I think that speaks to a general problem with the wording in regard to casting foci that are not held in the traditional way. The artificer's arcane armor comes to mind. The only thing I can think of that specifically addresses this is the wand sheath... assuming you have a wand that is a casting focus.
I think it speaks to the intention that the arcane focus must be held in the traditional way to be used, with the specific exceptions of stuff like Arcane Armor or the wand sheath. Besides, that Crystal the other user wants to put into a ring is supposed to weigh 1 pound, so either it’s one of the densest materials known to man, or the biggest honkin’ ring ever made. 😂😂
I would agree with you in general that arcane focus rules are written with the intention of the focus being held, even if there are numerous examples of items designed to work around this general rule. But the problem is that they mostly don't contradict the general rule, so it still applies. As for the crystal, I was thinking along the lines of any of the sorcerous planar shards acting as a spellcasting focus when attached to a ring. That item does specifically say it acts as a spellcasting focus when held or worn in that way... but it doesn't contradict the rule about needing a free hand for using the focus. It does make me wonder if you consider a worn ring to count as being held, whether that means the hand would not be considered free for somatic-only casting even if the hand is otherwise empty. Or maybe it's only a focus when you want it to be.
As for Focus weight I look at it as encumbrance is added into it. Other wise a simple crystal focus is the size of a baseball and that orb is the size of a softball.
And if you have one hand holding a weapon and the other is holding the focus how do those finger waiving motions work? And if its just large general hand waving then why not have a smaller one in a ring or bracelet? And we can find at least one way to set your focus into a weapon and just wave that around.
All the weights in the equipment list are off from reality also. I also look at those as counting some form of size/encumbrance.
As for Focus weight I look at it as encumbrance is added into it. Other wise a simple crystal focus is the size of a baseball and that orb is the size of a softball.
And if you have one hand holding a weapon and the other is holding the focus how do those finger waiving motions work? And if its just large general hand waving then why not have a smaller one in a ring or bracelet? And we can find at least one way to set your focus into a weapon and just wave that around.
All the weights in the equipment list are off from reality also. I also look at those as counting some form of size/encumbrance.
I always envisioned the crystal and orb to be about that large.
I always figured that the various foci reduced the S components down to more general hand waving gestures. I imagine that if the crystal, orb, etc were smaller they would be insufficient to channel the magical energies involved, that’s why they aren’t ring or bracelet sized. And to attach one to a weapon requires something like a ruby of the war mage that is specifically prepared as such. After all, if one could attach any focus to a weapon and it’ll work, it renders an entire magic item obsolete. Admittedly it’s only a common magic item, but it requires attunement to use, so obviously any old crystal wouldn’t do.
I admit that many of those weights are off, but I didn’t write the rules, I’m just citing them. 🤷♂️
I think the attunement requirement for that single item to be wrong.
It only grants you the spell focus use. Nothing extra so why would it need attunement? It does not even make the weapon a magic weapon. So why not allow a ring with the same ruby or crystal set into it without attunement.
Rendering one magic Item from an additional supplement useless is no big deal. Essentially by making that item even they are admitting that the spell focus rule is a bit of a problem for casters of all types.
I'm old school and role play my At and EN with arcane focus' and spell books. my rangers use a druid focus. I have also never thought of a component pouch as anything magical or a magic focus. Its just a really well organized compartmentalized pouch for me. If you plan it out you really do not need many different components for a combat situation.
I also think of a magic focus crystal as just a large crystal you can put in a ring or bracelet or attach to your weapon. I normally use a ring when the DM allows it.
There are advantages to using a component pouch too. For one thing, you wear it instead of wielding it, so it keeps a hand free until you go to interact with the pouch. You also don’t actually need to pull components out of the pouch or anything to use them, you could just wave it around like a gris gris bag if you want, so points for style.
Technically speaking, even if the crystal were embedded into a ring, RAW you still need to be holding it to use it, you can’t just wear the ring and have it count.
There's also the fact that a component pouch is universal, while the other foci are specific to certain classes. Personally, I think this is a good bit of balancing for multi-caster builds, especially given the +X foci; you either have to spend a little more time on inventory management and attunement slots if you have multiple magic item foci, or you can just let it all be covered by a single mundane item.
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I think that speaks to a general problem with the wording in regard to casting foci that are not held in the traditional way. The artificer's arcane armor comes to mind. The only thing I can think of that specifically addresses this is the wand sheath... assuming you have a wand that is a casting focus.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
I think it speaks to the intention that the arcane focus must be held in the traditional way to be used, with the specific exceptions of stuff like Arcane Armor or the wand sheath. Besides, that Crystal the other user wants to put into a ring is supposed to weigh 1 pound, so either it’s one of the densest materials known to man, or the biggest honkin’ ring ever made. 😂😂
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I would agree with you in general that arcane focus rules are written with the intention of the focus being held, even if there are numerous examples of items designed to work around this general rule. But the problem is that they mostly don't contradict the general rule, so it still applies. As for the crystal, I was thinking along the lines of any of the sorcerous planar shards acting as a spellcasting focus when attached to a ring. That item does specifically say it acts as a spellcasting focus when held or worn in that way... but it doesn't contradict the rule about needing a free hand for using the focus. It does make me wonder if you consider a worn ring to count as being held, whether that means the hand would not be considered free for somatic-only casting even if the hand is otherwise empty. Or maybe it's only a focus when you want it to be.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
As for Focus weight I look at it as encumbrance is added into it.
Other wise a simple crystal focus is the size of a baseball and that orb is the size of a softball.
And if you have one hand holding a weapon and the other is holding the focus how do those finger waiving motions work? And if its just large general hand waving then why not have a smaller one in a ring or bracelet? And we can find at least one way to set your focus into a weapon and just wave that around.
All the weights in the equipment list are off from reality also. I also look at those as counting some form of size/encumbrance.
I always envisioned the crystal and orb to be about that large.
I always figured that the various foci reduced the S components down to more general hand waving gestures. I imagine that if the crystal, orb, etc were smaller they would be insufficient to channel the magical energies involved, that’s why they aren’t ring or bracelet sized. And to attach one to a weapon requires something like a ruby of the war mage that is specifically prepared as such. After all, if one could attach any focus to a weapon and it’ll work, it renders an entire magic item obsolete. Admittedly it’s only a common magic item, but it requires attunement to use, so obviously any old crystal wouldn’t do.
I admit that many of those weights are off, but I didn’t write the rules, I’m just citing them. 🤷♂️
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I think the attunement requirement for that single item to be wrong.
It only grants you the spell focus use. Nothing extra so why would it need attunement? It does not even make the weapon a magic weapon. So why not allow a ring with the same ruby or crystal set into it without attunement.
Rendering one magic Item from an additional supplement useless is no big deal.
Essentially by making that item even they are admitting that the spell focus rule is a bit of a problem for casters of all types.
There's also the fact that a component pouch is universal, while the other foci are specific to certain classes. Personally, I think this is a good bit of balancing for multi-caster builds, especially given the +X foci; you either have to spend a little more time on inventory management and attunement slots if you have multiple magic item foci, or you can just let it all be covered by a single mundane item.