Cast your spell with style! In this article, we explore different ways you can use the often-overlooked material components of spells to spice up your c...
Ignoring or handwaving components is 100% legit. DMs and groups should not use so many rules that they get overwhelmed.
We do use a lot of component related stuff in our campaign because we’re such hopeless tryhards. A list of magic words for the verbal components, and costs added to the material components low-level food-and-light–giving spells such as Light and Dancing Lights. And the special ink that wizards use in their spellbook.
It’s a part of the game I really love 🤷🏻♀️
The idea is that when we’re counting torches or trying to buy a pearl or incense, our concerns are the same as the character’s concern. We are doing what they are doing. There’s something magical in that.
That’s not to sell anyone else on this philosophy. I love it so we do it—don’t do it if you don’t love it. Keep it simple and keep the parts of the game that you love.
And we absolutely do use focus or component pouch for all non-costed components so we don’t have to track basic eyelashes and guano. We also use the rule from Tasha’s Cauldron that even rangers and paladins can use a focus. (That might’ve just been an oversight in the PHB.)
I wish I could find a party full of players like you. I love it when players take the care to feel the negative effects of adventuring. My current character is a barbarian who wears a military-style uniform. When not raging, he is obsessed a little with keeping a neat, disciplined appearance and maintaining his clothing according to a high standard. But he can never do that, because he “Hulks out” in pretty much every combat and covers his uniform in gore and blood and unspeakable filth.
We spend a lot of time worrying about finding my character clean clothes, or laundry service, because it’s what the character himself is concerned with.
Ignoring or handwaving components is 100% legit. DMs and groups should not use so many rules that they get overwhelmed.
We do use a lot of component related stuff in our campaign because we’re such hopeless tryhards. A list of magic words for the verbal components, and costs added to the material components low-level food-and-light–giving spells such as Light and Dancing Lights. And the special ink that wizards use in their spellbook.
It’s a part of the game I really love 🤷🏻♀️
The idea is that when we’re counting torches or trying to buy a pearl or incense, our concerns are the same as the character’s concern. We are doing what they are doing. There’s something magical in that.
That’s not to sell anyone else on this philosophy. I love it so we do it—don’t do it if you don’t love it. Keep it simple and keep the parts of the game that you love.
And we absolutely do use focus or component pouch for all non-costed components so we don’t have to track basic eyelashes and guano. We also use the rule from Tasha’s Cauldron that even rangers and paladins can use a focus. (That might’ve just been an oversight in the PHB.)
I wish I could find a party full of players like you. I love it when players take the care to feel the negative effects of adventuring. My current character is a barbarian who wears a military-style uniform. When not raging, he is obsessed a little with keeping a neat, disciplined appearance and maintaining his clothing according to a high standard. But he can never do that, because he “Hulks out” in pretty much every combat and covers his uniform in gore and blood and unspeakable filth.
We spend a lot of time worrying about finding my character clean clothes, or laundry service, because it’s what the character himself is concerned with.