D&D 5E Spell focus needs an errated rule

[NotAYakk]

Yes, we get how it is supposed to work. Basically like this:

Spellcasting Focus
There are items that can be used as a focus to help cast spells. To use a spellcasting focus to cast a spell, it must be compatible with how you are able to cast that spell. For example, if you are able to cast a spell because you are a sorcerer or have a feat or class feature that lets you pick a sorcerer spell, you can use arcane focuses for casting that spell.

Using a spellcasting focus requires that it be in your hand, or that you have a free hand to manipulate it.

When casting a spell with a spellcasting focus, you can use it or the hand you are manipulating it to perform any somatic components and manipulate the material components for the spell. Unless the material components has a written value, or the components are specific to the spell's target creature or location, or the material components are consumed, or the spell's description uses the material component as part of the effect (such as hitting a creature with a weapon), you can ignore the M component of the spell when using the spellcasting focus.

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But sadly, the rules for spellcasting focuses are not exactly that. They are instead a web of specific substitutions and exceptions.

And because next to nobody actually pays attention to those substitutions, even seemingly the designers of D&D, ignoring them is the best policy (hence, the rewording above).

 

[SkidAce]

I’m not clear why the wording is found to be so objectionable or how one reads the ability as being “useless”. The fiction works. If you must, think of it as Specific beats General. In the General rule, a Focus replaces Material components. In the Specific rule for Spiritual Focus, the Focus also enhances certain spells, regardless of components.

I mean I agree with @Swarmkeeper . Bard healing spells dont require M, but the ability says you can use the Spiritual Focus to boost healing.

Apparently I am missing the controversy. (which I often do)

 

[Charlaquin]

Focuses (Foci?)

Both are correct, it’s just a stylistic choice.

 

[jmartkdr2]

I mean I agree with @Swarmkeeper . Bard healing spells dont require M, but the ability says you can use the Spiritual Focus to boost healing.

Apparently I am missing the controversy. (which I often do)

A strict reading of the rules* could say that you can't use a focus on a spell that does not require a material component, and this specific rule doesn't say it is an exception to that rule, therefore the exception doesn't exist - stated overrides implied, after all.

This reading, which isn't technically incorrect, would invalidate this feature, as well as not allowing a rod of the pact keeper to enhance eldritch blasts.

* Ultimately, reading 5e rules strictly is probably a bad idea. Reading them as natural language doesn't create this issue - of course it's supposed to work on healing spells, so it must be an exception even if it isn't called out (assuming you even enforced the rule about not being able to use foci with no-material spells in the first places)

 

[UngeheuerLich]

A strict reading of the rules* could say that you can't use a focus on a spell that does not require a material component, and this specific rule doesn't say it is an exception to that rule, therefore the exception doesn't exist - stated overrides implied, after all.

This reading, which isn't technically incorrect, would invalidate this feature, as well as not allowing a rod of the pact keeper to enhance eldritch blasts.

* Ultimately, reading 5e rules strictly is probably a bad idea. Reading them as natural language doesn't create this issue - of course it's supposed to work on healing spells, so it must be an exception even if it isn't called out (assuming you even enforced the rule about not being able to use foci with no-material spells in the first places)

Rod of the pact keeper works, because it just specifies holding the rod.
It doesn't say something about casting the spell through the focus...
The designer here understood that the focus rule is not clear, and so holding is enough.
Actually, if you use two rods, use one as a focus you could probably argue that you may apply both bonuses... (of course only to a spell with a non costly material component... oh well...

PS: we all know how it is supposed to work. I am just asking for a clarification. You probably can reorganize the text in the spellcasting section to add an extra paragraph about usage of foci.

 

[jmartkdr2]

You probably can reorganize the text in the spellcasting section to add an extra paragraph about usage of foci.

It's actually pretty easy to do that. Just move the sentence about using the hand holding a focus to also be able to perform somatic components to the somatic components paragraph. Boom, solved. (As are a number of other issues with components, really.)

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Bards run into this problem as well with Instruments of the Bards that impose disadvantage on saves vs Charm effects, when you use the Instrument as a focus.

As written, there are few Bard spells that both a) Impose the Charmed condition and b) Have an M component attached.

Pretty sure the ruling (from JC) was that bards can use those items as M foci for any spell that imposes the Charmed condition, regardless of whether the spell has an M focus or not.

I actually looked it up, and the rule was "no", but it got errated...

 

[jasper]

Still not seeing the problem. At 3rd level you create a SPELL FOCUS. At 6th level when you shake your spell focus you gain a d6 to damage/healing spells. This just specific overwriting general.

 

[Steampunkette]

Specific beats general.

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.

This entry is very specific in that it says you can use one of these objects as a spell casting focus when you cast Bard spells. It does not say Bard spells with a material component.

Ergo you are turning the spell casting focus into an additional component for Bard spells.

And thus any bard healing spell that you cast through your focus adds the d6.

 

[Argyle King]

You can still use a focus even if the spell doesn't require that you use one.

Right?

I'm not understanding the issue.