Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 spellbinder5150 Dec 04, 2014 11:35:27	I have read several times in the Player's Handbook about using a holy focus or arcane focus when spellcasting but I cannot seem to find what the mechanical effects of using these are.  Can anyone help me please? The book has me flipping all over the book.
#2 Xaspian Dec 05, 2014 10:08:21	What edition are you talking about?   If 4e, then a non-magical holy symbol or implement does very little. Magical implements add their enchancement bonus to attack rolls and damage to powers with the Implement keyword.   if 5e, a spellcasting focus (such as a wand or holy symbol, dependant on the class) can be used in place of the material components for spells that require them, see page 203 in the PHB for details.
#3 Panartias Dec 06, 2014 11:52:31	In earlier editions (2nd and 3rd) a holy symbol was a frequent “material component” for priest spells – but it wasn’t consumed in the spell like other material components usually are. Therefor it was renamed “focus” to indicate it could be reused.   An example for a wizard-spell with consumable material components as well as a focus would be the 2nd ed Magic Mirror (4th level spell) that worked like a crystal-ball. The focus was the silver mirror (value at least 1000 GP) while the eye of a hawk, eagle or roc and certain chemicals were material components that were consumed.