Spellcasting Focuses & Holy Symbols

Spellcasting Focuses & Holy Symbols covers the standard Arcane Focuses, Druidic Focuses, and Holy Symbols that can be produced through ordinary tool-based crafting.

These items use the normal mundane crafting procedure. The crafter must have proficiency with an eligible tool, provide the listed Material Cost, and spend the required Crafting Time. One workday represents 8 hours of work.

Conventional Materials can provide the entire Material Cost of any focus or Holy Symbol in this article. Appropriate Special Materials can instead provide Ingredient Credit when they form a meaningful part of the finished object.

Using a Special Material does not alter the normal spellcasting function of a focus or Holy Symbol. Additional magical properties require a separate Recipe, Formula, or magic-item construction.

Arcane Focuses

The standard Arcane Focus Craft entry can be made using either Jeweler's Tools or Woodcarver's Tools.

The physical construction of the focus determines which listed Special Material Type is appropriate. Where several Material Types are listed, they represent different valid constructions rather than materials that must all be present.

Material and Construction

A Crystal normally uses Mineral as its meaningful Special Material Profile.

An Orb can be formed from Mineral or Glass depending on its construction.

A Rod can be made primarily from Wood or Metal or can meaningfully incorporate a Mineral element.

A Staff can be primarily Wood or can incorporate a substantial Mineral component.

A Wand can be wooden, metallic, mineral-mounted, or constructed from an appropriate combination of those materials.

The Special Material must still form a meaningful part of the finished focus to provide Ingredient Credit. A small decorative inclusion does not allow an unrelated high-value material to pay for most of the item's Material Cost.

The standard Arcane Focus Staff also functions as a Quarterstaff.

Special Materials

Special Materials can influence the appearance and construction of an Arcane Focus without changing its ordinary game statistics.

For example, Silverleaf Wood can form the body of a Staff or Wand when Wood is appropriate, while a suitable tracked Mineral can be incorporated into a Crystal, Orb, Rod, Staff, or Wand according to its physical construction.

Properties and Affinities do not automatically affect spellcasting through the focus. A Conductive, Fey-aligned, Elemental, or otherwise unusual material only produces additional mechanics when a more specific Recipe or Formula recognizes those qualities.

Druidic Focuses

The standard Druidic Focus Craft entry can be made using Painter's Supplies or Woodcarver's Tools.

Sprig of Mistletoe

The Sprig of Mistletoe is a specific physical focus rather than a general botanical item form.

Its Recipe therefore has Specific Material as its Special Material Profile. Another plant cannot automatically replace the mistletoe merely because it is valuable, magical, medicinal, Fey-associated, or otherwise unusual.

A different botanical focus requires a separate established Recipe or Formula when one is appropriate.

Wooden Staff and Yew Wand

The Wooden Staff and Yew Wand use Wood as their Special Material Profile.

An appropriate Special Wood can provide Ingredient Credit when it forms the focus itself. Its Properties, Affinity, or other qualities do not automatically change the normal spellcasting function of the finished focus.

The standard Wooden Staff also functions as a Quarterstaff.

Holy Symbols

The standard Holy Symbol Craft entry can be made using Jeweler's Tools or Painter's Supplies.

Each standard Holy Symbol has a Purchase Price of 5 gp, a Material Cost of 2 gp 5 sp, and a Crafting Time of 1 workday.

Amulet

An Amulet can be made from Metal, Mineral, Wood, or an appropriate combination of those materials.

The material must form a meaningful part of the symbol itself rather than serving as a minor decoration.

Emblem

An Emblem can be painted, embroidered, mounted, engraved, or otherwise incorporated into an appropriate surface.

Its Special Material Profile therefore includes Fiber, Metal, and Reagent.

A Reagent is appropriate when a pigment, paint, prepared coating, ink, or similar substance forms a meaningful part of the symbol.

The Recipe creates the Holy Symbol itself. It does not also provide a Shield, garment, weapon, banner, or another object on which the Emblem is displayed.

Reliquary

A Reliquary can be constructed from Metal, Wood, Glass, Mineral, or an appropriate combination of those materials.

Its broader profile reflects the range of physical forms a reliquary can take. The listed Material Types are possible constructions rather than a requirement to include every one.

Special Materials and Religious Meaning

An unusual material can have religious, cultural, or symbolic significance without gaining an additional game mechanic.

A temple might favor a particular Wood, Mineral, Metal, Glass, pigment, or other material because of local tradition or association with a deity. Unless a separate Recipe or Formula establishes another effect, the result remains an ordinary Holy Symbol with its standard rules.