D&D 5E Spell focus needs an errated rule

[UngeheuerLich]

The alchemist artificer and now the spirit bard gets an ability that has no usage: adding a d6 to healing spells cast through a certain focus (except for the 5th level regenerate spell).
So someon should twitter J. Crawford and tell him to write a sentence somewhere in the rules that you are always free to use a focus for any spell without costly material components if you wish.

 

[Flamestrike]

The alchemist artificer and now the spirit bard gets an ability that has no usage: adding a d6 to healing spells cast through a certain focus (except for the 5th level regenerate spell).
So someon should twitter J. Crawford and tell him to write a sentence somewhere in the rules that you are always free to use a focus for any spell without costly material components if you wish.

You can use a focus in place of non-costly material components. Which every single Artificer spell has, thanks to the 'Tools required' rules for Artificers.

Bards Im less sure of.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Yeah, all artificer spells use a focus, so it's not an issue there. As DM I would certainly rule as you suggest, but I can see some DMs ruling otherwise and nerfing the ability.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

You can use a focus in place of non-costly material components. Which every single Artificer spell has, thanks to the 'Tools required' rules for Artificers.

Bards Im less sure of.

Good catch. So for the alch it was ok... but they copy pasted it into the wrong place...
actually I looked in the bard entry for such an entry... :/
I guess in 3.5 every bard spell had a verbal component by default...

 

[aco175]

I would have thought it would require something more special than any old focus but the spirit bards is saving things like an orb, skull, candle or such.

Now this will bring up the life cleric and how he needs a boost to keep him at the front of the healing line. It's a vicious cycle.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

+1d6 on healing spell in no way invalidates the life cleric...

It is just that the ability makes no sense as written.
It should either read that the bard just has to hold the focus in hand like many spell focuses read, but i think a general rule would serve the spirit better. The cleric would also profit from that change.
As ponted out, that just seems to be a copy paste error by the designers, who nearly copied the ability from the artificer without regarding the interaction with the focus dependance of the artificer (which I also overlooked).

 

[jasper]

I not seeing the problem.

Spiritual Focus​

3rd-level College of Spirits feature

You employ tools that aid you in channeling spirits, be they historical figures or fictional archetypes. You can use the following objects as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells: a candle, crystal ball, skull, spirit board, or tarokka deck.

Starting at 6th level, when you cast a bard spell that deals damage or restores hit points through the Spiritual Focus, roll a d6, and you gain a bonus to one damage or healing roll of the spell equal to the number rolled.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

There are no heal spells requiring a focus. But yes, depending on the reading, the usage of those things as focuses could imply that you may use them on ay spells. But I think that needs more clarity. And this would make spellcasting a lot less annoying.

 

[cbwjm]

I pretty much already ignore the actual rules for a focus and allow them to be used for any spell even if it doesn't have a material component. This means they don't need to holster their wand if they have something in the other hand and want to cast a V, S spell. I also only allow a single focus to be used with a spell so no doubling up on bonuses from different wands or implements.

 

[FarBeyondC]

There are no heal spells requiring a focus. But yes, depending on the reading, the usage of those things as focuses could imply that you may use them on ay spells. But I think that needs more clarity. And this would make spellcasting a lot less annoying.

Which just means that part of the feature is currently useless. Unless bards also have no damage dealing spells requiring a focus, the ability still has it use.