Can you post the link to the Sage Advice? I want to see it.
D&D Beyond as yet offers no way to link to specific entries in the compendium, but you can just do a ctrl-F for "spellcasting focus" to find the source; I'll quote the full question and answer below:
If a spell’s material components are consumed, can a spellcasting focus still be used in place of the consumed component?
No. A spellcasting focus can be used in place of a material component only if that component has no cost noted in the spell’s description and if that component isn’t consumed.
So... wait if a cleric or pally wants to cast shield of faith in battle while using a sword and shield and having there necklace as their focus, they can't? They would have to drop the weapon grab there necklace and cast the spell while still holding their shield? If so can they then pick the weapon back up on the same turn?
Can you post the link to the Sage Advice? I want to see it.
D&D Beyond as yet offers no way to link to specific entries in the compendium, but you can just do a ctrl-F for "spellcasting focus" to find the source; I'll quote the full question and answer below:
If a spell’s material components are consumed, can a spellcasting focus still be used in place of the consumed component?
No. A spellcasting focus can be used in place of a material component only if that component has no cost noted in the spell’s description and if that component isn’t consumed.
Oh, wow, that's weird. Does that mean component pouches are just better than arcane foci for spellcasters, because then you don't need to track all the free components?
In the case of pallys and clerics, they can have their spellcasting focus be an emblem emblazoned on their shield. There is also the ruby of the war mage as an alternate. Additionally, Warcaster feat can help as well. There are instances where you'll have to stow or drop your weapon or shield in order to cast, potentially with some combination of these.
I believe component pouches are the same as arcane focus if I am understanding
A component pouch, according to its description, should contain consumable components as well. That said, it’s not magically bottomless, so if a GM cares, they should keep track of this and let the player know they’ll have to replace the pouch at some point.
None of the casters in my game use component pouches, but if they did, what I’d say is that the component pouch DOESN’T contain consumable material components and that they’d have to acquire those specifically. I’m not tracking consumable components. I don’t know of any spells requiring consumable material components that are commonly used in combat where they can’t be easily procured, so I don’t think such a ruling would be overly harsh (and I also think having to try and find components in a wilderness or dungeon can be interesting gameplay).
The components of a spell are pretty much entirely flavor, unless it costs money. An arcane focus and component pouch allows you to not have to go hunting for obscure random objects every time you want to cast a new spell you learned.
Makes sense. So for pallys and clerics if I recall it would take there action to drop there shield then next turn cast spell then third turn pick up shield and put it back on?
Makes sense. So for pallys and clerics if I recall it would take there action to drop there shield then next turn cast spell then third turn pick up shield and put it back on?
Faster to sheath a weapon, which is a free item interaction that doesn't use any type of action but you're only allowed one a turn, cast the spell in the same turn, then use your free item interaction the next turn to unsheath your weapon again.
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Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
Arcane foci vs using components is mostly, except in the cases of consumed components or ones with a GP amount specifies, just flavor. It's not to say they're useless, it's just how you want your character to look. Do you want to Macgyver your spells by combining components in the middle of combat, or do you wanna sling wands and take names?
As for foci not replacing verbal or somatic components, think of it like Harry Potter. You've got a wand, that's your arcane focus. You have to wave it in the right way (swish-and-flick!) and that's your somatic component, and you still have to say the right words (wingardium leviosa!) and that's your verbal component. You can learn to cast nonverbal spells, but it's difficult and is usually at the cost of a feat or meta magic option.
Those rules given pretty much all the common spells you'll cast. If you have chromatic orb though? Just find a cheap diamond and keep it with you (CO doesn't consume its material component), and if you're regularly casting Protection from Evil and Good, then iron fillings are easy enough to come by.
The real reason expensive material components are still required is to put more obstacles between the players and next-level, game breaking magic. Like, for example, let's say you learned the Clone spell, then the Inprison spell. You grow a new inert body and your DM allows that that body is "alive" enough for you to cast Imprison on it, and you imprison it within a necklace, and then you give that necklace to a trusted party member or npc for them to smash if you ever die, releasing you in the new body. If you do that enough times, congrats, you're functionally immortal! That's a cool thing that's totally allowed, but those spells each have high material costs, so you may find yourself saving your gold with something like that in mind, or it even opens up the door for the DM to give you a sidequests into an ancient ruin where you can find a specific diamond that's worth the amount you need. That way, instead of just casting the spells endlessly and it becoming routine, each casting is either a significant event that represents the culmination of a lot of preparation, or actively adds content to the game.
Makes sense. So for pallys and clerics if I recall it would take there action to drop there shield then next turn cast spell then third turn pick up shield and put it back on?
As far as this goes, just paint your holy symbol on your shield, no dropping necessary. Or, as is been mentioned before, take warcaster.
Makes sense. So for pallys and clerics if I recall it would take there action to drop there shield then next turn cast spell then third turn pick up shield and put it back on?
As far as this goes, just paint your holy symbol on your shield, no dropping necessary. Or, as is been mentioned before, take warcaster.
I believe I did not articulate that correctly...I certainly had spelling errors. What I mean is for the hand gestures when no material component is required. If I recall it takes an action for shields specifically to be put away but I guess I could sheath the main hand weapon without it taking the action.
