I've been a bit confused about the rules around the use of an arcane focus, but after reading in the PHB and perusing threads here, I think I have it down:
Use of an arcane focus is voluntary; no spellcaster must have one in order to cast spells
An arcane focus can be used in placed of non-valuable material components
An arcane focus cannot be used in place of material components with a gp value
Example: a warlock can use an arcane focus to cast armor of agathys(instead of a cup of water), but the same warlock cannot use a focus to cast astral projection, as the latter spell requires jacinth and silver of a specific gp value.
Is this correct?
Also, are there cases wherein there are non-valuable material components that are normally consumed? Can these components be replaced by the use an arcane focus?
NNCHRIS: SOUL THIEF, MASTER OF THE ARCANE, AND KING OF NEW YORKNN Gdl Creator of Ilheia and her Knights of the Fallen Stars ldG Lesser Student of Technomancy [undergrad student in computer science] Supporter of the 2014 rules, and a MASSIVE Homebrewer. Come to me all ye who seek salvation in wording thy brews! Open to homebrew trades at any time!! Or feel free to request HB, and Ill see if I can get it done for ya! Characters (Outdated)
Mostly correct. Artificers are an exception: they must use a focus to cast their spells. They cannot use a component pouch or individual (non-costly, non-consumed) components instead.
Regarding your other question: it's extremely rare for spells to have components with no stated cost but that are nevertheless consumed. Dark star is one such spell; I stopped looking as soon as I found one, so I don't know how many more (if any) there are. For such spells, a focus is not an adequate substitute: "If a spell states that a material component is consumed by the spell, the caster must provide this component for each casting of the spell."
*Globe of invulnerability is something of an "honorable mention," because it doesn't technically consume its component, but the component is destroyed in a way that means you'll need to provide a new one for each casting. It's a bit of a grey area whether or not it counts for purposes of the "must provide the component" rule, but I would definitely include it at my table.
Mostly correct. Artificers are an exception: they must use a focus to cast their spells. They cannot use a component pouch or individual (non-costly, non-consumed) components instead.
Regarding your other question: it's extremely rare for spells to have components with no stated cost but that are nevertheless consumed. Dark star is one such spell; I stopped looking as soon as I found one, so I don't know how many more (if any) there are. For such spells, a focus is not an adequate substitute: "If a spell states that a material component is consumed by the spell, the caster must provide this component for each casting of the spell."
i keep forgetting the special artificer rules, maybe i would remember if i actually ever played one
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NNCHRIS: SOUL THIEF, MASTER OF THE ARCANE, AND KING OF NEW YORKNN Gdl Creator of Ilheia and her Knights of the Fallen Stars ldG Lesser Student of Technomancy [undergrad student in computer science] Supporter of the 2014 rules, and a MASSIVE Homebrewer. Come to me all ye who seek salvation in wording thy brews! Open to homebrew trades at any time!! Or feel free to request HB, and Ill see if I can get it done for ya! Characters (Outdated)
I highly recommend playing an Artificer, they are very fun.
im currently trapped in dming(trapped is the wrong word, its great fun) but artificer is top 3 in my to play list
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NNCHRIS: SOUL THIEF, MASTER OF THE ARCANE, AND KING OF NEW YORKNN Gdl Creator of Ilheia and her Knights of the Fallen Stars ldG Lesser Student of Technomancy [undergrad student in computer science] Supporter of the 2014 rules, and a MASSIVE Homebrewer. Come to me all ye who seek salvation in wording thy brews! Open to homebrew trades at any time!! Or feel free to request HB, and Ill see if I can get it done for ya! Characters (Outdated)
Artificers, Bards, and Wizards are like the "DM" classes. I've seen most long-time DMs that switch to being a player play them after coming back (myself included). They sacrifice damage and looking cool for being the classes with the most control over the battlefield in a way that makes your allies feel strong, which is more than half the fun of DMing.
