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Message: <blockquote data-quote="paranoid" data-source="post: 1220754" data-attributes="member: 13419">I always wondered why certain spells had these strange material spell components. I know, it's magic, but if you want, you can see some "logic" behind most spell components. The designers apparently wanted to create some sort of allegory. For example, fireball needs sulphur and bat guano, which in itself can be explosive. alarm needs a bell and wire, which is self-explanatory. Lightning Bolt needs fur and a glass rod, which creates static electricity. Fear requires a hen's heart, which symbolizes cowardice. Passwall needs sesame seeds - Ali Baba's spoke the words "Open Sesame" to get into the cave. Tongues requires the shattering of a ziggurat, which probably symbolizes the Babylonian Tower and the scattering of languages.But some spell components simply stump me and and I have no idea about the  designers' intention. For example, the summon monster spells: why do you need a candle and a bag? I would have understood a cylinder and a rabbit... <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /> Or take haste. "A shaving of licorice root". Is something known about physiological acceleration effects of licorice that I don't know of?These are the jokes I don't get:Acid / Solid Fog - A pinch of dried, powdered peas combined with powdered animal hoofAntimagic Field - A pinch of powdered iron or iron filingsAntipathy - A lump of alum soaked in vinegarArcane Eye - A bit of bat furComprehend Languages - A pinch of soot and a few grains of saltDarkvision - Either a pinch of dried carrot [Vitamin A?] or an agateDaze - A pinch of wool or similar substanceDetect Thoughts - A copper piece ["a penny for your thoughts?"]Disintegrate - A lodestone and a pinch of dustDisplacement - A small strip of leather twisted into a loopEnlarge / Reduce Person - A pinch of powdered ironFalse Life - A small amount of alcohol or distilled spirits, which you use to trace certain sigils on your body during castingFloating Disk - A drop of mercuryForesight - A hummingbird’s featherFreedom of Movement - A leather thong, bound around the arm or a similar appendageGhost Sound - A bit of wool or a small lump of waxHaste - A shaving of licorice rootHold Person [H. Monster is similar] - A small, straight piece of ironIllusory Script - A lead-based ink Invisibility - An eyelash encased in a bit of gum arabicLegend Lore - Four strips of ivory (worth 50 gp each) formed into a rectangleLevitate - Either a small leather loop or a piece of golden wire bent into a cup shape with a long shank on one endMagic Mouth - A small bit of honeycomb and jade dust worth 10 gpMagic Weapon, Greater - Powdered lime and carbonMnemonic Enhancer - An ivory plaque of at least 50 gp valuePersistent Image (and other Image spells) - A bit of fleece and several grains of sandPolymorph Any Object - Mercury, gum arabic, and smokeRepulsion - A pair of small iron bars attached to two small canine statuettes, one black and one whiteRope Trick - Powdered corn extract and a twisted loop of parchmentSecret Page - Powdered herring scales and will-o’-wisp essenceSee Invisibility - A pinch of talc and a small sprinkling of powdered silverSummon Monster - A tiny bag and a small (not necessarily lit) candleCan somebody clear me up on these?-p.</blockquote>

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