Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 AvaronGansdell Jul 10, 2014 14:21:05	So new edition of D&D yay, well reading through I come across spellcasting focuses, cool cool see chapter 10 for what they do, a bunch of reading later I get there and find out all they do is function as a spell component pouch. that seemed a bit lame, especialy due to foci being cheaper often much cheaper than a component pouch.   I have allways loved the idea of spellcasters useing rare and strange items to cast there spells and replaceing them all with a wand seems a bit too harry potter. I Do Love the idea of spellcasters brandishing about there staff/holy symbol/wand exc. but the mechanical benefits seem a bit boring and repeditive.   If it was up to me I would change it so that spellcasting focuses grant the person useing them a proficency bonus on con checks made to maintain concentration on spells, people seem concerned that concentration checks are going to be too difficult to make as you level, and encourage people to take a level of fighter just for con proficiency this would help with that, make focuses useful without just a replacement for a component pouch and shouldent be terribly overpowerd due to the non stacking nature of proficency.
#2 Shiroiken Jul 10, 2014 15:42:15	That was the rule during the playtest. It has a few problems, however, especially from spells granted outside of a class (which gives you your focus).   My solution is to remove all non-magic arcane foci, and require holy symbols/mistletoe for divine magic to even work.
#3 docdoom77 Jul 10, 2014 15:45:46	Shiroiken wrote:
#4 DemoMonkey Jul 10, 2014 15:52:23	There may be +1 focus items (excluding spell component pouches) in the DMG that give your spells with to hit rolls a +1, or increase the spell save DC by 1.   As it is, a staff (since you probably want one anyways) and a wand (in case you need to go somewhere you can't carry an obvious weapon)  will STILL cost a wizard 10 gp less than a component pouch. It does seem to be a poor choice.
#5 FallingIcicle Jul 10, 2014 15:57:02	Component Pouches do have a big advantage over the other options - they let you have your hands free. Plus, a component pouch can't be easily identified by an enemy. How would they know what's in the pouch? A wand or orb, on the other hand, is obvious. That's why component pouches cost more than the other options.   I agree that it would be nice if implements did something more, but there may be be feats or other options for that in the PHB.
#6 MechaPilot Jul 10, 2014 18:16:45	AvaronGansdell wrote:
#7 Polaris Jul 10, 2014 18:56:21	MechaPilot wrote:
#8 Ashrym Jul 10, 2014 22:26:52	There were also mention of foci for clerics, paladins, druids, sorcerer, wizards, and warlocks but not bards or rangers so it might be a requirement for a component pouch for some classes where others can have a cheaper alternative. I am waiting for the PHB to see.
#9 AvaronGansdell Jul 11, 2014 1:50:15	also the component pouch dose not save you a hand, the rules for material components are clear that you need a free hand to manipulate the components, though it is allowed to be the same hand that you need free to preform somatic components.