Ritual Costs and spell components

[Boarstorm]

Sorry for a similar query while a discussion is already on the front page, but I thought this question was different enough to merit its own thread.

Here's the scenario: Bob the Wizard takes a day off from filming Alltel Wireless commercials and sits down to perform the ritual Tensor's Floating Disc. We know the materials to perform the ritual cost 10g.

When Bob goes to perform the ritual, do you just subtract 10g from his Ale and Whores Fund, or does he actually have to purchase the components beforehand?

ie -- Do you make your players stock up on components for their rituals while in town, or do you just let them tack off the gold when they go to cast something?

 

[drachasor]

By the rules, he has to buy specific components for that ritual (and they are not useful for other rituals). Well, unless he gets risidium (however you spell that) which can be used with any ritual (I'm a little unclear how the market price for that).

As a DM (assuming I had the ritual cost money), I'd let them just mark of the gold if they had a reasonable place to buy the components.

Edit: If I was really running a game, I'd have most of the rituals be free, but you'd require something like a 3E spell component pouch in addition to your ritual book. It would be a bit like "rituals" in Supernatural (the TV show), you'd have to make diagrams and/or other crap on/near the area you performed the ritual. Afterwards there'd be a clear evidence of what you did, most likely.

 

[Lord Xtheth]

If my players want to sacrifice their precious Ale and Whores for a petty little ritual, I'll allow it!
Rituals are everywhere, Ale and Whores? those are the rarity.

 

[grickherder]

It depends on what level of control you want as a DM. I'm planning on having player characters actually having to buy the components in advance. A magic shop/mystic trader will have a selection of special inks, blessed shrunken kobold heads, rune stones, etc., for a certain level of rituals and lower. It might also be missing components for some and not others.

 

[the_redbeard]

Well, it depends.
Is visiting the local alchemist/wise woman/sage/wizard school going to be a part of the story?

Otherwise, why bother?

I think that's part of 4th that I'm trying to get into my head. I grew up on wargames before I began playing 1st edition and counted days of iron rations and such. The designers in 4th edition are saying to play the game like you read a novel or watch a movie - if it isn't part of the story, if it doesn't set mood, if it isn't a meaningful situation (sometimes tedium can be a part of the story, but not often, and not after we get the point) you start the scene at the good parts.

 

[fnwc]

By the rules, he has to buy specific components for that ritual (and they are not useful for other rituals).

Actually, rituals use components depending on the ritual's key skill. You can purchase ritual components for an Arcana ritual and use them for any Arcana ritual, provided you have enough of the component. Also, Residuum can be used for any ritual:

Arcana - Alchemical Ingredients
Heal - Mystical Salves
Nature - Rare Herbs
Religion - Sanctified Incense
Any - Residuum

 

[drachasor]

Actually, rituals use components depending on the ritual's key skill. You can purchase ritual components for an Arcana ritual and use them for any Arcana ritual, provided you have enough of the component. Also, Residuum can be used for any ritual:

Arcana - Alchemical Ingredients
Heal - Mystical Salves
Nature - Rare Herbs
Religion - Sanctified Incense
Any - Residuum

Huh, I don't know how I misread that.

 

[Particle_Man]

The way I figure it, you don't just go out and buy residuum at the local apocethary -- you have to find a magic item you don't want anymore and "unmagic" it using a ritual and get residuum that way.

Well, until you get somewhere fancy like the City of Brass, of course.

 

[VannATLC]

I expect my players to carry Xgp's worth of Ritual Components of an applicable flavour. They don't get straight gold=power conversions.

And, in fact, gold is going to be the rarity, where as I'll let harvesting/preparations of assorted Components occur at a daily rate based on environmental factors and a skill check.

 

[Oompa]

I think im going to do it this way:

Players can buy four pouches, each pouch is for one kind of ritual (arcana, nature, healing, religion)

In every town they can buy the ingredients they need for every pouch, so lets say they buy 4 pouches, with nothing in it. In town they say we buy 50 gp arcana ingredients, then the arcana pouch is filled with ingedients for 50 gp wich they can use when they want..

Its the same as crossing gp off the lists, but this adds some more flavor and they cant buy ingredients 50ft deep in an dungeon..