or the table for Wand of Wonder.
Considering all the possible nastiness, USING a physical Arcane Focus is a small price to pay as a replacement for material components, even considering the rare event of having it taken away or destroyed.
So what about a ring as a spell casting focus?
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One very limiting factor I've noticed about Arcane Focus items is that the smallest item (the crystal) is 1 pound in weight. That is a heavy crystal!
Another rule mentioned is that the Arcane Focus must be held, not worn, though it can be held in the same hand used for somatic gestures. Thus a finger or toe ring might be too small to comply with the guidelines, but a circlet (a type of crown) torc held in the hand might be approved by your DM.
Again, however, it is up to your DM/GM as to what will be allowed.
My point being is that the player is attempting to bypass the rule for the unlikely scenario that their sorcerer might be disarmed, instead of playing the character taking precautions not to be disarmed while playing within the rules! One of the best things about being a sorcerer is that the character doesn't have to appear to be a sorcerer (can appear to be a traveling merchant or noble or a regular townsfolk visiting a city or vice versa), yet still retain their spell casting abilities with a hidden arcane focus instead of having an exposed materials pouch, or robe of pockets, or something more obvious. The DM could easily allow smaller focus items (thumb-sized crystals much less than a pound weight, or a ring or some such) or allow the focus to be worn, not held, [REDACTED]. Seems to me the player is just trying to make their sorcerer character more powerful than it already is, which would put the game out of balance; especially when considering the meta-magics included in Tashas Cauldron.
There are so many more interesting ways to rightly play a sorcerer character with an arcane focus than allowing a feature that every other spell caster will want. Then again, if that's the way you want to play it, then why not just say an arcane focus is unnecessary and the materials not needed when the component would not be destroyed and the cost is zero, and apply it to all spell casters?
Still, all the above is just my opinion, [REDACTED]