So looking for some inspiration for a Arcane focus for descriptive use to flavour a new character.
I will be joining a campaign tomorrow as a new player the campaign has been going for 6 months so they are all comfortable in their game and I want to jump in with a good detailed character.
So will be a human male, divine soul sorcerer, level 4 , Archaeologist searching for a cure for a illness that killed his wife the gods couldn't or refused to cure.
comes from a very rich family but now he is a bit of a broody dude with a Drug addiction he started after being homeless and a wanderer once his wife passed away.
This isn't really something we can answer for you. The type of arcane focus can be something thematic for the character or it could be a story point or it could be entirely irrelevant.
For me, with permission from my DMs, I always just go with "crystal" and go by the rule that the character doesn't need to handle the focus just needs to have it on them or has a leather wristwrap with the crystal on the underside. I still follow the ruling the character needs a hand free for the somatic component. This doesn't change the mechanic in any way whatsoever but it makes it easier to RP for me because I indescribably and utterly detest the material component system. The whole visual of the mage juggling items around to cast a spell seems ridiculous to me. I understand the balance mechanic (take away the focus/pouch/component and the spells they can cast become limited) but I hate it so this homebrew rule lets me fulfil the silly requirement without actually having to RP the silly wand-waving/whatever. Even Matt Mercer from Critical Role follows this homebrew rule - you find that he never describes enemy spellcasters fussing with components and reveals the wands/foci on the spellcaster's person like wands in a pocket or Gilmore using a ring.
If your DM allows Eberron content take a look at the way that setting uses arcane focuses especially "dragonshard". You just a GP value of dragonshard dust and this dust replaces any material component even if it has a cost up to the value of dust you have. You can just have your character carry a small jar of this and can largely forget about the material components for spells.
However, if you feel this is an important part of your character then determining which one to use is going to be up to you to decide which one you think is best. Perhaps your character is the kind to roll one or more glass orbs like Jerith from Labyrinth (I may be misspelling his name - David Bowie's character) or wave wands like Harry Potter or perhaps it is a crystal on a necklace he got from his adoring wife or such. Basically, only you, who knows this character's thoughts, can determine what arcane focus to use.
I doubt this helps much but its the best I can offer you.
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So looking for some inspiration for a Arcane focus for descriptive use to flavour a new character.
I will be joining a campaign tomorrow as a new player the campaign has been going for 6 months so they are all comfortable in their game and I want to jump in with a good detailed character.
So will be a human male, divine soul sorcerer, level 4 , Archaeologist searching for a cure for a illness that killed his wife the gods couldn't or refused to cure.
comes from a very rich family but now he is a bit of a broody dude with a Drug addiction he started after being homeless and a wanderer once his wife passed away.
thanks in advance
This isn't really something we can answer for you. The type of arcane focus can be something thematic for the character or it could be a story point or it could be entirely irrelevant.
For me, with permission from my DMs, I always just go with "crystal" and go by the rule that the character doesn't need to handle the focus just needs to have it on them or has a leather wristwrap with the crystal on the underside. I still follow the ruling the character needs a hand free for the somatic component. This doesn't change the mechanic in any way whatsoever but it makes it easier to RP for me because I indescribably and utterly detest the material component system. The whole visual of the mage juggling items around to cast a spell seems ridiculous to me. I understand the balance mechanic (take away the focus/pouch/component and the spells they can cast become limited) but I hate it so this homebrew rule lets me fulfil the silly requirement without actually having to RP the silly wand-waving/whatever. Even Matt Mercer from Critical Role follows this homebrew rule - you find that he never describes enemy spellcasters fussing with components and reveals the wands/foci on the spellcaster's person like wands in a pocket or Gilmore using a ring.
If your DM allows Eberron content take a look at the way that setting uses arcane focuses especially "dragonshard". You just a GP value of dragonshard dust and this dust replaces any material component even if it has a cost up to the value of dust you have. You can just have your character carry a small jar of this and can largely forget about the material components for spells.
However, if you feel this is an important part of your character then determining which one to use is going to be up to you to decide which one you think is best. Perhaps your character is the kind to roll one or more glass orbs like Jerith from Labyrinth (I may be misspelling his name - David Bowie's character) or wave wands like Harry Potter or perhaps it is a crystal on a necklace he got from his adoring wife or such. Basically, only you, who knows this character's thoughts, can determine what arcane focus to use.
I doubt this helps much but its the best I can offer you.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.