Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ZHDarkstar Oct 04, 2014 14:39:49	A player at my AL table wants to spend his downtime days to craft an Arcane Focus (crystal) from a 50gp diamond, his expensive material component for Chromatic Sphere. The player's logic is that diamonds are crystals and the wording of Arcane Focus allows for similar items to be used. Game Support gave me a generic "it's your call" response, even though this is for use in organized play. At this point, I might as well ask about it here to see what everyone thinks.   Would you allow this? If so, what price would you charge?
#2 AaronOfBarbaria Oct 04, 2014 14:45:38	Player wants his crystal to be his chromatic sphere material component? That's simple.   Costs 60 gp, just like buying the two items separately would, but the flavor description is different so that it matches what the player wants.
#3 El_Condoro Oct 04, 2014 18:10:05	I wouldn't have a problem with this. The spell doesn't say the 50gp diamond is consumed with the casting of Chromatic Orb, so as long as he has something like a diamond worth 50+ gp, it's all good. And, as said, some flavor description, which I would ask the player to provide.   Some may argue that goes against PHB203: But if a cost is indicated for a component, a character must have that specific component before he or she can cast the spell. Personally, I wouldn't worry about it unless diamonds were especially hard to get hold of or some other reason made it a requirment that a diamond was needed.
#4 Novacat Oct 04, 2014 18:12:01	As long as the diamond isn't consumed by the spell, there's no reason whatsoever to disallow it.
#5 ZHDarkstar Oct 04, 2014 19:21:04	Along the same line of logic, would there be any reason to disallow embedding of reusable expensive material components in a casting focus, where thematically appropriate? Need to cover all bases before opening the floodgates to casters wanting staves with all sorts of jewels and trinkets built-in.   Although I have to admit that the idea of a high-level blaster wielding a staff with a diamond/magnifying glass in the head for casting Sunbeam/Chromatic Sphere is kinda cool from a flavor perspective. I'm just worried about the mechanical implications of it all.
#6 Novacat Oct 04, 2014 19:26:35	Not at all. As long as they have the components, and they are of full monetary value, it doesn't matter where a caster keeps them. There's no rule saying a wizard *must* keep his material components in his component pouch, only that it is common.
#7 El_Condoro Oct 04, 2014 19:26:55	Personally, I would love to see a player have this much attachment to a character, and creativity. What 'mechanical implications' are you worried about?
#8 ZHDarkstar Oct 04, 2014 19:46:01	Normally you'd have to switch items between a spellcasting focus and an expensive material component. Combining the two could affect the action economy.
#9 Novacat Oct 04, 2014 19:49:31	ZHDarkstar wrote:
(Reply to #8) AaronOfBarbaria	ZHDarkstar wrote:
#11 jonathonhawke Oct 05, 2014 10:32:56	AaronOfBarbaria wrote:
(Reply to #11) Timborama	jonathonhawke wrote:
#13 Joe_the_Rat Oct 08, 2014 12:51:56	Same concept, different implementation.   Let's say your wizard wanted to incorporate their 50gp diamond into the hilt or pommel of a dagger. Or perhaps they want to put their arcane focus (crystal) into their dagger. How would that impact things?
(Reply to #13) AaronOfBarbaria	Joe_the_Rat wrote:
#15 Strill Oct 08, 2014 15:44:28	Timborama wrote:
(Reply to #15) AaronOfBarbaria	Strill wrote: