D&D 4E Material components and spell books? Get rid of them for 4e!

[gizmo33]

Oh, I shoulda clarified; I'd put the material components with a GP value in a completely different category from the miscellaneous-crap-you-find-under-your-couch components.

So what about the hypothetical captured wizard with no stuff? Is he able to cast spells with M components?

 

[GreatLemur]

So what about the hypothetical captured wizard with no stuff? Is he able to cast spells with M components?

If his captors didn't gag and bind him? Sure, why the hell not. For plot device purposes, there's nothing wrong with sticking him in an anti-magic field or something, but otherwise I'm as okay with the captured Wizard being able to cast whatever he's still got memorized as I am with the captured Monk being able to do his thing.

 

[gizmo33]

If his captors didn't gag and bind him? Sure, why the hell not. For plot device purposes, there's nothing wrong with sticking him in an anti-magic field or something, but otherwise I'm as okay with the captured Wizard being able to cast whatever he's still got memorized as I am with the captured Monk being able to do his thing.

Even in the RAW he's be able to case the V/S spells without his components. I don't really have a strong preference, and the fact that some spells require M and some don't I find to be a little arbitrary, there seems to be no logic that establishes why they're needed in one case and not the other. I will say that the problem with an anti-magic field is that it would be a little weird to give one to a bunch of goblins. Without some reliable way of being able to capture wizards, it just makes more sense to kill them all instead of capturing, which is rough luck for the PC I guess. Otherwise "why the hell not" is as good an argument as any.

 

[JDJblatherings]

get captured and sripped of yuor stuff no spells requiring M components. You specifically don't have them how can you cast spells requiring them?
I'm all for the simple magic-bag approach where we dont' worry about cheapie components but if that bag is hanging on a peg on the otherside of the room from the barred cell then the M spells are off limits. Unless the player can scrape up a resonable replacement component that might not work as well or as long but still works because the player put the effort into it. (unless of course the replacement component was horrible beyond belief).

 

[Gargoyle]

I think that material components and spellbooks should not be required for any wizard to use their abilities, but perhaps as a way to enhance spells. Give them a small bonus when using them, rather than screwing them when they run out of rose petals or when the BBEG steals their spellbook. Rare components and magical spellbooks can give better bonuses.

Rewards, not punishment plz.

 

[RigaMortus2]

I like how AE does it. There are no spell components for basic spell casting. But with the right spell template, if you do CHOOSE to use a spell component, you get a better effect (ie better damage, added effect, etc.)

I like that idea

 

[Imp]

Instead of spell components I would rather have arcane magic work through focus items (cleric-style) – whether that's just one focus, or a focus per spell type (a item to cast fire spells, air spells, illusions) could be an option, but it would be better if it were limited.

Expensive material components for balance purposes can stay.

Spellbooks I could take or leave.

In this scenario, all the ooky miscellaneous wizard stuff would be confined to laboratories where the wizard learns how to cast the spell in the first place.

 

[howandwhy99]

We use spell components and spell books and it's actually very fun. But we don't potentially have 100's of spells to know either, so they never overwhelm the players.

Many people simply houserule them away and, as long as 4e allows folks to do so, there shouldn't be an issue with including them in core D&D.

 

[GreatLemur]

I will say that the problem with an anti-magic field is that it would be a little weird to give one to a bunch of goblins.

Oh, definitely. I figure the gag-and-bind technique is almost always viable, though. And it makes silent/stilled spells and ranks in Escape Artist worthwhile, too!

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

They stumble on one of his more shadowy parts of the plan to acquire the diamonds. Can the PCs deduce the lich is trying to get a monopoly of diamonds? Can they figure out the long term goal of his plot? Tune in next week....same D&D-time..same D&D-channel.

The best part about the diamond dust, etc is that it may or may not take market forces into account.

"Hrm, now that the price of diamonds has gone up, I find that I can use less of it to achieve the same effect."

Brad (who enjoys jokes about D&D economics, and thus has no life)