Ask the Genius: Things I'd Never Allow - Material Components as a Weapon in PF1 (Patreon)

Okay, here's a fun one.

This is what Pathfinder 1st edition says about Material Components: A material component consists of one or more physical substances or objects that are annihilated by the spell energies in the casting process. Unless a cost is given for a material component, the cost is negligible. Don’t bother to keep track of material components with negligible cost. Assume you have all you need as long as you have your spell component pouch.

I recently had a GM message me in a bit of a panic. They had a player with a necromancer chartacter who had asked if they could use material components if the material was just touching them, rather than in their material component pouch. The GM had said yes. Then, in the next fight, the necromance stood next to a giant, cast appearance of life from Horror Adventures (an official Pathfinder book), while casting defensively.

That spell has a material component of "one Tiny or larger living creature." The player claimed their necromancer selected the giant at the matrial comonent of the spell. Since material components are annihilated with casting, the player claimed they annihilated the giant.

("Huh. Did I just disintegrate because I'm a material component?" Art by admias.)

Now, that's a creative attempt to think outside-the-box on how to use a spell. My immediate reaction is to quote one of my favorite official rules answers from an issue of Autoduel Quarterly.

"Sneaky! Clever! No!"

I'd never allow that. It's clearly not rules-as-intended, and it requires a GM call (about where material components must be to cast a spell) to claim it's Rules-As-Written.

For the response to the GM, I pointed out the general rule on components in Pathfinder say: "Components A spell’s components explain what you must do or possess to cast the spell." (Emphasis mine.)

You might well 'possess' material components you tossed to the ground at your feet and no one was holding, but you clearly do not possess a giant that is still mobile, active, and fighting the party.

I ALSO told that GM that if I ran the game, I'd let all the players know I would make rulings based on what I thought was reasonable and intended as the way the game universe worked, and twisted readings for rules lawyering efforts to be able to (for example) destroy any living foe by claiming they were a material component would simple be overruled without needing to find language in the game that supports it.

But that's MY style of play.

Anyway, I DID think it was fascinating what some gamers think is a good way to use rules creatively, and why Pathfinder isn't designed to be using computer-readable game language. And, if I ever opt to write a spell with a living creature a material component, I am likely to note it must be either willing, or helpless, just to avoid this kind of shenanigan.

But... no. Just, no.

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