I highly recommend playing an Artificer, they are very fun.
I agree.
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Artificers, Bards, and Wizards are like the "DM" classes. I've seen most long-time DMs that switch to being a player play them after coming back (myself included). They sacrifice damage and looking cool for being the classes with the most control over the battlefield in a way that makes your allies feel strong, which is more than half the fun of DMing.
Artificers, Bards, and Wizards are like the "DM" classes. I've seen most long-time DMs that switch to being a player play them after coming back (myself included). They sacrifice damage and looking cool for being the classes with the most control over the battlefield in a way that makes your allies feel strong, which is more than half the fun of DMing.
Monks too and for similar reasons I suspect.
Monks are for rogue players that want to support the party instead of compete with them.
I’m actually playing a monk now. Since I started DMing, 7/8 of my characters were some form of support character dedicated to control, tanking, or skills.
You know. A Warlock would also work as a good support character like that too with the right load out.
Celestial Warlock Pact of Chain is a super heavy support option IMO.
You get BA Healing, a free invisible scout that can poison things, and Short Rest Greater Restoration. Its a great bundle.
Yep. And the new pact of the talisman also works nice for support.
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This isn't actually a signature, just something I copy and paste onto the bottom of all my posts. Or is it? Yep, it is. Or is it..? I’m a hobbit, and the master cranial imploder of the "Oops, I Accidently Destroyed Someone's Brain" cult. Extended sig. I'm actually in Limbo, it says I'm in Mechanus because that's where I get my WiFi from. Please don't tell the modrons, they're still angry from the 'Spawning Stone' fiasco. No connection to Dragonslayer8 other than knowing them in real life.
Celestial Warlock Pact of Chain is a super heavy support option IMO.
You get BA Healing, a free invisible scout that can poison things, and Short Rest Greater Restoration. Its a great bundle.
Celestial Warlock Pact of the Tome is patently absurd levels of versatility (including stellar support), given it's not even a multiclass. It's one of the only ways I've ever seen in any RPG to be a genuinely useful swiss army knife instead of being useless because you spread yourself too thin.
Celestial Warlock Pact of Chain is a super heavy support option IMO.
You get BA Healing, a free invisible scout that can poison things, and Short Rest Greater Restoration. Its a great bundle.
Celestial Warlock Pact of the Tome is patently absurd levels of versatility (including stellar support), given it's not even a multiclass. It's one of the only ways I've ever seen in any RPG to be a genuinely useful swiss army knife instead of being useless because you spread yourself too thin.
Loved playing it too because you have something to do at all times!
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I've been a bit confused about the rules around the use of an arcane focus, but after reading in the PHB and perusing threads here, I think I have it down:
Example: a warlock can use an arcane focus to cast armor of agathys (instead of a cup of water), but the same warlock cannot use a focus to cast astral projection, as the latter spell requires jacinth and silver of a specific gp value.
Is this correct?
Also, are there cases wherein there are non-valuable material components that are normally consumed? Can these components be replaced by the use an arcane focus?
you have it right
NNCHRIS: SOUL THIEF, MASTER OF THE ARCANE, AND KING OF NEW YORKNN
Gdl Creator of Ilheia and her Knights of the Fallen Stars ldG
Lesser Student of Technomancy [undergrad student in computer science]
Supporter of the 2014 rules, and a MASSIVE Homebrewer. Come to me all ye who seek salvation in wording thy brews!
Open to homebrew trades at any time!! Or feel free to request HB, and Ill see if I can get it done for ya!
Characters (Outdated)
Mostly correct. Artificers are an exception: they must use a focus to cast their spells. They cannot use a component pouch or individual (non-costly, non-consumed) components instead.
Regarding your other question: it's extremely rare for spells to have components with no stated cost but that are nevertheless consumed. Dark star is one such spell; I stopped looking as soon as I found one, so I don't know how many more (if any) there are. For such spells, a focus is not an adequate substitute: "If a spell states that a material component is consumed by the spell, the caster must provide this component for each casting of the spell."
