SLA's do not require material components, but what about spells prepared?
Alot of monsters count as spellcasters, and not an insignificant amount of the spellslinging monsters have spells memorized that require expensive material components.
A Trumpet Archon for instance, has Raise Dead prepared, but nowhere in his statblock does it say he has the requisite 5k of spell-components.
Is there a special rule for mosters with spellcasting capabilities? Do they wander around with spells prepared in case they find some dead guy with a pocket full of diamond dust? Are we supposed to assume they have the materials?
Any light you wonderful people could shed on this, would be most welcome.
-Nearyn
If the material component is not in the equipment list, I'd say the creature can't cast that prepared spell <edit: without getting, or being given the resources, through a deliberate action by it or someone else> (or use it as a spell slot type spell, if spontaneous -- basically, if it's a regular spell, not an SLA). As precedent for this, I point to APs, where caster NPCs/enemies get listings of which components they are carrying. It also means there is no reason to planar bind a creature to kill it for its wealth in expensive material components.
For raise dead and the like, it makes sense, as such a creature could be called to cast that spell, caller supplying the material components.
However, I would probably be pretty pretty lenient on lower-cost spells, e.g. stoneskin, especially if the creature is likely to cast that on themselves. Otherwise, using the rationale of "this creature expects to be called (probably via planar ally), and prepares spells knowing there are certain expectations, but doesn't have the wealth to grant it freely," helps describe why it works the way it does.
Edit: But strictly RAW, creatures tend to have equipment listed, so if no nontrivial material components are in that list, it doesn't have them, unless the GM gives it to them, which is plausible.
But both nymphs and celestials already have spell-like abilities which DON'T require material components. What would be the point of them having spells too?
I think its assumed that they have the components as part of their treasure. Treasure for a party with APL 14 is 15,000 GP if medium tracking XP. Why would it not have 5,000 of diamond dust as part of that loot? You would still award treasure just like any other encounter (or at least I would). If it uses raise dead somehow before you kill it, then there can be 5,000 gp of gems or a +2 mithril shield or something.
I would say so. Most monsters simply have "Standard" listed as treasure, or a few items combined with an "other treasure" listing. The exact nature of that treasure is something each GM can choose for themselves, and adding a spell component pouch would be trivial.
Now, for something with expensive material components, such as raise dead, I'd say the creature would likely have a single casting's worth of that material component available. If the same creature is encountered on successive days, and already used that component the first day, it would presumably prepare a different spell in that spot.