So a spell focus does not need to have the material components in their possession for example a Wizard, but a component pouch, with purchased item needed to but in the possession of a rogue (Arcane Trickster) to cast spells. Also in both cases need to be in hand when casting.
So a spell focus does not need to have the material components in their possession for example a Wizard, but a component pouch, with purchased item needed to but in the possession of a rogue (Arcane Trickster) to cast spells. Also in both cases need to be in hand when casting.
Not quite. Technically, if they are using a component pouch they don’t need to actually purchase the hot pepper, the pouch is just assumed to have one in there if they learn that spell. The pepper only needs be purchased if they have no pouch/focus, or if the DM (you) decide they need to purchase a pepper for their pouch.
Technically they also don’t need to have a component pouch in hand when they cast, they just need their hand free. A focus specifies that it needs to be held.
I've only really paid attention to individual spell components in a situation where I don't have access to a spellcasting focus or a component pouch. For example, my bard got stuck in jail for the usual bard shenanigans and got his squeezebox taken away. Luckily he could pull some fabric out of his outfit for a "bit of fleece" in order to cast Major Image to create the image of a hole in the wall (and enough debris to hide himself in), so when the guards came in to examine it he could break out and find his instrument.
I've only really paid attention to individual spell components in a situation where I don't have access to a spellcasting focus or a component pouch. For example, my bard got stuck in jail for the usual bard shenanigans and got his squeezebox taken away. Luckily he could pull some fabric out of his outfit for a "bit of fleece" in order to cast Major Image to create the image of a hole in the wall (and enough debris to hide himself in), so when the guards came in to examine it he could break out and find his instrument.
My wife and I work in the fiber arts industry specializing in wool fibers and yarns. Technically speaking, fleece is raw, unprocessed wool. Once it has been combed, carded, washed, died, spun, and woven, wool would no longer be anything even closely resembling “fleece.” That’s part of why the spell specifies “a bit of fleece” and not “a bit of wool.” As a DM anyone is free to rule on that as they choose, but technically pulling clothing fibers would not meet the M component for that spell.
I don’t know about others, but I usually just hand wave them filling/refilling the pouch with the mundane components. The way they just get new spells when they level, I assume that means they’ve been studying the spell(s) and would have stocked up on components at a town.
As far as the diamond goes, you could throw them a bone and put one in a treasure hoard. Then maybe warn that you probably won’t be so generous in the future, and they should plan ahead for other such components and acquire them when they can. (Looking at you diamond for revivify) Personally, if I have a level 1 wizard with that spell, I’ll even just let them have the diamond at character creation. No one bats an eye at a fighter from the middle of nowhere with a 75gp suit of chainmail (plus a weapon, plus a shield, plus more weapons), so a 50 gp diamond for a wizard (Who won’t have armor or a shield) seems reasonable to me. This is similar, though the AK has had time to track down the component, it doesn’t seem like they understood the rules about them. Which would make me even more forgiving.
As a player, I always make sure I have the components for spells I would like to cast. Aside from components with a cost, your spellcasting focus or a component pouch will take care of everything.
Ok, I'll ask this since this has become a discussion on all things components. For those who do 'grocery' shop what is the cost paid of those non-priced items listed in the spell blocks assuming this is more general pricing than specific to each component. Again, an example of Dragon's Breath 'hot pepper'?
Why would you ever buy the individual components? A component pouch is intended to have ALL of these ingredients in abundant supply so you never have to shop for silly things like “a single pepper”.
Ok, I'll ask this since this has become a discussion on all things components. For those who do 'grocery' shop what is the cost paid of those non-priced items listed in the spell blocks assuming this is more general pricing than specific to each component. Again, an example of Dragon's Breath 'hot pepper'?
Why would you ever buy the individual components? A component pouch is intended to have ALL of these ingredients in abundant supply so you never have to shop for silly things like “a single pepper”.
The pouch doesn’t need “an abundant supply,” just one pepper. It never gets used up.
For characters who do not use a Component Pouch, they need to buy the pepper.
