Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Master_Vega 11-19-07, 03:50 PM	Really, does anyone? It seems rather clunky to me to have to do so much book keeping. I've never been asked about material components, nor have I asked about them in the games I have played in/GM'd, and everything's run nicely. Any thoughts, stories? Thanks!
Sinis 11-19-07, 03:55 PM	If the player has a "Spell Component Pouch" from the Player's Handbook, then I'm happy to follow its directions and say that they have everything that's worth under a gold, with a couple of exceptions. But, seriously, you have to keep track of the thousands of gold in diamonds for resurrections. There are spells that really require esoteric components. A spell to create a certain monster that's not in the SRD required "A ring that someone lost." Those, I assume aren't lying around in their pouch, but nearly everything else is fair game. I also don't use the material components for the Animate Dead spell, because it seems silly that a would-be necromancer has to corner the black onyx market to make a bunch of sub-par soldiers that will be obliterated by the first good aligned cleric he sees. For my games, all the spell needs is a bit of blood and a shard of bone (as older editions would say).
Zinger2099 11-19-07, 04:01 PM	If the don't have a Spell Component Pouch, then yes. I do. Seriously, if you really don't like keeping track of Components, take the Eschew Materials feat.
Phrennzy 11-19-07, 04:30 PM	Oh, lord, I haven't tracked material components ever - since 1st edition they've been nothing but a pain in the A. The big money items are different, though. Raise Dead and things like that. But please - the old component for one of the first level spells was a chicken heart. Gross. Or spider climb requiring you to eat a live spider. Nasty. It's like they're tribal shamans, or MacBeth's witches. Eye of newt has no place in my game.
Balseraph 11-19-07, 07:43 PM	As long as it is not costly and that the character in question has the means with which to carry them conveniently it is assumed around our table that they have all the components they require.
Krusk 11-19-07, 11:45 PM	I assume all my players have a spell component pouch. if for some reason the party is stripped of gear -i hate that scenario as a dm so it rarely comes up- then i would definatly keep track of their components. I would also make sure to include spell components in loot though. Rifling through the dead mages robes you manage to come up with what appears to be his spell components. you find 4 vials of bat guano, a dead lizard on a stick, a small copper ring, some broken sticks, and a humanoid eye. In addition to the things he is wearing, 3 rings -2 of which register to Detect Magic- the robe itself -DM-, his staff, and an amulet -DM- and 500gp in coins.
kuonji 11-20-07, 05:50 AM	We usually only track expensive things, but then we just subtract the gp value from our party funds most of the time (spells like identify, stoneskin, raise dead for example).
goawayugh 11-20-07, 07:53 AM	We usually only track expensive things, but then we just subtract the gp value from our party funds most of the time (spells like identify, stoneskin, raise dead for example).Same here.
valcarde 11-20-07, 06:31 PM	Spell component pouch for the simple things, keep track of expensive stuff. Just keep one thing in mind: "The only difference between a mage's pockets and a young boy's pockets is that you'll find more candy in the child's pocket."
pmurray@bigpond.com 11-20-07, 09:13 PM	Really, does anyone? It seems rather clunky to me to have to do so much book keeping. When my Wiz hit high enogh levels to be able to cast Forcecage, we then understood why you have to pay for material components. Simply allowing the wizard to cage powerful opponents and have the ranger pepper them is a game breaker. An alternative rule, perhaps, is to rule that any spell with expensive components can only be cast from a scroll, on the understanding that a scroll is not nessesarily a scroll-shaped bit of parchment. Thus, the spell Mnemonic Enhancer when prepared has the effect of turning the ivory plaque that is its material component into a scroll.
Sinis 11-22-07, 05:05 PM	An alternative rule, perhaps, is to rule that any spell with expensive components can only be cast from a scroll, on the understanding that a scroll is not nessesarily a scroll-shaped bit of parchment. Thus, the spell Mnemonic Enhancer when prepared has the effect of turning the ivory plaque that is its material component into a scroll. Isn't that like making a scroll of the spell, and merely expending the material component (as well as the gold and XP for the actual scroll)? It's pretty common practice to use scrolls for the heavy component cost items, rather than using up a spell slot for what is usually a very contingent spell.
Vathelokai 11-23-07, 01:16 AM	I generally keep a loose count on what spells have been cast. After the 20th magic missile or so, I mention to the player that they are running low on the component for that spells. Then they either buy a new pouch or beg the ranger to use their survivalist training to find odd plants. There have been other times where the wizard went swimming (against their will) and I told them that the component pouch would have to be dried before they could use the stuff again. But no, I havn't counted specific components since first edition. EDIT: okay, magic missile doesn't have a material component, but you get the idea.
1 ton ghost 11-23-07, 03:45 PM	I generally keep a loose count on what spells have been cast. After the 20th magic missile or so, I mention to the player that they are running low on the component for that spells. Then they either buy a new pouch or beg the ranger to use their survivalist training to find odd plants. There have been other times where the wizard went swimming (against their will) and I told them that the component pouch would have to be dried before they could use the stuff again. well said. this is largely how i play as well for years. simple, easy, believable. yeah, hunt and peck for the "priced" components and consider the generics bought in town 'x' when PC actually says, "i want to replenish". just like an archer and his quiver, you just don't nickle and dime 'em for every scale, eyelash, etc. if it's under a gold, i often look the other way, but don't abuse the system otherwise, well, you know... it's not like a Decanter of Endless Spell Components hmm. feasible?
Salla 11-23-07, 04:18 PM	I just don't use cheap material components at all. Spell component pouch not required.
Baratus114 11-24-07, 08:31 PM	As above, I only keep track of expensive or rare material components so long as the caster has a spell component pouch they restock on a somewhat regular basis. If, for whatever reason they do not have a spell component pouch, well then we get to have some fun.
