D&D 5E Is the only purpose of a spellcasting focus to eschew common material components?

[el_stiko]

Differences between basic and starter

I notice that the basic rules state you can use a focus in place of components, but the starter only says the cleric can do that.

Further, the leaked alpha of the PHB skips that concept entirely.

 

[evilbob]

I assumed it was so you could carry only a wand and cast spells.

(Perhaps to attract a certain sort of wizard?)

 

[Thaumaturge]

I assumed it was so you could carry only a wand and cast spells.

(Perhaps to attract a certain sort of wizard?)

Like a hairy maker of pots?

Thaumaturge.

 

[YourSwordIsMine]

Is it one or the other? Either use a foci or use the spell component pouch?

Could you not have a pouch for when you cant reach/use your Focus?

 

[Ichneumon]

Orbs exist for providing telepathic communication with a cosmos-spanning Big Bad, when borrowed from their sleeping owner's grasp.

 

[Nagol]

Is it one or the other? Either use a foci or use the spell component pouch?

Could you not have a pouch for when you cant reach/use your Focus?

You can have several types of foci, multiple pouches and then a supply of your more commonly used components stashed about your body if you wish so far as I can tell. They are all basic equipment.

 

[Tony Vargas]

I'm sure there will be magical foci and other benefits forthcoming.

IIRC, they first appeared in the playtest as a way of giving casters their proficiency bonus to save DC. Now that's just automatic.

 

[Kraztur]

It could also be a story hook.

If you're like a Harry Potter wizard, you get your wand foci in wizard school.

If you're like Raistlin, you find your foci once you come into your own, say at 3rd level.

 

[Ramaster]

"you wouldn't deny an old man his walking stick"...

You wouldn't deny an old man his bag of animal feces...

On a more serious note, I thought that codifying and giving special qualities to the different foci (what 4e did) was a move in the right direction. It is both thematically sound and mechanically interesting.

 

[jrowland]

Interestingly enough, Spells like "Globe of Invulnerability" have a material component that is consumed (glass bead). If you use your Arcane Focus, I suppose that would be consumed as well - bye bye focus. Note, this is not like Raise Dead that uses a 500gp diamond (ie you MUST have a 500gp diamond).

Of course, I think the intent is: Use whatever floats your boat. (levitate, nyuk nyuk)