Material Spell Components

Without access to a laboratory, a wizard often finds himself in need of unusual or hard-to-find items for material components in his spells. Traditionally in AD&D, many DM's do not require players to keep track of their character's stock of spell components. However, in Thardferr, the Material Spell Components rule should be strictly enforced.

The use of material components in the game requires a great deal of attention (and honesty) on the part of the players. This rule does, however, add a degree of realism to the game.

Spell components do not take up very much volume, generally. Most spells require only the smallest pinches of powder or a few drops of liquid. In fact, the containers that are required to hold the materials and make them easy for a caster to find without looking are far more bulky and clumsy than the materials themselves. Common devices include small leather pouches, glass vials, glass tubes, clay finger-pots with wax plugs, and other small containers.

Most wizards store the spell components for each of their memorized spells in separate, pre-measured amounts to facilitate quick and accurate casting. In this manner, 10 to 20 spell components might weigh as much as one pound. Some common components are also carried in bulk. A bulk container will usually hold 20 to 50 uses of the component in question, and weighs one pound. Bulk containers cost five times the listed expense of a component.

Perishable components can last for as long as one week before they become useless.

Many spells require rather mundane items as their material components, such as pebbles or stones, dirt, twigs or leaves. Such items can be found anywhere, even in the middle of a combat. A number of spells require nothing more than a little foresight and access to a simple trading post or small market to acquire things such as salt, or a little thought while camping or in a city to garner things like soot. There are also spells requiring rather expensive or exotic items, necessitating the need for painstaking preparation.

Acquiring Material Components

Field Searches

The cheapest (by far) method of acquiring spell components is a field search. Many plant, animal, and even mineral specimens can be harvested with nothing more than time and a little luck. Of course, the wizard must be in the appropriate terrain; it is difficult to find temperate marsh plants in a tropical desert. Materials that can be collected by a field search are rated as common, uncommon, or rare on the Spell Components price list ( below ). Depending on the amount of time the wizard takes, the suitability of the environment, and the item's scarcity, he may or may not be successful.

Item Scarcity	Base Search Time	Base Success Chance	Bonus Chance for Extra Time
Common	1d6 turns	75%	+10% per turn
Uncommon	3d6 turns	50%	+5% per turn
Rare	1d4+1 hours	25%	+2% per turn
Item Scarcity comes from the price list. Base Search Time is the minimum amount of search time required to find the item. A character can only search for one component at a time. Base Success Chance is the likelihood that the character will find the material in the base search time. Bonus Chance for Extra Time increases the chance of success for each additional turn spent searching for the material. If he fails to find the material in the base search time, he can continue to look, adding this percentage to his success chance.

A field search for common materials does not take much time, thus a traveling spellbinder could pause for brief searches during the march or while his companions set up camp. From 1 to 20 uses of the material will typically be found.

Purchasing

In any city or town in the realms that has an Academy presence, Guild members and Academy registered mages may purchase spell components from the local guildhall. Item scarcity reflects the likelihood that the item in question is available.

Items that are not used except as spell components can only be purchased at the Guild. Rogue mage guilds may also have these components, but the item scarcity will be shifted one category worse (Common becomes Uncommon, Uncommon becomes Rare, and Rare becomes Unavailable). Also, the prices in rogue guilds will be 1d4+1 times the listed cost.

As with a field search, common items can be located in a few minutes while rare items may take several hours of the wizards time. Anywhere from 1 to 20 uses can be found.

The material components on this list are divided by category, reflecting their general nature and origins. These categories are: Miniatures and Models; Finished or Refined Items; Minerals; Common or Household Items; Animal Specimens; Plant Specimens; and Other. Each item has a further note concerning its method of acquisition. Items are listed as FS (Field Search), TM (Town/Market), SO (Special Order), or Auto (items that can be found automatically by anyone willing to look for a few minutes). Items like the various dusts are priced with one spell use in mind.

