Yes, we get how it is supposed to work. Basically like this:
Spellcasting Focus
There are items that can be used as a focus to help cast spells. To use a spellcasting focus to cast a spell, it must be compatible with how you are able to cast that spell. For example, if you are able to cast a spell because you are a sorcerer or have a feat or class feature that lets you pick a sorcerer spell, you can use arcane focuses for casting that spell.
Using a spellcasting focus requires that it be in your hand, or that you have a free hand to manipulate it.
When casting a spell with a spellcasting focus, you can use it or the hand you are manipulating it to perform any somatic components and manipulate the material components for the spell. Unless the material components has a written value, or the components are specific to the spell's target creature or location, or the material components are consumed, or the spell's description uses the material component as part of the effect (such as hitting a creature with a weapon), you can ignore the M component of the spell when using the spellcasting focus.
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But sadly, the rules for spellcasting focuses are not exactly that. They are instead a web of specific substitutions and exceptions.
And because next to nobody actually pays attention to those substitutions, even seemingly the designers of D&D, ignoring them is the best policy (hence, the rewording above).
Spellcasting Focus
There are items that can be used as a focus to help cast spells. To use a spellcasting focus to cast a spell, it must be compatible with how you are able to cast that spell. For example, if you are able to cast a spell because you are a sorcerer or have a feat or class feature that lets you pick a sorcerer spell, you can use arcane focuses for casting that spell.
Using a spellcasting focus requires that it be in your hand, or that you have a free hand to manipulate it.
When casting a spell with a spellcasting focus, you can use it or the hand you are manipulating it to perform any somatic components and manipulate the material components for the spell. Unless the material components has a written value, or the components are specific to the spell's target creature or location, or the material components are consumed, or the spell's description uses the material component as part of the effect (such as hitting a creature with a weapon), you can ignore the M component of the spell when using the spellcasting focus.
---
But sadly, the rules for spellcasting focuses are not exactly that. They are instead a web of specific substitutions and exceptions.
And because next to nobody actually pays attention to those substitutions, even seemingly the designers of D&D, ignoring them is the best policy (hence, the rewording above).
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