Spell Components

[Lichemaster]

So the warmage in my game cast Fireball 5 times and then the next day (game time) cast it 2 more and may even cast it a few more times, so how do you fight the component issue?

Are they used up with the spell?
I understand role playing it, bat crap should be easy to find but sulfur is a little tricker, so what do you do to battle the component pouch?

 

[IanB]

So the warmage in my game cast Fireball 5 times and then the next day (game time) cast it 2 more and may even cast it a few more times, so how do you fight the component issue?

Are they used up with the spell?
I understand role playing it, bat crap should be easy to find but sulfur is a little tricker, so what do you do to battle the component pouch?

From the SRD:

Spell Component Pouch
A spellcaster with a spell component pouch is assumed to have all the material components and focuses needed for spellcasting, except for those components that have a specific cost, divine focuses, and focuses that wouldn’t fit in a pouch.


There's nothing to battle. If they have the pouch, they have the components.

And besides, there's nothing more boring than making the character figure out how many generic components he needs for various spells. I can't think of a game I've played in, in any edition, where this was enforced. It just isn't fun.

 

[Jack Simth]

As I understand it, the spell component pouch was introduced to cut back on book-keeping. It's supposed to let him do things like that. There's already enough for a spellcaster to track without haveing to deal with
Player: "Let's see.... I need to make sure I have lots of bat guano, and lots of sulfer, hey, it's only a copper a dose... I'll take a hundred of each, please...."
(Much Later) DM: So, how much bat guano and sulfer do you have left in your bag?
Player: Umm.... I think.... let's see.... I forgot to mark a few off... there was that one, and that one, six on that day.... Ah, I've got... -16. Oops.

If you're the DM, and you want to remove it from the game, you're perfectly welcome to do so.... but be prepared to deal with all the extra paperwork.

 

[Whimsical]

Back in 2nd ed, we kept track of components when we went into the underdark and away from easy component access. But this lasted for only a few sessions and we eventually forgot about it.

I'm all for deemphasizing spell components. It's good for "disarming" a spellcaster by taking his pouch, but otherwise not noticed in game.

 

[dcollins]

I had to institute component tracking for a conversion of "Isle of the Ape", where it's strictly part of the adventure (encounters pursuing component refreshes). I said a pouch has 10 components for each spell. It wasn't that onerous (wizard's spellbook had very few spells with M components).

For normal adventuring (easy access to town) I wouldn't do that.

 

[Li Shenron]

So the warmage in my game cast Fireball 5 times and then the next day (game time) cast it 2 more and may even cast it a few more times, so how do you fight the component issue?

Are they used up with the spell?
I understand role playing it, bat crap should be easy to find but sulfur is a little tricker, so what do you do to battle the component pouch?

99% at least of the gaming groups don't keep track of each component, and the PHB itself suggests not bother, at long as you have the pouch (just assume you replace the used components now and then).

I think that the actual ingredients used as components are there more for historical flavor reasons, and for the rare player who actually has more fun in keeping track of them. I think it would be a nice opportunity to try and keep track of every dose you're using, but it'll probably become cumbersome, especially if the DM runs the game more as a movie, with no downtime at all.

 

[Lazerel]

I have to admit to being one of those sad little individuals who enjoys keeping track of such little things as spell components and where I keep all my equipment. One reason for this is simply as an aid to roleplay, as it is easier to do a dramatic description when you know exactly what your character is doing, the second is that some of the spell components described as having no cost in D&D have never made sense as being so readily available (should Trolls blood be so easy to come across??).

However, not all my characters have done so and the general concensus is that such things are not enforced at the table unless the players desire it.

If you do keep track though it can put a lot of funny little moments into the game, such as the mage getting exciting over finding such things as spider webs in the corner of the room complete with spiders (spider climb and web anyone?).

 

[Thanee]

Refilling the spell component pouch is one of those things, that are simply assumed to happen off-screen, much like every wizard researches spells all the time (the 2 free each level).

Bye
Thanee

 

[Pinotage]

It does kind of beg the question as to why a spell component pouch at all if it's always assumed to have the right component. Why not simply have a single component for all spells, and just assume the pouch has enough for 1000 castings. Special pebbles or somesuch would do it. Then all the concerns about replacing it go away or running out of specific components while still maintaining the M aspect of casting spells.

Pinotage

 

[TheGogmagog]

(should Trolls blood be so easy to come across??).

Hmm, 1) capture troll, 2) insert tap. ok, #1 might take some effort but...
You are right, there are a lot of those that don't make sense to have no value, displacer beast hide, dragon scale of specific color. I do write them off as flavor text and go with the suggested spell component pouch.

I did have to keep track for two long running characters in 2e. I can't say it added anything to the game, just a lot of out of game paperwork. If the wizard would role play finding components like the spider that would add more to the game than enforcing the paperwork and questions like, how long has that spider been in the vial with no food?