This actually has nothing to do with clerics, but it DOES have to do with spellcasting.
I am trying to be better at knowing rules to spells, because I just now caught that I have a player who has been casting Identify as a ritual many many times.
At no point have they had a Pearl worth 100GP, or an amount of money to PURCHASE said Pearl. D'oh.
This is obviously my mistake, and not the player trying to get away with anything (both of us are REALLY bad at spellcasting classes, it's an error in good faith). I don't think it's meant to be treated the same as minor items like the owl feather also needed, or the more story-flavoring items that might be in a component pouch, so I was just wondering about some thoughts on how other people might fix this going forward?
Would you hold off on the character casting the spell again until they obtain the pearl, or is "Identify" the kind of spell that isn't as bad to hand-wave material components for? I know I could also "be nice" and just retcon that they HAVE a pearl worth 100GP, but I also feel kind of like making them nervous of magical items for a bit might be fun.
If It were my game, I’d acknowledge the mistake at the table, shrug, and say well, you got some freebies. You can’t exactly un-identify an item so I think it’s fair just to establish the rule going forward and leave it at that.
If they did have the money before and were in a place where they could have purchased the component, I would offer the player a chance to retcon a trip to the component shop.
Really it’s up to you and how important spell components are to you.
For the most part, I eschew material components entirely. It may not be wildly popular, but it's always worked well for me. I make my casters do actual spell research and follow copy rules instead- seems far more impactful. Also, in 5e the focus removes the need for material components doesn't it?
As for Identify/Detect Magic, if a caster uses a spell slot for these spells, shame. Always cast those as rituals 👍✌️
Also, in 5e the focus removes the need for material components doesn't it?
As for Identify/Detect Magic, if a caster uses a spell slot for these spells, shame. Always cast those as rituals 👍✌️
1) Only materials without a specific GP cost. Identify asks for a Pearl worth 100gp. There are spells that need a Diamond of specific value, etc.
2) Even if cast as a ritual the material component is still needed, for those spells with a material component with a GP cost associated.
Note that some spells even specify that said material component with a GP cost is consumed. This choice isn't willy-nilly, its to balance certain spells and control their usage. You do you, that is absolutely your prerogative as DM, but there's definitely a balance component to which spells require the spellcaster to actually obtain a material component ;)
I sometimes award '200gp worth of gems' and if they need say 50gp jets for Animate Undead then there's 4, or the pearls or whatever. It just keeps the clerical work down. The other option is to let them 'convert' X amount of money into an equivalent amount of specific spell components and then when they have need to cast the '250gp of silver powder' spell they just deduct 250gp from that amount. It's less realistic, but saves a lot of fiddly bookkeeping for the sake of keeping the game flowing.
This actually has nothing to do with clerics, but it DOES have to do with spellcasting.
I am trying to be better at knowing rules to spells, because I just now caught that I have a player who has been casting Identify as a ritual many many times.
At no point have they had a Pearl worth 100GP, or an amount of money to PURCHASE said Pearl. D'oh.
This is obviously my mistake, and not the player trying to get away with anything (both of us are REALLY bad at spellcasting classes, it's an error in good faith). I don't think it's meant to be treated the same as minor items like the owl feather also needed, or the more story-flavoring items that might be in a component pouch, so I was just wondering about some thoughts on how other people might fix this going forward?
Would you hold off on the character casting the spell again until they obtain the pearl, or is "Identify" the kind of spell that isn't as bad to hand-wave material components for? I know I could also "be nice" and just retcon that they HAVE a pearl worth 100GP, but I also feel kind of like making them nervous of magical items for a bit might be fun.
If It were my game, I’d acknowledge the mistake at the table, shrug, and say well, you got some freebies. You can’t exactly un-identify an item so I think it’s fair just to establish the rule going forward and leave it at that.
If they did have the money before and were in a place where they could have purchased the component, I would offer the player a chance to retcon a trip to the component shop.
Really it’s up to you and how important spell components are to you.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Usually when I or a player makes an error, we accept what has happened and then observe the rule as written for the future.
For the most part, I eschew material components entirely. It may not be wildly popular, but it's always worked well for me. I make my casters do actual spell research and follow copy rules instead- seems far more impactful. Also, in 5e the focus removes the need for material components doesn't it?
As for Identify/Detect Magic, if a caster uses a spell slot for these spells, shame. Always cast those as rituals 👍✌️
Absolutely - I meant removing the need for bat guano & bird feathers. The high cost material farming can be half my hooks.
I sometimes award '200gp worth of gems' and if they need say 50gp jets for Animate Undead then there's 4, or the pearls or whatever. It just keeps the clerical work down. The other option is to let them 'convert' X amount of money into an equivalent amount of specific spell components and then when they have need to cast the '250gp of silver powder' spell they just deduct 250gp from that amount. It's less realistic, but saves a lot of fiddly bookkeeping for the sake of keeping the game flowing.
Southampton Guild of Roleplayers
My YouTube (C&C Welcome!)