How do you handle costly material components?

[Dark Jezter]

Just curious, but how do you all handle material components that have a monetary cost attached to them? Examples are spells like Stoneskin, Resurrection, Identify, etc.

 

[Skade]

I see no reason why a wizard cannot take the time to have acquired any costly components during game time. I prefer my players to have mapped out the coming level in advance, and should already know about these components in advance. Sorcerors in my campaign spend XP for these components, so its not an issue there. Should the spell be found in a spell book, its always possible that the necessary component may be found somewhere in the library, or on the person from which it was lifted.

 

[diaglo]

they need to find them. they need to roleplay buying/acquiring them. they need to know why they need them.

this is a perfect place to add hooks or quests or etc...

don't throw it away, by letting the players escape the roleplay.

 

[Ravellion]

they need to find them. they need to roleplay buying/acquiring them. they need to know why they need them.

this is a perfect place to add hooks or quests or etc...

don't throw it away, by letting the players escape the roleplay.

You don't have to "throw it away" and you don't let your players "escape the roleplay". I am going to be a teacher IRL soon, don't need to be one behind the screen.

In any case, if I need to drop a hook at a mageware shop, I will say: "As you go to the mageware shop, as you always do..."

Just because you don't roleplay it, doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Like characters peeing and burping for instance. I think stuff like this actually takes away from roleplaying. "Going to the jewellers. Again. Buying Diamond dust.Again."

The bookkeeping required also makes it that people can't pay attention / will slow down the game.

Rav
devil's advocate

 

[diaglo]

In any case, if I need to drop a hook at a mageware shop, I will say: "As you go to the mageware shop, as you always do..."
Rav
devil's advocate

and this obvious attempt at a hook is instantly picked up by the players.

PLayer: i go and buy my components.

DM: "As you go to the mageware shop, as you always do..."

Player: I guess I need to write this hook down. b/c you wouldn't have interrupted my purchase otherwise, unless it was an important hook.



you may find encumberance and material component purchases as mundane. but sometimes they can be more important. be subtle. don't hit them over the head with your plot hooks.

 

[MarauderX]

Cut it out...

In my streamlining of the game, I just cut out the material components and instead just charge the wizards a standard amount per month. This amount goes up per level, so at first I started with 1 GP/month, then doubled it for each level thereafter. At 8th level it was still ok at 128 GP/month, and the wiz player tried to buck the system since they were broke from being robbed, so I cut it back to doubling just per spell level instead of character level. It was still pretty expensive overall for a character that just reached a new spell level, but they got used to it. It's a lot better than keeping track of the subjective costs of spell components.

 

[Mercule]

Having just been bitten myself for not having the the 50gpv of ruby dust for a continual flame, I've just become aware of how many spells actually use more expensive or rare components.

Considering that I prefer a lower magic setting than D&D is usually considered, I see costly material components to be a means of controlling this.

 

[Seonaid]

If it's really rare in this setting, or if it's extremely expensive, characters must get it in advance. However, if it's something common or we can assume they have it bouncing around somewhere, the cost is deducted or (in most cases) ignored completely.

 

[Joseph Elric Smith]

I make find or pre buy it. on the expensive items.
Ken