Sorcerers in your game

[Shawn_Kehoe]

Hey all,

In your campaign, do sorcerers need material components to cast spells? I'm considering giving all sorcerers in my game the Eschew Materials feat as a bonus at 1st level. While I realise that certain spells require a material component for balance reasons, I think that this better differentiates wizards from sorcerers.

This isn't a new idea, so does anyone have experience on the matter?

Thanks,
Shawn

 

[Joshua Randall]

As I have never seen anyone take the feat normally, I would have no problem with this.

Keep in mind that spells with expensive material components (e.g., stoneskin) are explicitly not covered by Eschew Materials.

 

[Ranger5]

My group uses the sorcerer from Monte Cook's Eldritch Might books. That one uses a d6 HD, gets 4+Int in skills, more CHA based skills, and does not have to use material components but does have to pay a small XP cost if the material component has a GP cost greater than 1.

And overall we like it. Makes them different enough from wizards that they are more playable especiialy since they have limited metamagic feat use.

 

[Mercule]

Warlocks don't need components.

If I still used Sorcerers, it is quite likely that I'd swap their familiar for Eschew Components. Of course, if I used Sorcerers, their knowledge would be the result of extensive training, not natural ability -- not unlike a Warmage.

 

[Crothian]

Yes, sorcerers need material components. They are powerful enough, no need making them even more so. I think sorcerers and wizards are different enough as is.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

If I still used Sorcerers, it is quite likely that I'd swap their familiar for Eschew Components.

I think that makes sense.

 

[STARP_JVP]

I don't use the spell component rules anyway. They suck.

 

[Thanee]

In your campaign, do sorcerers need material components to cast spells? I'm considering giving all sorcerers in my game the Eschew Materials feat as a bonus at 1st level. While I realise that certain spells require a material component for balance reasons, I think that this better differentiates wizards from sorcerers.

The balance is usually with costly material components, which Eschew Materials does not negate, regular ones really make rather little difference, since they are usually somatic as well, anyways.

When I DM, I give sorcerers Eschew Materials for free and it's really mostly a flavor thing and has about zero impact on the game. Spell Component Pouches are 5 gp apiece and the situations where you don't have them are so rare, that they are neglectable.

The sorceress I play currently in our PnP game (15th-level now, started at 2nd) is standard PHB with material components, but it's not really much of a difference, except for the occasional comment about some of the weird necromancy material components...

Just do it!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

If I still used Sorcerers, it is quite likely that I'd swap their familiar for Eschew Components.

That would be a big disadvantage for sorcerers. Familiars are easily ten times better than the feat.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Shemeska]

I've given sorcerers that feat for free since about a week after the feat first came out. It's never been anything big in a game, probably never making any impact at all, but it's purely for flavor. In that regard it's pretty nifty.