How long does a spell component last before it needs to be replaced or refilled?
How long does a spell component last before it needs to be replaced or refilled?
Forever.
Reason being, nobody wants to track guano.
How long does a spell component last before it needs to be replaced or refilled?
It's good forever. Keeping it full and up to date is one of those things that happens in the background when you aren't looking. Assume that you are harvesting bits, collecting rare things, swapping them with other casters, etc. Some GMs keep closer track, or highlight specific bits that need to be tracked (dragon scales in a game I'm in) but the core rules don't require that level of detail.
I was always under the impression you were supposed to track exact quantieis. ie inntheory the wizard should be able to run out of bat guano.
however in practice our group only ever tracks things with expressed values. like diamond dust.
Nope, you're not supposed to track those things. Honestly, just ignoring negligible costs won't change much. Every now and then it'll make a difference, but not usually.
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Unless you are a super hardcore GM, then it never needs replacing. It will supply all spellcasting needs for components under 1g. If you want a realistic (aka tedious for the player), then you have a static list of components that come with the pouch and how many and how much of each will fit before you need a second pouch.
It sounds like without tracking contents and without it running out that Eschew Materials is a worthless feat.
Hardly. A wizard is screwed if he loses his only spell-component pouch. A lot of spells are suddenly lost, and he actually has to look up every spell he wants to cast to see if it has a material component.
It sounds like without tracking contents and without it running out that Eschew Materials is a worthless feat.
Bad things that can happen where Eschew Materials is handy and solves most of them:
-Someone Sundering your Spell Component pouch.
-AoE damage spells that do do enough elemental damage to set fire/destroy your spell component pouch.
-A rogue using the steal maneuver to steal your spell component pouch.
-Being grappled and not having the proper components in hand.
-Being captured by a hostile force and having your gear taken from you.
-Polymorphing into a creature that can't use your spell component pouch.
Like a clerics holy symbol a spell component pouch is a very convenient target to potentially shut down or hamper a caster. It's usually underpowered for the cost of a feat, but a sorcerer picking it up for free is nice and there are worse feats out there to choose from.
Some GMs are hesitant to target a prepared arcane caster's preparation method (spell-book, formula book, witch's familiar) as that is usually too damning and particularly mean, but a spell component pouch especially if the caster doesn't have a back up one available is typically more along the lines of fair game.
The spell component pouch is all well and good, up until the point where the 3rd level wizard with the Hideous Laughter spell starts pulling out little tarts to eat when he's bored or hungry.
My wizard is a flamboyant little gay boy. He likes his tarts and quiches.
Throwing out an occasional "I'm shopping for components" while in town or " I keep an eye out for potential ingredients" while traveling may appease potentially hardcore GMs. Spend a gold piece or two occasionally; even put a point into profession (herbalist). Doesn't really hurt and may add a bit of the verisimilitude they're looking for.