City Size	— Scarcity —
City Size	Common	Uncommon	Rare
Village	80%	50%	20%
Town	90%	60%	30%
City	100%	70%	40%
Major City	100%	80%	50%

Spell Component Price List

Models and Miniatures
Item	Acquisition	Scarcity	Cost
Bag, tiny	SO, TM	Common	2 cp
Balance, golden	SO	Rare	10 gp
Bell, golden	SO	Uncommon	6 gp
Bell, tiny	SO, TM	Common	5 gp
Blade, knife	TM	Common	3 sp
Bust (of caster), tiny	SO	Rare	15 gp
Cage, silver wire	SO	Rare	8 gp
Caltrop, golden	SO	Rare	20 gp
Cadelabra, silver	SO	Rare	12 gp
Circle, brass	SO	Uncommon	2 gp
Circle, gold	SO	Uncommon	15 gp
Circle, platinum	SO	Rare	25 gp
Circle, silver	SO	Uncommon	5 gp
Cone, bull or ram horn	SO, TM	Uncommon	4 gp
Cone, crystal	SO, TM	Rare	7 gp
Cylinder, brass	SO, TM	Uncommon	8 gp
Cylinder, copper	SO, TM	Uncommon	8 gp
Cylinder, obsidian	SO	Rare	14 gp
Dagger, tiny	SO	Rare	4 gp
Dart, tiny	SO	Rare	3 gp
Die	SO, TM	Uncommon	1 sp
Die, bronze	SO	Rare	2 gp
Die, silver	SO	Rare	4 gp
Disk, bone, numbered	SO	Rare	3 sp
Doll, replica of self	SO	Rare	10 gp
Drum, small	SO, TM	Uncommon	8 sp
Fan, silk	SO, TM	Rare	1 gp
Fan, tiny	SO, TM	Uncommon	2 sp
Glove, black silk	SO, TM	Uncommon	8 sp
Glove, leather	TM	Common	4 cp
Glove, scorched	TM	Uncommon	2 cp
Glove, snakeskin	SO	Rare	6 gp
Glove, soft	TM	Common	1 sp
Hand, clay	SO	Rare	3 gp
Hand, stone	SO	Rare	5 gp
Handkerchief, silk	TM	Uncommon	2 sp
Hinge, rusty iron	TM	Uncommon	5 cp
Horseshoe	TM	Common	1 sp
Hourglass	SO, TM	Rare	25 gp
Key, silver	SO	Rare	12 gp
Links, gold	SO	Rare	8 gp
Metal cube, perfect	SO	Rare	10 gp
Mirror, silver, small	SO, TM	Uncommon	15 gp
Mirror, tiny	TM, SO	Rare	20 gp
Needle	TM	Common	2 cp
Needle, golden, tiny	SO	Rare	3 gp
Needle, magnetized	TM	Uncommon	1 gp
Paintbrush	TM	Common	6 cp
Pendant, metal	SO	Rare	8 gp
Pin, silver	SO	Uncommon	1 gp
Plate mail, piece	SO, TM	Uncommon	5 gp
Portal, ivory	SO	Rare	15 gp
Pouch, leather	TM	Common	1 sp
Prayer beads	TM	Common	2 gp
Siege engine	SO	Rare	11 gp
Sphere, obsidian	SO	Rare	18 gp
Spinner, brass	SO, TM	Rare	2 gp
Spoon, silver	TM	Uncommon	1 gp
Standard, miniature	SO	Rare	4 gp
Statue, canine, ebony	SO	Rare	12 gp
Statue, canine, ivory	SO	Rare	12 gp
Statuette, ivory, of caster	SO	Rare	30 gp
Trumpet, hearing, brass, small	TM	Uncommon	6 sp
Veil, silk	TM	Rare	1 gp
War hammer	TM	Uncommon	2 gp
Whistle, bone	SO, TM	Rare	6 gp
Whistle, silver, tiny	SO, TM	Rare	12 gp
Whistle, vulture-bone	SO	Rare	5 gp
Ziggurat, clay	SO	Rare	10 gp
Refined/Finished Items
Item	Acquisition	Scarcity	Cost
Ball, lead	TM	Common	2 cp
+Bar, iron, magnetized	TM	Uncommon	8 cp
+Bar, metal	TM	Common	1 cp
Bead, crystal	TM	Uncommon	6 cp
