spell component system

[Naghast]

So- spell components.
my own opinion on them - they're easy to obtain (cheap materials, and cheap to buy overall)
so, not a problem in this regard.
they don't take too much space (essentially 3 slots) so not a problem here either.

but- they're simply a massive annoyance.
yes, i can cast spells, but every time i cast higher circle spell, i have to look into my combat log to ensure i don't accidentally outright delete my spell component pouch.
same for scroll crafting, really. massive annoyance overall.
(edit for clarity - by scroll crafting here, i mean that when i'm making scrolls i also have to keep an eye on my combat log to not outright delete the pouch)

and yea, i know that martials have durability that drops as they use their equipment, but they can just ask someone to repair it (often for free) or repair it themselves with crafting proffession investment (or looted repair kits if you know where to look for them), so in my time playing a martial i found it much, much less fo a problem to repair my equipment compared to having to craft spell components.

what're your thoughts on it?

[Nitro]

My thought on components has always been that it's a pointless timewaster. As an arcane spellcaster you just have to either burn 50k every other month to stay fully stocked, or grab alch/art and spend a little while making them yourself. It's never something annoying enough to make you use lower level spells because you NEED to cast the higher level spells to progress through Areliths PvE content (let alone PvP interactions) but it's just an extra thing to keep track of so you don't accidentally reduce a component pouch to 0 charges and destroy it.

I get the intention was to make higher level spells more impactful and less likely to be thrown around willy-nilly, but it's really missed the mark on that when the entire server is designed around forcing arcane spellcasters to use all the tools at their disposal to progress.

[Cthuletta]

I don't even play a true spellcaster, I have a LM ability, and I've accidentally trashed my component pouch twice from just not paying attention, despite having loose components in my bag.
If not getting rid of the system completely, maybe making the pouches more permanent would be a good middle ground?

[Void]

what're your thoughts on it?

I'm not a fan of the system and would prefer if "Eschew Components" feat was available for all.

[Edens_Fall]

As a good chunk of my income comes from selling "spell powder" I will say I'm a big fan of the system!

#profit

[Nitro]

I'm not a fan of the system and would prefer if "Eschew Components" feat was available for all.

Agreed, I'd gladly trade away one feat on most casters for convenience if it meant less timewasting inventory micro.

[Void]

As a good chunk of my income comes from selling "spell powder" I will say I'm a big fan of the system!

#profit

Brings a mental image of a mage that is snorting up their powdered spell components to cast. (is that still T-rated?)

[Edens_Fall]

As a good chunk of my income comes from selling "spell powder" I will say I'm a big fan of the system!

#profit

Brings a mental image of a mage that is snorting up their powdered spell components to cast. (is that still T-rated?)

That is a common running gag. The old Sharran cult leader Sojo was very skilled at making that joke.

[Imperatrix]

Spell components are a massive waste of time. They don't add any challenge, complexity, or even really any "gold sink" to mages. It's just annoying. I spend 60k on a stack of spell components every few weeks and the most obnoxious part of the ordeal is having to manually examine my spell component pouches every time I dare to actually play the game to make sure they're not in danger of being deleted.

Clerics don't even have to manage piety anymore. They get it for free. Mages are just given an irritating thing to keep track of for no discernible reason.

It's probably something that made sense back in the dark ages when everyone was bad at the game and mages were considered the kings of PvP. That hasn't been a reality for years.

[Eyeliner]

An optional epic feat to not have to use them would be great. Many wizards would still opt not to take it to get something more powerful instead and you’d still need components when leveling. Specialists beyond evokers could get spells of their school for free or reduced component cost too.

[dominantdrowess]

As an Artist, they are an important part of my income, because so many people don't need lenses anymore. xD

[-XXX-]

They are supposed to mirror equipment wear.

Ultimately it only shoehorns wizards/sorcerers into art crafting/alchemy.

[dominantdrowess]

Given that wizards cannot carry much sand or glass, they still buy from other artists.

[-XXX-]

Yeah, but any arcanist incapable of creating spell components is taking a huge QoL hit.

Sometimes mages just need make that heavily encumbered walk every now an then.

[Paint]

Honestly depleting the pouch causing it to delete itself is probably the only thing about the system I hate. Spell components are supposed to be a thing in pnp, and I like that. The only real analogue you can have on Arelith without getting weird about it and way more involved is those spell components. I do think maybe the system should be re-examined at some point but I mostly hold contempt for the vanishing pouches.

That being said, I'm a really stingy mage. I don't use my 7th circle or higher spells unless a situation absolutely calls for it, like true mystran scum.

[Sincra]

The system actually supports never deleting a pouch, instead just denying the cast.
It's just not the default.

[Party in the forest at midnight]

Is there an option to turn that on? I want to turn that on.

[Slapstick]

While it probably isn't a major hurdle, I also fail to see what it actually adds. If it doesn't add anything meaningful then it's just tedium. You might say it "adds decision making" as in "do I need to cast a high level spell". However, it's just an additional limit on top of the rest system. Vancian casting is already a poor mechanic for persistent world D&D with a lot of fights in a day. I don't see what is gained by limiting 7-9 circle spells, it's only a detraction IMO.

[-XXX-]

I'd rather keep losing pouches over having my character's spells stopped when one runs out of charges TBH.

The annoying part ATM (always has been, in fact) is that one can still lose a pouch even if there's 20 other full ones right next to it in the character's inventory.

[MissEvelyn]

I would love it expanded even more.
With Enhanced Edition, the max charges can be raised. If I'm not mistaken, they can now go all the way up to 255.

So, a second tier pouch could hold 100 charges, a third tier goes up to 150, and a legendary drop-only could go allll the way up to 200 charges.

But also, an option to toggle auto-filling pouches upon resting would be a nice quality of life thing.

[Tabby]

As a good chunk of my income comes from selling "spell powder" I will say I'm a big fan of the system!

#profit

Hahah! +1

I have no problems with it so far, i have a (had) a LM too, i dont think i fell into that one.. as i knew you gotta stock it up.

The thing is, the bag gets destroyed when emptied.. i can understand what a hassle that one is.. then again i also earn lots of ching ching on Spell Components bags!

But it do refrain from cast the high level, constantly, so.. i dont know.. perhaps a better pouch that dont get destroyed?

[Emotionaloverload]

I love spell components. Especially their simplicity because then it lets you imbue them with whatever rp flavour is needed for that particular spell or spell ritual. After all, spells require components in dnd. Without that, I'm not sure many would bother to reserve their higher lvl spells and would just cast willy nilly (I have seen many that don't use a prepared spell unless they have to because of components which I feel really helps the setting).

I think if the system ever does change, it should still require mages to have something for higher lvl spells otherwise they are no different than divine casters.

<3 spell components!
-S

[Lexx]

The only thing I would like to see change with the spell comp system is bags not breaking. "Oh I magic'd so hard I consumed the pouch" moments are an annoyance more than anything. But yeah. Otherwise quite happy with the system.

[Tikin]

The system actually supports never deleting a pouch, instead just denying the cast.
It's just not the default.

You guys should NEVER skip over what Sincra has to say ... He's a life changer!

[Nitro]

The system actually supports never deleting a pouch, instead just denying the cast.
It's just not the default.