D&D 5E Alternative Foci for Bards and Druids?

[aco175]

I also remember a 2e specialty priest having a jar of manure they carried around.

 

[MarkB]

I'm making a warforged druid as my next character, using the Circle of the Forge from Keith Baker's Exploring Eberron, and the concept for him is that most of his 'druidic' abilities are functions of his unique warforged construction - i.e. when he casts Grasping Vine, he's throwing out a tendril of his own connective root-structure.

I've struggled to find the right Focus for him. Currently I'm going with the eyes of a fallen comrade from the Last War (also a warforged) which he carries for sentimental reasons.

 

[Tonguez]

I'm making a warforged druid as my next character, using the Circle of the Forge from Keith Baker's Exploring Eberron, and the concept for him is that most of his 'druidic' abilities are functions of his unique warforged construction - i.e. when he casts Grasping Vine, he's throwing out a tendril of his own connective root-structure.

I've struggled to find the right Focus for him. Currently I'm going with the eyes of a fallen comrade from the Last War (also a warforged) which he carries for sentimental reasons.

You should give him blueskin and have his foci be the biochips of fallen comrades named Gunnar, Bagman and Helm

 

[MarkB]

You should give him blueskin and have his foci be the biochips of fallen comrades named Gunnar, Bagman and Helm

I like it.

 

[Lidgar]

I also remember a 2e specialty priest having a jar of manure they carried around.

I had a 2e priest that carried dried pig intestines and donned a cow head as his hat.

 

[Ashrym]

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[Levistus's_Leviathan]

I have a variant rule that allows bards to replace the Somatic and worthless Material components with Verbal components, such as singing or reciting poetry. If the spell already required Verbal components, they have to use Somatic components, emulating hand movements and other gestures to channel their bardic magic.

For Bards certain items of clothing things that are part of a costume, like a cloak or a scarf if the bard is more of a dancer.

I actually made a subclass that did exactly that! It was a "College of Dance" Bard that wore a "Dance Costume" that counted as a spellcasting focus for them, as long as they weren't restrained or otherwise incapable of moving.

 

[Ashrym]

I have a variant rule that allows bards to replace the Somatic and worthless Material components with Verbal components, such as singing or reciting poetry. If the spell already required Verbal components, they have to use Somatic components, emulating hand movements and other gestures to channel their bardic magic.

I actually made a subclass that did exactly that! It was a "College of Dance" Bard that wore a "Dance Costume" that counted as a spellcasting focus for them, as long as they weren't restrained or otherwise incapable of moving.

Even if someone didn't care for variations like that I would just add taps or castanets. Dance should be applicable for somatics.

 

[AmerginLiath]

A pet rock is a spell focus and low-upkeep animal companion in one!

 

[rgoodbb]

Loved all these. Thanks folks.