+Bead, glass	TM	Common	3 cp
Blade, iron	TM	Common	4 cp
Box, small	TM	Uncommon	5 cp
Crystal, leaded	TM	Uncommon	5 sp
Cube, cast iron	SO	Uncommon	3 sp
Diamond, hemispherical	SO	Rare	60 gp
Disc, bronze	TM	Uncommon	1 sp
+Gauze	TM	Uncommon	1 sp
Glass, opaque	TM	Uncommon	8 sp
Glass sheet	TM	Uncommon	2 gp
+Glass tube	TM	Uncommon	1 gp
+Incense	TM	Uncommon	15 gp
Iron, sheet	TM	Common	4 sp
Lens, small	TM, SO	Rare	8 gp
+Magnet, small	TM	Uncommon	1 sp
Marble, black glass	TM	Common	4 cp
Marble, colored glass	TM	Common	4 cp
Mirror, fragment	TM	Uncommon	1 gp
Moonstone, polished	TM, SO	Rare	50 gp
+Paint, small pot	TM	Common	2 sp
Prism, crystal	TM, SO	Rare	5 gp
Ribbon	TM	Common	2 cp
Rod, amber	TM, SO	Rare	25 gp
Rod, crystal	TM	Rare	3 gp
+Rod, glass	TM	Rare	1 gp
Rod, iron	TM	Common	2 cp
Rod, silver	TM, SO	Rare	2 gp
Sheet, gold	TM, SO	Rare	20 gp
Sheet, platinum	TM, SO	Rare	30 gp
Sheet, silver	TM, SO	Rare	15 gp
Silk	TM	Uncommon	1 gp
Silk, black	TM	Rare	3 gp
Silk, colored	TM	Uncommon	2 gp
Silk streamer	TM	Rare	5 gp
Sphere, clay	TM	Common	1 cp
Sphere, glass	TM	Uncommon	1 sp
Stick or strip, ivory	TM, SO	Rare	5 gp
Tarts, tiny**	SO	Rare	1 sp
+Wire, copper	TM	Uncommon	1 gp
Wire, golden	TM	Uncommon	5 gp
Wire, platinum	SO	Rare	10 gp
Wire, silver	TM	Uncommon	2 gp
Minerals
Item	Acquisition	Scarcity	Cost
Agate	TM, SO	Uncommon	50 gp
Amber	TM, SO	Uncommon	25 gp
Amber, powdered	TM, SO	Rare	40 gp
+Ash, volcanic	FS, TM	Rare	1 sp
+Bitumen	FS, TM	Rare	5 cp
+Carbon	FS, TM	Uncommon	5 cp
+Chalk	Auto	Common	1 cp
Charcoal	Auto, FS	Common	1 cp
Chrysolite, powdered	TM, SO	Rare	50 gp
+Clay	Auto, FS	Common	1 cp
+Coal	FS, TM	Common	1 cp
Copper	TM	Uncommon	5 cp
+Dust, coal	FS, TM	Common	1 cp
Dust, diamond	SO	Rare	100 gp
Dust, gold	TM, SO	Uncommon	10 gp
Dust, granite	FS, TM	Uncommon	1 cp
Dust, steel	TM	Uncommon	1 sp
Emerald, powdered	SO	Rare	60 gp
Feldspar, moonstone	FS, TM	Uncommon	5 gp
Feldspar, sunstone	FS, TM	Rare	8 gp
+Flint	Auto, FS	Common	2 cp
Granite, black	FS, TM	Rare	2 gp
Graphite, powdered	TM, SO	Uncommon	1 gp
+Iron filings	TM	Common	4 cp
+Iron, piece	TM	Common	8 cp
+Iron, powdered	TM	Uncommon	1 sp
+Iron pyrite	FS, TM	Common	2 sp
+Lead	TM	Common	2 cp
+Lime	FS, TM	Common	5 cp
+Lodestone	TM	Rare	1 gp
+Mercury (Quicksilver)	TM, SO	Rare	10 gp
Mica, chip	FS, TM	Uncommon	1 sp
Mica, ground	TM	Uncommon	5 sp
Phosphorus	SO	Rare	5 gp
+Pitch	TM	Common	8 cp
Quartz, clear	FS, TM	Common	4 sp
Quartz, powdered	TM	Uncommon	8 sp
Quartz, smoky	FS, TM	Common	2 sp
Ruby, powdered	SO	Rare	60 gp
+Salt	FS, TM	Common	2 cp
+Saltpeter	FS, TM	Common	1 cp
+Salts, alkaline	FS, SO	Rare	8 gp