I think in that case, when no material components are required, then with warcaster your somatic components can be you just waving your weapon around, doesn't need to be a specific hand motion.
EDIT: I'd also check on this, but I know the classes that have the hardest time juggling weapon/spell/shields are paladins, but I think a lot of paladins spells are verbal only. May want to check which ones you actually need to juggle for before sinking the ASI into war caster.
Can you post the link to the Sage Advice? I want to see it.
D&D is a game for nerds... so I guess I'm one :p
The one about somatic components?
Thank you so much for your help.
D&D Beyond as yet offers no way to link to specific entries in the compendium, but you can just do a ctrl-F for "spellcasting focus" to find the source; I'll quote the full question and answer below:
So... wait if a cleric or pally wants to cast shield of faith in battle while using a sword and shield and having there necklace as their focus, they can't? They would have to drop the weapon grab there necklace and cast the spell while still holding their shield? If so can they then pick the weapon back up on the same turn?
Oh, wow, that's weird. Does that mean component pouches are just better than arcane foci for spellcasters, because then you don't need to track all the free components?
I believe component pouches are the same as arcane focus if I am understanding
In the case of pallys and clerics, they can have their spellcasting focus be an emblem emblazoned on their shield. There is also the ruby of the war mage as an alternate. Additionally, Warcaster feat can help as well. There are instances where you'll have to stow or drop your weapon or shield in order to cast, potentially with some combination of these.
A component pouch, according to its description, should contain consumable components as well. That said, it’s not magically bottomless, so if a GM cares, they should keep track of this and let the player know they’ll have to replace the pouch at some point.
None of the casters in my game use component pouches, but if they did, what I’d say is that the component pouch DOESN’T contain consumable material components and that they’d have to acquire those specifically. I’m not tracking consumable components. I don’t know of any spells requiring consumable material components that are commonly used in combat where they can’t be easily procured, so I don’t think such a ruling would be overly harsh (and I also think having to try and find components in a wilderness or dungeon can be interesting gameplay).
The components of a spell are pretty much entirely flavor, unless it costs money. An arcane focus and component pouch allows you to not have to go hunting for obscure random objects every time you want to cast a new spell you learned.
Yeah that's what I was thinking/saying
D&D is a game for nerds... so I guess I'm one :p
Makes sense. So for pallys and clerics if I recall it would take there action to drop there shield then next turn cast spell then third turn pick up shield and put it back on?
Faster to sheath a weapon, which is a free item interaction that doesn't use any type of action but you're only allowed one a turn, cast the spell in the same turn, then use your free item interaction the next turn to unsheath your weapon again.
Canto alla vita
alla sua bellezza
ad ogni sua ferita
ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty
To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me
The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
Arcane foci vs using components is mostly, except in the cases of consumed components or ones with a GP amount specifies, just flavor. It's not to say they're useless, it's just how you want your character to look. Do you want to Macgyver your spells by combining components in the middle of combat, or do you wanna sling wands and take names?
As for foci not replacing verbal or somatic components, think of it like Harry Potter. You've got a wand, that's your arcane focus. You have to wave it in the right way (swish-and-flick!) and that's your somatic component, and you still have to say the right words (wingardium leviosa!) and that's your verbal component. You can learn to cast nonverbal spells, but it's difficult and is usually at the cost of a feat or meta magic option.
Those rules given pretty much all the common spells you'll cast. If you have chromatic orb though? Just find a cheap diamond and keep it with you (CO doesn't consume its material component), and if you're regularly casting Protection from Evil and Good, then iron fillings are easy enough to come by.
The real reason expensive material components are still required is to put more obstacles between the players and next-level, game breaking magic. Like, for example, let's say you learned the Clone spell, then the Inprison spell. You grow a new inert body and your DM allows that that body is "alive" enough for you to cast Imprison on it, and you imprison it within a necklace, and then you give that necklace to a trusted party member or npc for them to smash if you ever die, releasing you in the new body. If you do that enough times, congrats, you're functionally immortal! That's a cool thing that's totally allowed, but those spells each have high material costs, so you may find yourself saving your gold with something like that in mind, or it even opens up the door for the DM to give you a sidequests into an ancient ruin where you can find a specific diamond that's worth the amount you need. That way, instead of just casting the spells endlessly and it becoming routine, each casting is either a significant event that represents the culmination of a lot of preparation, or actively adds content to the game.
As far as this goes, just paint your holy symbol on your shield, no dropping necessary. Or, as is been mentioned before, take warcaster.
I believe I did not articulate that correctly...I certainly had spelling errors. What I mean is for the hand gestures when no material component is required. If I recall it takes an action for shields specifically to be put away but I guess I could sheath the main hand weapon without it taking the action.
I think in that case, when no material components are required, then with warcaster your somatic components can be you just waving your weapon around, doesn't need to be a specific hand motion.
EDIT: I'd also check on this, but I know the classes that have the hardest time juggling weapon/spell/shields are paladins, but I think a lot of paladins spells are verbal only. May want to check which ones you actually need to juggle for before sinking the ASI into war caster.
many paladin spells you probably should not be casting in combat.
However arcane focuses replace non-priced components and the specific rule is an exception from general rules