how do you use spell components

[HellHound]

While I understnad the desire for verisimilitude that comes from tracking mundane things like minor spell components, wear and tear on armor and weapons (D&D), or stress point accumulation, number of rounds fired through a gun since it was last cleaned, and minor side-effects from drugs (cyberpunk) and so on, in most campaigns involving more than 1 or 2 players, this minutia tends to get in the way of enjoying a more epic adventure, as the game bogs down in the tracking of minor things.

Now, this CAN be a lot of fun - I've played a game where the full four-hour session centred around tyring to get access to a phone to make a long-distance orbital phone call... but typically, we play these games for a more grand escapist feeling than to be absorbed into the small details of daily existance for our characters.

 

[DonTadow]

While I understnad the desire for verisimilitude that comes from tracking mundane things like minor spell components, wear and tear on armor and weapons (D&D), or stress point accumulation, number of rounds fired through a gun since it was last cleaned, and minor side-effects from drugs (cyberpunk) and so on, in most campaigns involving more than 1 or 2 players, this minutia tends to get in the way of enjoying a more epic adventure, as the game bogs down in the tracking of minor things.

Now, this CAN be a lot of fun - I've played a game where the full four-hour session centred around tyring to get access to a phone to make a long-distance orbital phone call... but typically, we play these games for a more grand escapist feeling than to be absorbed into the small details of daily existance for our characters.

I think the monetary realism of spell components and wear and tear on armor and weapons is important to keeping with the realism of the game. It is also about balance. However, you are correct as it can get really mundane and boring if it becomes a chore for your pcs. To acknowledge the cost without being a burden, I have my pcs pay a percentage of there armor and weapon upkeep at the beginning of there level. They have to be in a village and say there going to do it, now whether or not they want to role play it out is up to sthem. If they don't there spells, weapons and armor are less effective until they do.
No need for tracking every hit and hardness value "unless an npc is specifically trying to destroy it "