Sand, colored	TM, SO	Uncommon	1 gp
Silver, powdered	TM, SO	Rare	5 gp
Stalactites, small	FS	Uncommon	—
Stone	Auto	Common	—
Stone, chip	Auto	Common	—
Stone, marble	FS, TM	Common	1 sp
+Sulphur	FS, TM	Uncommon	5 sp
Talc	TM	Uncommon	2 sp
Vermilion	TM	Uncommon	6 sp
Zinc	TM, SO	Rare	8 sp
Common/Household Materials
Item	Acquisition	Scarcity	Cost
Acorn	FS	Common	—
Bark chips	Auto	Common	—
Beeswax	FS, TM	Uncommon	2 sp
Blood**	Auto	Common	—
+Bone, powdered	TM	Uncommon	1 sp
Bone, small	Auto	Common	—
Butter**	TM	Common	2 sp
Candle, black wax	TM	Uncommon	5 cp
Candle, small	TM	Common	1 cp
Carrot, dried**	TM	Common	1 cp
Cloth, cotton	TM	Common	1 cp
Cloth, red	TM	Common	2 cp
Cloth, white	TM	Common	1 cp
Coffee bean	TM	Uncommon	1 cp
Coin, copper piece	TM	Common	1 cp
Coin, silver	TM	Common	1 sp
Coin, gold	TM	Common	1 gp
+Cork	TM	Uncommon	4 cp
Corn, kernel**	Auto	Common	—
Corn, powdered**	TM	Common	1 cp
Cotton	TM	Uncommon	2 cp
Dirt	Auto	Common	—
Dust	Auto	Common	—
Egg, rotten	FS, TM	Common	1 cp
Egg, shell	FS, TM	Common	1 cp
Egg, yolk**	FS, TM	Common	1 cp
Eyelash	Auto	Common	—
Fat**	Auto	Common	2 cp
Feather	Auto	Common	1 cp
Fleece	TM	Common	1 cp
Flour	Auto	Common	4 cp
Fruit, rotten**	Auto	Common	—
Fur	FS, TM	Common	1 sp
Garlic, bud**	FS, TM	Common	1 cp
Grain**	FS, TM	Common	1 cp
Gum arabic	TM, SO	Uncommon	6 cp
Handkerchief	TM	Common	2 cp
Honey**	FS, TM	Uncommon	8 sp
Honeycomb**	FS, TM	Uncommon	3 sp
+Humus	Auto	Common	—
+Ink	TM	Uncommon	8 gp
Leaf**	Auto	Common	—
Leaf, dry	Auto	Common	—
Leather loop	TM	Common	1 cp
Leather, shoe	TM	Common	1 cp
Meat, dried**	TM	Common	2 cp
Meat, raw**	TM	Common	1 cp
Milk fat**	TM	Common	—
Molasses	TM	Uncommon	4 cp
+Oil	TM	Common	6 cp
Oil, sweet	TM	Uncommon	1 sp
+Paper	TM	Uncommon	2 gp
+Parchment	TM	Uncommon	1 gp
Peas, dried and split	TM	Common	3 cp
Pebble	Auto	Common	—
Pepper	TM	Uncommon	2 gp
Pork rind**	TM	Common	2 cp
Reed	Auto	Common	—
Saffron**	TM	Rare	15 gp
Seashell	FS, TM	Uncommon	1 cp
Smoke	—	Common	—
Soot	FS, TM	Common	—
Sponge	TM	Uncommon	2 sp
Straw	Auto	Common	—
String	FS, TM	Common	1 cp
Sugar	TM	Uncommon	6 cp
Tallow**	TM	Common	2 cp
Thread	FS, TM	Common	1 cp
Twig	Auto	Common	—
Water	Auto	Common	—
Wax	TM	Common	2 cp
Wax, white	TM	Uncommon	4 cp
Whitewash	TM	Uncommon	2 sp
Wine	TM	Common	4 sp
Wood	Auto	Common	—
Wood, charred	Auto	Common	—
Wood, splinter	Auto	Common	—
Wool	TM	Common	1 cp
Animal Specimens
Item	Acquisition	Scarcity	Cost
Blood, doppleganger**	SO	Rare	25 gp
Blood, umber hulk**	SO	Rare	20 gp
Butterfly, live**	FS	Common	—
Claw, cat	FS, TM	Common	2 sp
Claw, umber hulk	SO	Rare	150 gp
