I have a question about spell components.

I am getting ready to DM 5e for the first time, and one of the players is a 1st level spellcaster who has chosen as one of his spells, Chromatic Orb. Now this is a 1st level spell, for a 1st level caster, and it has as a component, "a diamond worth at least 50 gp." My ordinary understanding of such things is that the character must acquire this component through gameplay. However, the player argues that for first level spells, it is "standard procedure" to assume that the character has any material components needed. If this was something like 10 gp of incense I wouldn't care. But a 50 gp diamond is pretty remarkable as a singular item and I'm concerned we may be starting off before Session 1 by trivializing material components. It seems to me further that if the designers wanted every 1st level character to be able to cast this thing right out of the gate, they'd have made a cheaper material component for it, no?

So my question: is it in fact standard procedure by tables to assume all PCs have all needed components to start the campaign at level 1? How would the rest of you rule on this? Allow it at level 1 but from now on you must acquire it through gameplay?

I have never gifted spell components that have a cost to players nor has it been given to me as a player.  What I have done though it made it a little easier if a starting out character has a pretty highly priced component is allow them to find it pretty early on (before levelling to 2).  I've also seen players be able to take out loans to fund it as well.  I'm not giving you a loan for platemail at level one but anything under 100g seems reasonable to me. 

Every DM is different. However, according to the rules, a material component that is not consumed by the spell and does not have a cost can be replaced by a Spell component pouch or spell focus. In this case the character, by the rules, must have the material components in order to cast Chromatic Orb.

But as DM you can choose to do whatever you want. Your player is likely used to DMs that largely ignore material components. I personally allow a player to start with one material component when they create their character.

Quote from Dos246 >>

What I have done though it made it a little easier if a starting out character has a pretty highly priced component is allow them to find it pretty early on (before levelling to 2).   

See, that would be my instinct. Maybe 50 gp diamonds are rare in town, but I'd probably have put one in the first dungeon. Not sure he'll be happy with that solution though.

I would not handwave the component, but I'd also give the player the option to switch out the spell for another one if they took it under the misunderstanding that they could ignore these things.

He can switch it anyway. We are using the UA option for Sorcerers that says they can switch one known spell per long rest.

If it's not written into RAW, there is no "standard procedure", there is just what is standard for the games you run.

I have a tendency to think of it the way you did originally; they need to pay/buy/acquire it on their own.

What I am wondering, however, is how you're handling initial starting equipment? If you're handing out standard starting equipment for the Characters - there might be an argument to be made for giving them the spell component. If you're giving them gold and allowing them to buy equipment as priced in the PHB, then I'd say they definitely need to buy their "named spell components", just as the Barbarian would need to buy their great-axe.

I told them they could either choose the equipment or the gold option on DD Beyond. He seems to have chosen the Equipment option. This starts him out with various things like a light crossbow and so on, rather than tallying the gp.

I’d probably let him have it, but I’m a little on the easier side. Since it’s a spell component, it’s not like he’s going to use it for anything else (meaning he won’t sell it for quick cash and mess up the early game economy)

Now if he picked up the spell at a higher level, sure, he’d need to find it, but I don’t think starting with it at level 1 is game breaking. I mean, no one bats an eye at the fighter having chain mail, sword and shield (plus a bunch of other stuff) at level 1 and that costs 100 gp. 

So the solution since he can change spells on a long rest, is to take Chaos Bolt for now, and swap it out for Chromatic (if he wants) after he finds a 50 gp diamond or buys one. We are both fine with this solution at this point.

Thanks for the help guys!

It is “standard procedure” to presume that the character has any Material Components required if those components do not have a materials cost in gp associated with them. I (erring on the side of the player) assume that they were simply unaware of the specific distinction in question (specific gp cost or not). For example, Identify has material components of “a pearl worth at least 100 gp and an owl feather,” they can have the feather for free, they gotta acquire the pearl.

We don't use spell components in our campaign. Players can cast whatever as long as it's prepared. It's overpowering a bit but saves time shopping needlessly. Players are welcome to shop if they choose to as always. 

Sounds like an adventure opportunity to me. How about let him pick a different spell, but he's on the lookout for a big diamond so he can cast the spell? Maybe if he asks around town a bit, someone will suggest where one might be found.

Edit: And just for clarity, with a spell component pouch or arcane focus, it's assumed the player can cast anything who's material component does not have a listed cost. As the diamond is listed as 50gp, he will need to find/buy one.

Quote from IamSposta >>

It is “standard procedure” to presume that the character has any Material Components required if those components do not have a materials cost in gp associated with them. I (erring on the side of the player) assume that they were simply unaware of the specific distinction in question (specific gp cost or not). For example, Identify has material components of “a pearl worth at least 100 gp and an owl feather,” they can have the feather for free, they gotta acquire the pearl.

Yes, we know the rules.

His claim was that for a 1st level spell one ordinarily makes an exception and allows even high-value items to start out in the PC's inventory, and then thereafter you acquire them as normal.

But it doesn't really matter -- we've worked it out.

Personally, in a situation like that where it's a spell they have started with at level one, at the very beginning of the game when everyone's just got whatever they have on them when they first meet, that they'd have the material already prior to the adventure starting.  Otherwise, if they didn't have the (not consumed) material, how would they learn to cast they spell in the first place?

I use the focus/pouch covers everything except GP value components, but I will allow my players to just deduct the GP as they go along, with the idea that anytime they go into a town they would stock up on these type of items.

My apologies. 

In the campaigns I've played and DMed, I've never had 1st level spell components be available "for free".

As a DM, I would always allow a player to swap some existing equipment out for a spell component of similar value if it wasn't something obviously rare, or make L1 spell components relatively easily findable either in a quest or in a shop after the players get a few GP.