Disarming or sundering spell components

[Mort]

Have there been any threads on this topic (I don’t think there have been any recent ones).

Seriously, If I’m a fighter of any level worth mentioning I know for example that when a wizard pulls out a glass rod he’s about to cast lightning bolt. I also know that if I hit him, he may well make the concentration check and fry me. Why not
A) disarm the rod or
B) Shatter the rod (as in sunder, I know that the rod is not a “weapon” but really if you can sunder a dagger or mace in someone’s hand a glass rod should be easy pickings.)

There are numerous other spells with fragile components that this would work on as well. And while this may not be an extremely viable melee tactic, archer’s with ranged disarm should have a field day.

 

[Shin Okada]

First of all, the option you have mentioned is "strike an object". You cannot sunder rods or material component unless that thing is actually a weapon. Usually, it is not so difficult to strike an object even if it is in someone's hand. But you provoke an AoA even if you have Sunder feat.

There can be several other problems,

1) It is almost impossible to guess if the mage will try to cast a spell with material component or not. So your readied action tend to be wasted so often.
2) Usually, you don't know which pouch is the spell component pouch, or what kind of item is a material component. So, you must declare a ready action like this "If the guy picks up an item from his pouch or bag, I will strike that item (or I will strike that pouch)."
3) Even if you have crushed a material component, mage can just pick up another component IMO. Because picking up a material component is a free action, or maybe not an action at all.
4) Striking a pouch may work better. But again, a mage may have two or more pouches. And he can just use another pouch IMO.

 

[Mort]

Isn't striking an object easier than sundering anyway? And you probably do not provoke an AoO as the mage is likely unarmed or you are shooting an arrow at him. So that's not realy a deterant.

As for picking up another component - well the real question is, is the spell wasted when the component is ruined during casting?

I wouldn't think that picking out a component is a free action; it's part of the standard action of casting the spell - meaning it takes just as much time to get the component as to cast the spell itself.

First of all, the option you have mentioned is "strike an object". You cannot sunder rods or material component unless that thing is actually a weapon. Usually, it is not so difficult to strike an object even if it is in someone's hand. But you provoke an AoA even if you have Sunder feat.

There can be several other problems,

1) It is almost impossible to guess if the mage will try to cast a spell with material component or not. So your readied action tend to be wasted so often.
2) Usually, you don't know which pouch is the spell component pouch, or what kind of item is a material component. So, you must declare a ready action like this "If the guy picks up an item from his pouch or bag, I will strike that item (or I will strike that pouch)."
3) Even if you have crushed a material component, mage can just pick up another component IMO. Because picking up a material component is a free action, or maybe not an action at all.
4) Striking a pouch may work better. But again, a mage may have two or more pouches. And he can just use another pouch IMO.