Ok, I'll ask this since this has become a discussion on all things components. For those who do 'grocery' shop what is the cost paid of those non-priced items listed in the spell blocks assuming this is more general pricing than specific to each component. Again, an example of Dragon's Breath 'hot pepper'?
Why would you ever buy the individual components? A component pouch is intended to have ALL of these ingredients in abundant supply so you never have to shop for silly things like “a single pepper”.
Ok, I'll ask this since this has become a discussion on all things components. For those who do 'grocery' shop what is the cost paid of those non-priced items listed in the spell blocks assuming this is more general pricing than specific to each component. Again, an example of Dragon's Breath 'hot pepper'?
Why would you ever buy the individual components? A component pouch is intended to have ALL of these ingredients in abundant supply so you never have to shop for silly things like “a single pepper”.
It was my question that I wanted to ask based on how the conversation was going. It's not a question of why as more of do people players/dm get to that granular level. As I see how the component pouch works I understand how that question could be off-putting but I wanted to know.
Thanks for all the feedback it was a great help getting a better understanding of material components and I just want to let you know I appreciate the time you spent to help explain things.
Ok, I'll ask this since this has become a discussion on all things components. For those who do 'grocery' shop what is the cost paid of those non-priced items listed in the spell blocks assuming this is more general pricing than specific to each component. Again, an example of Dragon's Breath 'hot pepper'?
Why would you ever buy the individual components? A component pouch is intended to have ALL of these ingredients in abundant supply so you never have to shop for silly things like “a single pepper”.
The pouch doesn’t need “an abundant supply,” just one pepper. It never gets used up.
For characters who do not use a Component Pouch, they need to buy the pepper.
Yes yes - semantics. My point being you would never need to buy a pepper if you had a pouch. Unless you’re playing some kind of gruelling campaign where you want to track the minutia of every single thing....
Actually, one of the other players in a campaign I am in (who is also a DM herself) specifically requested to do so because she wanted her PC to have to RP running out of components.
Actually, one of the other players in a campaign I am in (who is also a DM herself) specifically requested to do so because she wanted her PC to have to RP running out of components.
Fine, point conceded. I would go crazy trying to find a snakeskin glove and eggshells haha... but to each their own.
Arcane Foci and Component Pouches ease the mechanics of spellcasting but give the option to have storytelling around gathering components. Especially if you get your gear stolen or get stranded or go to jail or any similar situations.
I can't help but think of Critical Role, which is the only Actual Play show I watch where some of the players regularly roleplay out the act of pulling out the actual un-priced spell components and explaining how they're used to cast the spells being presented.
If the cost is specified then I require the component to be in the caster's possession.
However, I have a tendency to stick the component into the next adventure area for them to find so they don't have to buy it. For example, when my Sorcerer player realized chromatic orb took a 50 gp diamond he was bummed. I told him "trust your DM." I put a gold ring with a 50 gp diamond into the first dungeon. (They actually went there second, but that's on them... I gave them 3 adventure 'seeds' and they picked the order in which to do them.)
I would like to use components but I don’t have the time or focus to check if the spell they are using needs one as a dm I need to keep the game moving I can’t stop for too long to look up if a spell needs a 1500 gold banana from the far realms
It should be the players' responsibility to monitor this. My players remind me about the components or ask about where they can find them when they need them.
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So a spell focus does not need to have the material components in their possession for example a Wizard, but a component pouch, with purchased item needed to but in the possession of a rogue (Arcane Trickster) to cast spells. Also in both cases need to be in hand when casting.
Not quite. Technically, if they are using a component pouch they don’t need to actually purchase the hot pepper, the pouch is just assumed to have one in there if they learn that spell. The pepper only needs be purchased if they have no pouch/focus, or if the DM (you) decide they need to purchase a pepper for their pouch.
Technically they also don’t need to have a component pouch in hand when they cast, they just need their hand free. A focus specifies that it needs to be held.
