Level Up (A5E) Pricing on the spellcasting foci, Grimoire?

[UmbraMortem]

Hello, I've been creating a Wizard in this system, and my GM and I realized how powerful and cheap the Grimoire is when it comes to wizards and how they function, effectively being a 50% off spellbook which also happens to be a foci rules as written. Is this intentional game design? and if so, is there something I'm missing? Are they perhaps supposed to be rare or carry negative connotations? There is no rule stating that a Wizard has to specifically buy a spellbook, whihc is what made me curious. Thank you for any responses.

 

[niklinna]

You could also read this as indicating you shouldn't have to pay for your spellbook:

"At 1st level you have a spellbook containing the written spells you study."

But I doubt that was the intent, since the spellbook is accounted for in the starting equipment. In any case, good catch, you bargain hunter you!

 

[JerichoPenumbra]

I think the only catch is that foci need to be on hand for casting, so instead of their spell book being safe in bag or extradimensional space it's out in the open where it can potentially be stolen or destroyed in the midst of combat. But if your GM isn't playing hard ball like that then yeah just a more cost efficient choice all around.