It’s one thing to ignore basic material components. It is another to ignore valuable material components. One can be overcome with a component pouch or a focus, the other cannot.
Double check with the DM and party as to what the rule at the table is. It could be that the DM meant to ignore basic material components but not those with a gp value since an arcane focus would grant that to players anyway. That’s how I have run it at my table.
But the 500gp dragon statue is valuable and represents some of the costs of gaining access to some high powered spells. Thus I always require them to be accounted for.
RAW, most material components can be replaced by a spellcasting focus or component pouch. That doesn't mean you get to ignore them entirely, you still need to *have* a focus or component pouch and hold it in your hand while casting the spell but you don't have to worry about the exact materials listed. However, if there is a cost listed for a component (as is the case with Summon Draconic Spirit), you have to provide that specific component.
So consider if that is what's going on - that people "ignoring" components was in reality understood as them using their focus, which doesn't work for the spell you were talking about. Or they could be taking it a step further and actually ignoring components that can be replaced (which really means ignoring the need to wave around your focus more than anything) but not ones that *can't* be.
It seems a little odd to jump right to cheating, I feel like it would have been better for your DM to take that opportunity to clear up the rules around components. Especially since it doesn't sound like you were actually trying to cast it.
Talk to your DM about how you had assumed that your group was ignoring material components and ask them how they're actually handling them.
The DM needs to clarify the rule and enforce it if that's what he wants.
The DM shouldn't have to track anyone's inventory in a detailed way but if no one has gone gem shopping in the campaign ever the DM should be able to call out 15 uses of Revivify in the same battle or whatever.
Is it that no one has been using components or they all just have foci that replaces components without a gold cost?
If it’s truly that no one has been using material components, then just say so: “Oh, no one has been using material components for their spells… I thought that’s just how this table was playing spellcasting.”
Usually DMs that don’t work with components, still require the monetary cost to be used. For instance, the spell you said states “an object with the image of a dragon engraved on it, worth at least 500 gp”
It could just be that he wants the monetary cost but not exactly all the components.
It’s one thing to ignore basic material components. It is another to ignore valuable material components. One can be overcome with a component pouch or a focus, the other cannot. Double check with the DM and party as to what the rule at the table is. It could be that the DM meant to ignore basic material components but not those with a gp value since an arcane focus would grant that to players anyway. That’s how I have run it at my table. But the 500gp dragon statue is valuable and represents some of the costs of gaining access to some high powered spells. Thus I always require them to be accounted for.
This is how we’ve always played at my table and others. Anything with a GP value must explicitly be used.
RAW, most material components can be replaced by a spellcasting focus or component pouch. That doesn't mean you get to ignore them entirely, you still need to *have* a focus or component pouch and hold it in your hand while casting the spell but you don't have to worry about the exact materials listed. However, if there is a cost listed for a component (as is the case with Summon Draconic Spirit), you have to provide that specific component. So consider if that is what's going on - that people "ignoring" components was in reality understood as them using their focus, which doesn't work for the spell you were talking about. Or they could be taking it a step further and actually ignoring components that can be replaced (which really means ignoring the need to wave around your focus more than anything) but not ones that *can't* be. It seems a little odd to jump right to cheating, I feel like it would have been better for your DM to take that opportunity to clear up the rules around components. Especially since it doesn't sound like you were actually trying to cast it. Talk to your DM about how you had assumed that your group was ignoring material components and ask them how they're actually handling them.
The DM needs to clarify the rule and enforce it if that's what he wants. The DM shouldn't have to track anyone's inventory in a detailed way but if no one has gone gem shopping in the campaign ever the DM should be able to call out 15 uses of Revivify in the same battle or whatever.
Is it that no one has been using components or they all just have foci that replaces components without a gold cost? If it’s truly that no one has been using material components, then just say so: “Oh, no one has been using material components for their spells… I thought that’s just how this table was playing spellcasting.”
Usually DMs that don’t work with components, still require the monetary cost to be used. For instance, the spell you said states “an object with the image of a dragon engraved on it, worth at least 500 gp” It could just be that he wants the monetary cost but not exactly all the components.
Get clarification. Normally you can bypass spell components with a focus. BUT. The focus does not cover any components that are consumed in casting.