Looking for some additional clarification in spell casting. The PHB discusses a component pouch or Spellcasting Focus. If the wizard decides to utilize a spellcasting focus item, does that negate the need for the components needed to cast a specific spell? If the wizard losses its spellcasting focus item or the component when required, does that prevent them from casting the spell if the spell is a cantrip?
Also when casting a cantrip that requires a component, can they cast the spell without the component needed and/or spellcasting focus object? I am assuming not, but we are having a slightly heated debate at the table that a wizard can not lose the ability to cast cantrip if their spellbook is lost or taken so I am assuming that also applies to the spellcasting focus item which should affect the ability to cast a spell.
Losing a spellbook is completely different to not having a component or focus. Without a spellbook the wizard cam continue to cast the spells memorised but cannot commit any more to memory. A focus is used in place of a component valued at 1gp or less such as bat guano or rose petals. Only spells that have a material component require one. So if the wizard loses access to components or their focus then they can only cast spells that don’t have a material component. That’s the m part of the v, s, m.
Ok, so the loss of the focus or component pouch, will effect their ability to cast a spell as long as the spell requires a component even if it is a cantrip as long as the cantrip has a Component aspect to it. Level 1 or higher spells have to be committed to memory and once cast, they can not re-commit it to memory till they find their spell book or reacquire these spells through other means. They still have access to other cantrip spells as long as no component is required for its casting.
Casting spells doesn't remove them from the wizard's memory. If a wizard loses their spellbook, they can keep casting the spells they have memorized for an indefinite period of time (obeying normal rules for spell slots) but they can't memorize any new spells until they either recover their spellbook or get a replacement.
If a spell has a listed Material component, you need to have a Spell Component Pouch in order to cast that spell. Alternative, as long as the component does not have a listed value in gold, they can use a Spell Focus instead. That means that a wizard can use a Spell Focus to cast Sleep (material component: a pinch of fine sand, rose petals, or a cricket) but not Identify (material component: a pearl worth at least 100 gp and an owl feather). As there's a component with a listed value for Identify, the wizard will have to have a pearl of that value if they want to cast the spell.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
In 5e memorized (or Prepared) wizard spells can be used more than once, so long as you have the spell slots to be able to recast them. If the wizard loses their spellbook they will still have their Prepared spells, and could acquire a new spellbook to copy their Prepared spells into it using the rules for making backup copies of spells.
Also, a component pouch or spellcasting focus only replaces the material components of a spell that aren't given a specific cost; any material components like "a pearl worth 100gp" must still be supplied when casting the spell.
I suggest you read through the Wizard class, as well as the rules of Spellcasting.
Looking for some additional clarification in spell casting. The PHB discusses a component pouch or Spellcasting Focus. If the wizard decides to utilize a spellcasting focus item, does that negate the need for the components needed to cast a specific spell? If the wizard losses its spellcasting focus item or the component when required, does that prevent them from casting the spell if the spell is a cantrip?
Also when casting a cantrip that requires a component, can they cast the spell without the component needed and/or spellcasting focus object? I am assuming not, but we are having a slightly heated debate at the table that a wizard can not lose the ability to cast cantrip if their spellbook is lost or taken so I am assuming that also applies to the spellcasting focus item which should affect the ability to cast a spell.
Thanks!
Losing a spellbook is completely different to not having a component or focus. Without a spellbook the wizard cam continue to cast the spells memorised but cannot commit any more to memory. A focus is used in place of a component valued at 1gp or less such as bat guano or rose petals. Only spells that have a material component require one. So if the wizard loses access to components or their focus then they can only cast spells that don’t have a material component. That’s the m part of the v, s, m.
Ok, so the loss of the focus or component pouch, will effect their ability to cast a spell as long as the spell requires a component even if it is a cantrip as long as the cantrip has a Component aspect to it. Level 1 or higher spells have to be committed to memory and once cast, they can not re-commit it to memory till they find their spell book or reacquire these spells through other means. They still have access to other cantrip spells as long as no component is required for its casting.
Helps alot!
Casting spells doesn't remove them from the wizard's memory. If a wizard loses their spellbook, they can keep casting the spells they have memorized for an indefinite period of time (obeying normal rules for spell slots) but they can't memorize any new spells until they either recover their spellbook or get a replacement.
If a spell has a listed Material component, you need to have a Spell Component Pouch in order to cast that spell. Alternative, as long as the component does not have a listed value in gold, they can use a Spell Focus instead. That means that a wizard can use a Spell Focus to cast Sleep (material component: a pinch of fine sand, rose petals, or a cricket) but not Identify (material component: a pearl worth at least 100 gp and an owl feather). As there's a component with a listed value for Identify, the wizard will have to have a pearl of that value if they want to cast the spell.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
In 5e memorized (or Prepared) wizard spells can be used more than once, so long as you have the spell slots to be able to recast them. If the wizard loses their spellbook they will still have their Prepared spells, and could acquire a new spellbook to copy their Prepared spells into it using the rules for making backup copies of spells.
Also, a component pouch or spellcasting focus only replaces the material components of a spell that aren't given a specific cost; any material components like "a pearl worth 100gp" must still be supplied when casting the spell.
I suggest you read through the Wizard class, as well as the rules of Spellcasting.
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