Material component

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Sun Feb 10, 2002 1:02 pm

Do you guys use this to cast a spell and if so how? I have never used I just let my players cast the desired spell, provided of course that they know the spell and have it memorized. Are they supposed to buy or find some special material to be able to cast certain spells?

Kayless · Post by **Kayless** » Sun Feb 10, 2002 1:13 pm

Yeah, I usually have mages use Material Components. Part of being a wizard is finding those rare ingrediants for certain powerful spells (Karsus' Avatar, the most powerful spell ever made, required pieces of a Tarrasque

). Material Componets can be a little annoying with lower level spells, but that's why they have the 3E Eschew Materials feat. This allows mages to cast spells without material componets (so long as the components aren't worth more than 1gp). However, a mage should be able to by the more mundane ingredients for low level spells.

Kharvak · Post by **Kharvak** » Tue Feb 12, 2002 8:47 am

Actually this was one of the mechanisms I used to employ for 'side quest' generation when I played. All low level material components were readily available in Marketplaces etc, but the more esoteric stuff was something the guys n gals had to go look for....

This prompted some great ad libbing (and frantic prep from me) but really livened up the whole experience.... until some clever so & so decided that surely other spell casters had these ingredients........ and then proceeded to form an 'arrangement' with the local thieves guild..........

Players... cant live with 'em... so throw in a Hive Mother Beholder !

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Tue Feb 12, 2002 3:21 pm

Mages can buy a Spell Component Pouch for only 20 gold. It supposedly provides them with every ingredient they'll ever need, as long as the spell description does not mention a monetary cost.

Mr.Waesel · Post by **Mr.Waesel** » Thu Mar 07, 2002 2:41 am

Karsus' Avatar, the most powerful spell ever made, required pieces of a Tarrasque

What's it do?! is it better than wish? i don't remember it being in the PH, so where is it?

Durwyn · Post by **Durwyn** » Thu Mar 07, 2002 10:28 am

Mystra banned the use of such spells after Karsus died.

Mr.Waesel · Post by **Mr.Waesel** » Fri Mar 08, 2002 8:16 am

Ummm...kaaaayyyy

Than what DID it do?

Durwyn · Post by **Durwyn** » Tue Mar 19, 2002 7:28 am

It gave Karsus the ability to astablish a link between the Goddess of Magic and himself, stealing all of her power and knowledge, becoming a god himself.

Mr.Waesel · Post by **Mr.Waesel** » Thu Mar 21, 2002 3:45 am

Well, then i can see why it was "banned", it would be a strange sight indeed to see mages scurrying all over the place looking for the tarrasque, or chopping bits off it with a pickaxe...

Akani Shrike · Post by **Akani Shrike** » Sat Mar 23, 2002 1:17 am

Originally posted by Mr.Waesel
mages scurrying all over the place looking for the tarrasque, or chopping bits off it with a pickaxe...

that is something i'd PAY to see.

what i do, is have everyone but sorcerers buy spell component pouches, which have 10 uses, or charges, if you will, and they have the components you need in 'em.

Sorcerers, however, i've deemed shouldn't really need it, because it's an innate power in them, so in my campaign, all sorcerers have eschew material components. it's all in my effort to sap them of their money... 'cept they're all either sorcerers, or not spellcasters

ah, well, what'cha gonna do, eh?

Mr.Waesel · Post by **Mr.Waesel** » Thu Apr 04, 2002 3:32 am

If Sorcs don't need it, why do they start with a SC pouch?

The Stranger · Post by **The Stranger** » Fri Apr 12, 2002 1:06 pm

I usually look at spell components as a price of power. Mages are arguably the most powerful characters at high levels, but if you make it difficult to cast those high level spells, then it evens them out a bit. Just because a spell is in thier spell book dose not mean that they should be able to cast it all of the time. It also offers alot of opportunities for role playing and adventure if you make them hunt for the reagents.

I personally would make 'em find the spell components.