D&D 5E What is the point of material components when Wish exists?

[BoldItalic]

Psst ... anybody want the formula for crafting Rings of Three Wishes? One owner, low mileage, only 10,000 years on the clock. Highest bidder secures.

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

Has OP actually walked away, then? I did think this thread and the "why is a centaur not a humanoid" thread also started by the same person were somewhat of a piece in terms of coming across as a bit "eh?".

I hope he/she can enjoy the game and have fun with 5e, despite not agreeing with what ENWorld collectively had to say.

 

[Ancalagon]

Something else must have occurred, this thread isn't that offensive...

But I mean... someone able to cast wish is a freaking Archmage. His or her mastery of magic is so great that with great effort, petty concerns such as material components can be ignored. Meanwhile, 99% of mages still have to use them. It's hardly game breaking...

 

[EvanNave55]

Using Wish to duplicate a lower level spell is really only a good idea if you a) want the lower level effect, and b) can't cast the lower level effect.

The reasons for not being able to cast the lower level effect include i) wrong class, ii) not having memorised the spell, iii) not having the spell in your spell book, iv) not having the material components, v) not being able to manage the somantic component for some reason (Wish is Verbal only), vi) out of casting slots.

Of these reasons preventing casting, not having the material components is usually the easiest to overcome. High level characters with access to Wish typically have access to money and/or other resources.

So, there are certainly circumstances when using Wish is a great idea. Just using it to save spell component cost seems a bit unlikely, unless the PC has got plenty of time and nothing much to do (and has access to the Wish spell, of course). However, typically adventurers having Adventures have little time and lots to do.

There is also the fact if you need some lower level spell THIS ROUND but it takes too long to cast, wish has only a 1 action casting time.

 

[seebs]

Yes, you... and sleeping for 8 hours is somehow worth more than 1500gp how exactly?

At 17th level, it's worth more than 1500gp because you can earn a hell of a lot more than 1500gp in 8 hours.

 

[RotGrub]

Why would anyone buy or make a healing potion, if they can heal automatically by taking a long rest?

.

For the same reason, don't expect to see a hospital or church healing the sick in any 5e campaign world.

"There is no need of your magic here priest, the god of long rests laughs at your healing spells. "

 

[Cristian Andreu]

Because using material components doesn't involve the risk of ending up stranded in a demiplane made of mashed potatoes because the DM was having a bad day, covering the whole world in papal thrones because you "Want to see everything", or obtaining a chunk of coal with a note saying "Instructions: Squeeze really hard" when you need to revive a friend.