CeilingNinja 11-25-07, 10:36 AM	If it has a gold cost, ten I keep track of it. Otherwise, no.
Lord_of_Rivendell 11-25-07, 12:38 PM	Has anyone broken down a list of the spell components for, say, the base classes and their spells? LoR
1 ton ghost 11-25-07, 01:53 PM	no one has yet... good idea btw. i bet that might sell to some diehards out there. i mean, look at that guy over in Forgotten Realms. all he did was compile as much historical documentation as he could get his hands on chronologically. a monotonous chore to be sure of, but it writes itself, easy. you're just making 1 big spread sheet, columns, spellcheck, bells and whistles...the rest your editor will handle. now it's a book and he's got credits, etc. hope they gave him a nice %.
Draco Strang 11-25-07, 03:02 PM	Yea, in my games I've always assumed that mages spend their off-hours rounding up bits of fur, interesting flowers, colored sand, and bat poop. That's what the spell component pouch is for, and any mage worth his salt (or bat poop) is going to keep an eye out for a chance to replenish his stock of mundane components, be he on the trail or in a city. Of course, I'm currently playing a wizard who's locked up in an underwater prison complex, with NONE of my gear....meaning no components, or spellbook. I'm 9th level, so I've got lots of spells memorized, but I'm limited to ones that only require verbal and somatic components. Talk about an adventure....:rolleyes: It goes without saying, you SHOULD keep track of diamond dust, precious stones, expensive focus components, and the like. On a side note....do any DM's NOT keep track of the cost/time to scribe spells into spellbooks? I'm religious about it, while I know groups that don't make it an issue.
Sinis 11-26-07, 03:53 PM	On a side note....do any DM's NOT keep track of the cost/time to scribe spells into spellbooks? I'm religious about it, while I know groups that don't make it an issue. Good grief, of course we do! It'd be horrible if the wizard got even better than the sorcerer through lack of enforcement of the rules! ... No offense to those sorcerers out there.
HermitIX 11-27-07, 12:37 PM	(Cross posted from a similar thread in the player forum.) I use them. I love the flavor of them. I also keep track of how many pages I have in my spell book, so it might just be me. I think the hassles of a class make the game more fun. Spell components really are not cumbersome in play. You really just ignore them unless there is a reason not to. Just like a familiar. You pick up odds and ends when you travel. If you want to role play it, just have your wizard go to the local magic shop once a month, and plunk down 1cp and get restocked. Or go to a temple of some god with magic in its portfolio and get restocked for free. The only time it should matter is if your DM is actively trying to stop you from being able to cast spells, then he might take away your pouch. But if he is trying to keep you from casting spells, DMs usually go for the tie you up and gag you approach totally forgetting the pouch. I like to know what my material components are. I used the sand for my sleep spells in a puzzle my DM made up. Also I used wax from one of the candle nubs I use for my summoning spells to make a little voodoo doll and bluff some guards.
Zinger2099 11-27-07, 12:43 PM	(Cross posted from a similar thread in the player forum.) I use them. I love the flavor of them. I also keep track of how many pages I have in my spell book, so it might just be me. I think the hassles of a class make the game more fun. Spell components really are not cumbersome in play. You really just ignore them unless there is a reason not to. Just like a familiar. You pick up odds and ends when you travel. If you want to role play it, just have your wizard go to the local magic shop once a month, and plunk down 1cp and get restocked. Or go to a temple of some god with magic in its portfolio and get restocked for free. The only time it should matter is if your DM is actively trying to stop you from being able to cast spells, then he might take away your pouch. But if he is trying to keep you from casting spells, DMs usually go for the tie you up and gag you approach totally forgetting the pouch. I like to know what my material components are. I used the sand for my sleep spells in a puzzle my DM made up. Also I used wax from one of the candle nubs I use for my summoning spells to make a little voodoo doll and bluff some guards. Can you play in my group? Please? :P
Roac 11-27-07, 12:54 PM	In my first time playing the game i thought you did and my warlock spent much of his time sculpting little clay hands for some spell i didn't know sucked at the time. Then my dm yelled at me for not having a spell component pouch.
nlentz88 11-29-07, 06:00 PM	Like most of the DMs posting in this thread, I don't make the players track material components that cost less than 1 gp. However, I won't just assume that the PC has the proper components in his pouch. For example, a sorcer PC leveled up in the middle of a dungeon and learned a new spell. The required material component was a dried squid tentacle. I wasn't going to just let the player assume the PC was carrying squid tentacle in case he leveled up and took this specific spell. That would be silly.
Loren Pechtel 11-29-07, 07:00 PM	Expensive or hard to obtain components. Otherwise, I only track them if something has happened to the mage's gear.
Mock26 11-29-07, 07:06 PM	Yes. And I require my players to keep track of them as well.
AngelofCthulhu 11-29-07, 09:31 PM	Sort of. Costly ones, obviously. They are costly FOR A REASON. Non-costly ones: I only care if they can reach them. If they are being grappled and the spell has a material component, I am going to care then, but I am not going to worry about the price of bat guano.
Legdiwena 12-04-07, 06:32 PM	If you houserule having to keep track of the free components, do your players take Eschew Materials?
Sinis 12-04-07, 08:54 PM	If you houserule having to keep track of the free components, do your players take Eschew Materials? I certainly would.
Nytmare 12-06-07, 02:25 AM	We use a fumble chart that includes the chance of running out of mundane spell components. Each spell component pouch protects you against one component fumble. A new, full component pouch costs 1 gold. Refilling an empty pouch is a DC 10 Search check (+2 for 5 ranks of Gather Information, Knowledge: Arcana, or Knowledge: Nature) that takes 1d4+1 hours.