Cocoon, caterpillar	FS, TM	Uncommon	2 cp
Cricket, live**	FS	Common	—
Dung, ape	FS, SO	Rare	2 gp
Dung, ox	Auto	Common	—
Eye, hawk**	SO	Rare	5 gp
Eyelash, basilisk	SO	Rare	80 gp
Eyelash, kirin	SO	Rare	60 gp
Eyelash, ogre mage	SO	Rare	40 gp
Fang, spider	FS, TM	Uncommon	1 sp
Feather, chicken	FS, TM	Common	—
Feather, eagle	FS, TM	Uncommon	5 sp
Feather, exotic	SO	Rare	10 gp
Feather, hawk	FS, TM	Uncommon	3 sp
Feather, hummingbird	FS, TM	Rare	1 gp
Feather, owl	FS, TM	Uncommon	1 sp
Feather, vulture	FS, TM	Uncommon	1 cp
Feather, white	FS, TM	Common	—
Feather, wing	FS, TM	Common	2 cp
Firefly, live**	FS	Common	—
Fur, bat	FS, TM	Uncommon	2 sp
Fur, bloodhound	TM	Uncommon	1 sp
Fur, cat	FS, TM	Common	—
Glowworm, live**	FS	Uncommon	—
Grasshopper leg**	FS	Common	—
Guano, bat	FS, TM	Uncommon	5 cp
Hair, ape	SO	Rare	1 gp
Hair, horse	Auto	Common	—
Hair, infant	FS, TM	Common	—
Hair, lycanthrope	SO	Rare	10 gp
Hair, ox	Auto	Common	—
Hair, skunk	FS	Uncommon	—
Heart, hen**	TM	Common	2 cp
+Hoof, powdered	TM	Common	1 cp
Honey, royal jelly**	FS, SO	Uncommon	10 gp
Ink, giant squid	SO	Rare	35 gp
Leg, frog, dried	FS, TM	Common	4 cp
Legs, millipede**	FS	Uncommon	—
Mouse, mummified	FS	Common	—
Pineal gland**	SO	Rare	20 gp
Scale, dragon	SO	Rare	5 gp
Scale, fish	FS, TM	Common	1 cp
Scale, herring	FS, TM	Uncommon	1 cp
Scale, snake	FS, TM	Common	2 cp
Shell, turtle	FS, TM	Common	1 sp
Sinew, ape**	SO	Rare	8 gp
Sinew, horse or ox**	TM	Common	2 sp
Skin, chameleon	FS, SO	Rare	2 gp
Skin, eel	FS, TM	Uncommon	8 sp
Skin, snake	FS, TM	Uncommon	6 sp
Slug, live**	FS	Common	—
Spider, live**	FS	Common	—
Spider web	FS	Common	—
Spittle, giant slug	SO	Rare	25 gp
Stomach, adder's**	FS, SO	Rare	7 gp
Tentacle, giant squid**	FS, SO	Rare	20 gp
Toad, mummified	FS, TM	Uncommon	7 sp
Tongue, snake**	FS, TM	Rare	2 gp
Tooth, carnivore	FS, TM	Uncommon	1 sp
Whisker, mouse	FS	Common	—
Whisker, rat	FS	Common	—
Will o� wisp essence	SO	Rare	75 gp
Wing, bee	FS, TM	Uncommon	3 cp
Herbs and Plant Specimens
Item	Acquisition	Scarcity	Cost
Amaryllis, stalk**	FS, TM	Uncommon	2 sp
Apple blossom**	FS	Common	1 cp
Aster seed	FS, TM	Common	1 cp
Bark, oak	Auto	Common	—
Bark, willow	FS	Common	—
Foxfire**	FS, TM	Rare	5 sp
Hickory nut oil	TM	Uncommon	4 gp
Holly berry**	Auto	Common	2 cp
Holly leaf**	Auto	Common	2 cp
Leek, crushed**	Auto	Common	1 cp
Lotus blossom**	FS, SO	Rare	10 gp
Marigold, crushed**	FS, TM	Common	2 cp
Moonseed seed	FS, TM	Uncommon	1 sp
Moss, phosphorescent**	FS	Rare	15 gp
Nut, shell	TM	Common	—
Pine cone	Auto	Common	—
Pine sprig**	Auto	Common	—
Poison ivy, leaf**	FS	Common	—
Poison oak, leaf**	FS	Uncommon	—