Okay, I didn't have anything better to do so I found every single spell that consumes its material component but has no stated cost for that component: dark star, druid grove, globe of invulnerability*, protection from evil and good, and snare.
*Globe of invulnerability is something of an "honorable mention," because it doesn't technically consume its component, but the component is destroyed in a way that means you'll need to provide a new one for each casting. It's a bit of a grey area whether or not it counts for purposes of the "must provide the component" rule, but I would definitely include it at my table.
i keep forgetting the special artificer rules, maybe i would remember if i actually ever played one
NNCHRIS: SOUL THIEF, MASTER OF THE ARCANE, AND KING OF NEW YORKNN
Gdl Creator of Ilheia and her Knights of the Fallen Stars ldG
Lesser Student of Technomancy [undergrad student in computer science]
Supporter of the 2014 rules, and a MASSIVE Homebrewer. Come to me all ye who seek salvation in wording thy brews!
Open to homebrew trades at any time!! Or feel free to request HB, and Ill see if I can get it done for ya!
Characters (Outdated)
I highly recommend playing an Artificer, they are very fun.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
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im currently trapped in dming(trapped is the wrong word, its great fun) but artificer is top 3 in my to play list
NNCHRIS: SOUL THIEF, MASTER OF THE ARCANE, AND KING OF NEW YORKNN
Gdl Creator of Ilheia and her Knights of the Fallen Stars ldG
Lesser Student of Technomancy [undergrad student in computer science]
Supporter of the 2014 rules, and a MASSIVE Homebrewer. Come to me all ye who seek salvation in wording thy brews!
Open to homebrew trades at any time!! Or feel free to request HB, and Ill see if I can get it done for ya!
Characters (Outdated)
Artificers, Bards, and Wizards are like the "DM" classes. I've seen most long-time DMs that switch to being a player play them after coming back (myself included). They sacrifice damage and looking cool for being the classes with the most control over the battlefield in a way that makes your allies feel strong, which is more than half the fun of DMing.
I agree.
This isn't actually a signature, just something I copy and paste onto the bottom of all my posts. Or is it? Yep, it is. Or is it..? I’m a hobbit, and the master cranial imploder of the "Oops, I Accidently Destroyed Someone's Brain" cult. Extended sig. I'm actually in Limbo, it says I'm in Mechanus because that's where I get my WiFi from. Please don't tell the modrons, they're still angry from the 'Spawning Stone' fiasco.
No connection to Dragonslayer8 other than knowing them in real life.
Monks too and for similar reasons I suspect.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Monks are for rogue players that want to support the party instead of compete with them.
I’m actually playing a monk now. Since I started DMing, 7/8 of my characters were some form of support character dedicated to control, tanking, or skills.
You know. A Warlock would also work as a good support character like that too with the right load out.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Celestial Warlock Pact of Chain is a super heavy support option IMO.
You get BA Healing, a free invisible scout that can poison things, and Short Rest Greater Restoration. Its a great bundle.
Yep. And the new pact of the talisman also works nice for support.
This isn't actually a signature, just something I copy and paste onto the bottom of all my posts. Or is it? Yep, it is. Or is it..? I’m a hobbit, and the master cranial imploder of the "Oops, I Accidently Destroyed Someone's Brain" cult. Extended sig. I'm actually in Limbo, it says I'm in Mechanus because that's where I get my WiFi from. Please don't tell the modrons, they're still angry from the 'Spawning Stone' fiasco.
No connection to Dragonslayer8 other than knowing them in real life.
Celestial Warlock Pact of the Tome is patently absurd levels of versatility (including stellar support), given it's not even a multiclass. It's one of the only ways I've ever seen in any RPG to be a genuinely useful swiss army knife instead of being useless because you spread yourself too thin.
Loved playing it too because you have something to do at all times!