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Subtle Spell states:
When you cast a spell, you can spend 1 sorcery points to cast it without any somatic or verbal components
Time Stop only has (V) Components, and The Components on page 203 of the PHB state
If you can't provide one or more of a spell's components, you are unable to cast the spell.
I maybe overthinking this but I wanted to know which one is correct? Subtle < Components or Subtle > Components? If there is a Crawford answer I would like to know as well.
The rule on spellcasting does not say that you need a component, but:
Each spell's description indicates whether it requires verbal(V), somatic(S), or material(M) components. (PHB 203)
So technically there could be a spell that does not list any components. Subtle spell overwrites even the above rule, which it can do as a class ability is more specific than a base rule (specific beats general, PHB 7).
Another way to put this: in the description of subtle spell "without any somatic or verbal components" should be read as "without providing any somatic or verbal components". It is clearly meant as a way circumvent the normal rules of casting. What you propose would limit casting on the other hand, which clashes with this being a class ability.
YES you can always cast a spell that has no components (as long as you have the spell slot) as there are no requirements left to meet.
The quote about components does not say you have to have a component to have a spell. It says that the spell lists what components are required and if you are unable to provide all of them then you can't cast it.
If you can't provide one or more of a spell's components, you are unable to cast the spell. emphasis mine
If it was intended to be read as a component must always be provided to cast a spell then it would have been worded.
If you don't provide one or more components, you are unable to cast the spell.
With subtle spell Time Stop no longer has any components required (technically you could still have your character do them since not having to speak is not the same as being unable to speak). Since it doesn't require any components it becomes impossible to not be able to meet the requirements. (double negative for effect)
You can also consider the sorcery point spent as the verbal and/or somatic component of your spell.
Subtle Spell allows you to cast any spell without somatic or verbal components without restriction (aside from sorcery points).
There is no reason why Time Stop would be any different. The fact that it only has verbal components do not matter. Since it is subtle, it now requires no components.
The section you referenced from the PHB only counts if you are unable to provide those components. In this case you are exempt from providing them so it does not matter.
Yes it works.
The Basic Rules Compendium says :
Specific Beats General
This compendium contains rules that govern how the game plays. That said, many racial traits, class features, spells, magic items, monster abilities, and other game elements break the general rules in some way, creating an exception to how the rest of the game works. Remember this: If a specific rule contradicts a general rule, the specific rule wins.
Exceptions to the rules are often minor. For instance, many adventurers don’t have proficiency with longbows, but every wood elf does because of a racial trait. That trait creates a minor exception in the game. Other examples of rule-breaking are more conspicuous. For instance, an adventurer can’t normally pass through walls, but some spells make that possible. Magic accounts for most of the major exceptions to the rules.
Page 203 of the players hand book is an example of a general rule while subtle spell is a specific rule, hence subtle spell would allow you to cast Time Stop with no compenents needed.
Yes
This isn't explicitly disallowed. We can see this due of the usage of the word can't.
If you can't provide one or more of a spell's components, you are unable to cast the spell.
Spending a Sorcery Point to cast a Subtle Spell:
When you cast a spell, you can spend 1 sorcery points to cast it without any somatic or verbal components
removes the requirement of the verbal component of this spell.
[All emphasis mine.]
