Catalyst nerf

[Powers128]

I just realized the reprinted catalyst trait in hotw took out the drawing for free part of it since components aren't a thing anymore

I have too many things to hold as a caster already. Bummer.

[Perpdepog]

I could see an argument that catalysts are folded into the "Costs and Loci" rules, where you just need it on your person to cast a spell, but it's definitely far from ironclad.

[Powers128]

Perpdepog wrote:

I could see an argument that catalysts are folded into the "Costs and Loci" rules, where you just need it on your person to cast a spell, but it's definitely far from ironclad.

The usage entry is "held in one hand" which is pretty damning

[Perpdepog]

If that's true, then wouldn't that also have applied to using the item previously?

[Karys]

Howl of the Wild Pg. 118 wrote:

Activating a catalyst

is part of Casting the Spell. The catalyst might increase
the number of actions required to Cast the Spell, as
indicated in the catalyst’s Activate entry. Additionally,
the spell gains the manipulate trait if it didn’t already.
Because the catalyst becomes part of the spell, you can
draw the catalyst as part of Casting the Spell.

Checked my copy of HotW and while it doesn't mention components anymore, it still mentions the free draw when casting.

[NorrKnekten]

Sadly it seems like that page is missing when looking at Nethys. Either that or it is just terribly well hidden.

[Powers128]

Karys wrote:

Howl of the Wild Pg. 118 wrote:

Activating a catalyst

is part of Casting the Spell. The catalyst might increase
the number of actions required to Cast the Spell, as
indicated in the catalyst’s Activate entry. Additionally,
the spell gains the manipulate trait if it didn’t already.
Because the catalyst becomes part of the spell, you can
draw the catalyst as part of Casting the Spell.

Checked my copy of HotW and while it doesn't mention components anymore, it still mentions the free draw when casting.

That text was simply not on the archives. Thank you!

[Karys]

NorrKnekten wrote:

Sadly it seems like that page is missing when looking at Nethys. Either that or it is just terribly well hidden.

I admittedly hadn't thought about looking at AoN, and you're right, it's decidedly absent from AoN's catalyst trait listing from HotW. Might be worth sending as feedback to them, as it can definitely cause confusion like this.

[Elfteiroh]

The text is there in AoN, in the Catalyst category page, where the text from Secrets of Magic is, which is mostly the same as the Howl of the Wild full rules on p. 118. The problem is that this is NOT a text included in the trait description on p.216 of HotW, which is the source of the trait description on AoN, and there's no space to errata it in in the book. Note that there was no "short trait description" in Secret of magic, only a page reference, so the simplest fix could just be to remove that incomplete description.

On AoN's side, they could maybe add a "see full rules here" link like in other places?

I sent them a message with this info.