Poison sumac, leaf**	FS	Uncommon	—
Raspberry leaves**	FS, TM	Common	2 cp
Resin, camphor	SO	Rare	10 gp
Rhubarb, leaf**	FS, TM	Common	1 cp
Root, licorice	FS, TM	Uncommon	4 sp
Rose petal**	FS, TM	Common	2 cp
Seed, legume	FS, TM	Common	1 cp
Seed, sesame	TM	Uncommon	5 sp
Shamrock leaf**	FS	Common	—
Skunk cabbage, leaf**	FS	Common	—
Spores, mushroom	FS, TM	Uncommon	6 sp
Stinging nettle, crushed**	FS	Uncommon	—
Thistledown	FS	Common	—
Thorns, sharp	FS	Common	—
Walnut oil	TM	Rare	2 gp
Wychwood**	FS	Rare	—
Other Components
Item	Acquisition	Scarcity	Cost
+Acid	TM	Rare	3 gp
+Acid, citric	TM	Rare	10 gp
+Acid, nitric	TM	Rare	5 gp
Balloon	TM, SO	Uncommon	5 sp
Bone, from undead	FS, SO	Rare	20 gp
Book, numerological	SO	Rare	80 gp
Branch, from cemetery	FS	Uncommon	—
Cloth, from corpse	FS, SO	Common	5 sp
Cloth, from ghoul	FS, SO	Rare	15 gp
Cloth, from priest's robe	FS, SO	Uncommon	3 sp
Cloth, linen & gold thread	SO	Rare	6 gp
Dirt, from dragon's footprint	FS, SO	Rare	12 gp
Dirt, from ghoul's lair	FS, SO	Rare	10 gp
Dirt/earth from grave	FS	Common	—
Dust, from wizard's tomb	FS, SO	Rare	30 gp
Dust, spectre	FS, SO	Rare	35 gp
Dust, vampire	FS, SO	Rare	40 gp
Eyelash, from corpse	FS	Common	—
Hair, from evil female elf	FS	Rare	—
Hair, from ghoul	FS, SO	Rare	20 gp
Leather scrap, blessed	SO	Rare	50 gp
Mesh of thread	SO	Uncommon	3 gp
Page, from calendar	FS	Common	—
Rainwater, from thunderstorm	FS	Common	—
Scrap, from map 100 years old	FS, SO	Rare	10 gp
Shroud, from 100-year old corpse	FS	Rare	—
Skin, from magic-resistant creature	FS	Rare	—
Tombstone, chip	FS	Common	—
Vellum, blessed	SO	Rare	50 gp
Wand, oak, 100 years old	FS, SO	Rare	20 gp
Weapon, broken	FS, TM	Common	—
Weapon, broken magical	FS, SO	Rare	50 gp
Wood, from coffin	FS, TM	Common	1 gp
Wrapping, from mummy	FS, SO	Rare	40 gp

+ Items commonly available in a wizard's laboratory.
** Perishable items.
FS Item acquired by field search.
TM Item available in most towns or markets.
SO Item must be special ordered from a craftsman of some kind.

This information has been gathered and compiled by the Helpful Mage. My sources include AD&D source books and materials, and interviews with Thardferr DM's and players. Some of the information I have presented verbatim from these sources. Please do not copy the information from this page for purposes outside of the Thardferr AD&D Campaign setting. The name AD&D, and other related terms, are copyright of Wizards of the Coast and TSR. Reference to copyrighted material in no way constitutes a challenge to the respective copyright holders of that material.