Spawned by a PFS thread here
The level 2 cleric/paladin spell Shield Other has the following components:
"V, S, F (a pair of platinum rings worth 50 gp worn by both you and the target)"
Does that mean:
A) The focus item is a pair of rings, worth 50 gp, that have been worn by both you and the target
or
B) The focus item is a pair of rings, worth 50 gp, one of which is currently being worn by you, and the other is currently being worn on the target
Before answering, keep in mind the rules:
Casting Spells: "To cast a spell, you must be able to speak (if the spell has a verbal component), gesture (if it has a somatic component), and manipulate the material components or focus (if any)."
Shield Other has Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels), so if the target is wearing half of the focus item, you are unable to manipulate it at range.
There is precedent for focus items to be prepared before casting (IE: the material/focus line can be past-tense) -
Freedom of Movement can be cast as a touch spell. As such, the charge can be held. However, the material component "(a leather strip bound to the target)" needs to be manipulated as part of casting, which you can't do if you need to be actively binding it to the target at the time of casting. Past tense is the only way it makes sense.
Terrain Bond treats the terrain you're in as a favored terrain, but requires "(a pinch of earth taken from your most favored terrain)" If it must be taken at the time of casting, then you can only cast it while in your favored terrain, and thus it does nothing.
Dust Form requires "(a pinch of dust gathered from a gravestone or sacred shrine)" which means if you must gather it at the time of casting, you can only ever cast it in a graveyard or shrine.
There is further precedent for a spell to work in a manner similar to option B:
Protection from Spells says "F (One 1,000 gp diamond per target. Each subject must carry the gem for the duration of the spell. If a subject loses the gem, the spell ceases to affect him.)" which seems like a much better wording if the intent is for the subject to have to wear the ring(s) for the duration of the spell.
Does anyone have any rules evidence to suggest that option A is incorrect?
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I would just go with A and let this spell be an exception to normal focus manipulation. Or the caster needs to prepare the item before hand, but it's not something that needs to be said (just like I don't have to maintain my spell components bag for mundane components, or people sharpening their weapons with a whetstone).
The Dust Form example isn't a good one. I don't see anything in the spell saying it needs to be gathered right now. It's not hard to get some dust from a gravestone or shrine before hand and have it in a small container. It's like saying I need to gather bat guano at the time of casting Fireball.
I would just go with A and let this spell be an exception to normal focus manipulation.
Do you mean B? Or do you mean not be an exception?
Option A has no reason to change the manipulation rules. You can manipulate the rings just like any other item in your pouch.
The Dust Form example isn't a good one. I don't see anything in the spell saying it needs to be gathered right now.
That's why it's a good example.
If the rings must be worn at the time of casting, then the dust must be gathered at the time of casting. Because requiring the focus preparation to be done at the time of casting breaks multiple spells, the assumption can be made that focus preparation can be done in advance.
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I thought you were implying A was bad because the other person would lose a round putting on the ring because the caster needs to manipulate the ring first, before the target can put it on.
I understand there can be a distinction between A and B, but it seems like based on the spell's description there's no difference in this case. The spell's target is one creature. By that, I'll go with B.
But for better efficiency, I'd just go with this spell does not require does not require manipulation at time of casting, only prior to casting, usually during the time when spells are recovered.
I understand there can be a distinction between A and B, but it seems like based on the spell's description there's no difference in this case.
The difference in the tense of the word "worn"
Option A is past tense. If you and the target have both worn the rings, then the item you have in your pouch is a pair of rings worn by you and the target.
Option B is present tense. Both you and the target must be wearing the rings at the time of casting.