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I've only really paid attention to individual spell components in a situation where I don't have access to a spellcasting focus or a component pouch. For example, my bard got stuck in jail for the usual bard shenanigans and got his squeezebox taken away. Luckily he could pull some fabric out of his outfit for a "bit of fleece" in order to cast Major Image to create the image of a hole in the wall (and enough debris to hide himself in), so when the guards came in to examine it he could break out and find his instrument.
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
My wife and I work in the fiber arts industry specializing in wool fibers and yarns. Technically speaking, fleece is raw, unprocessed wool. Once it has been combed, carded, washed, died, spun, and woven, wool would no longer be anything even closely resembling “fleece.” That’s part of why the spell specifies “a bit of fleece” and not “a bit of wool.” As a DM anyone is free to rule on that as they choose, but technically pulling clothing fibers would not meet the M component for that spell.
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I don’t know about others, but I usually just hand wave them filling/refilling the pouch with the mundane components. The way they just get new spells when they level, I assume that means they’ve been studying the spell(s) and would have stocked up on components at a town.
As far as the diamond goes, you could throw them a bone and put one in a treasure hoard. Then maybe warn that you probably won’t be so generous in the future, and they should plan ahead for other such components and acquire them when they can. (Looking at you diamond for revivify)
Personally, if I have a level 1 wizard with that spell, I’ll even just let them have the diamond at character creation. No one bats an eye at a fighter from the middle of nowhere with a 75gp suit of chainmail (plus a weapon, plus a shield, plus more weapons), so a 50 gp diamond for a wizard (Who won’t have armor or a shield) seems reasonable to me. This is similar, though the AK has had time to track down the component, it doesn’t seem like they understood the rules about them. Which would make me even more forgiving.
As a player, I always make sure I have the components for spells I would like to cast. Aside from components with a cost, your spellcasting focus or a component pouch will take care of everything.
Why would you ever buy the individual components? A component pouch is intended to have ALL of these ingredients in abundant supply so you never have to shop for silly things like “a single pepper”.
The pouch doesn’t need “an abundant supply,” just one pepper. It never gets used up.
For characters who do not use a Component Pouch, they need to buy the pepper.
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It was my question that I wanted to ask based on how the conversation was going. It's not a question of why as more of do people players/dm get to that granular level. As I see how the component pouch works I understand how that question could be off-putting but I wanted to know.
Hey everyone.
Thanks for all the feedback it was a great help getting a better understanding of material components and I just want to let you know I appreciate the time you spent to help explain things.
Yes yes - semantics. My point being you would never need to buy a pepper if you had a pouch. Unless you’re playing some kind of gruelling campaign where you want to track the minutia of every single thing....
Or if you’re not using a pouch.
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What kind of psycho would do that??? 🙂
Actually, one of the other players in a campaign I am in (who is also a DM herself) specifically requested to do so because she wanted her PC to have to RP running out of components.
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Fine, point conceded. I would go crazy trying to find a snakeskin glove and eggshells haha... but to each their own.
Arcane Foci and Component Pouches ease the mechanics of spellcasting but give the option to have storytelling around gathering components. Especially if you get your gear stolen or get stranded or go to jail or any similar situations.
I can't help but think of Critical Role, which is the only Actual Play show I watch where some of the players regularly roleplay out the act of pulling out the actual un-priced spell components and explaining how they're used to cast the spells being presented.
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
If the cost is specified then I require the component to be in the caster's possession.
However, I have a tendency to stick the component into the next adventure area for them to find so they don't have to buy it. For example, when my Sorcerer player realized chromatic orb took a 50 gp diamond he was bummed. I told him "trust your DM." I put a gold ring with a 50 gp diamond into the first dungeon. (They actually went there second, but that's on them... I gave them 3 adventure 'seeds' and they picked the order in which to do them.)
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
I would like to use components but I don’t have the time or focus to check if the spell they are using needs one as a dm I need to keep the game moving I can’t stop for too long to look up if a spell needs a 1500 gold banana from the far realms
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It should be the players' responsibility to monitor this. My players remind me about the components or ask about where they can find them when they need them.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.