Is the star chart a material component for the Guidance and Guiding Bolt spells from the Circle of Stars druid's Star Map feature?

Question

The Circle of Stars druid's Star Map feature grants the following benefits (TCoE, p. 38):

You've created a star chart as part of your heavenly studies. It is a Tiny object and can serve as a spellcasting focus for your druid spells. You determine its form by rolling on the Star Map table or by choosing one.

While holding this map, you have these benefits:

• You know the guidance cantrip.
• You have the guiding bolt spell prepared. It counts as a druid spell for you, and it doesn't count against the number of spells you can have prepared.
• You can cast guiding bolt without expending a spell slot. You can do so a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Neither guiding bolt nor guidance have a material component. It would seem from the language that RAW one must hold the chart in one hand and cast these spells with the other, unless one has the War Caster feat.

Is my interpretation of the rules correct? And what is actually intended?

Is the star chart a material component for guidance and guiding bolt?

Answer 1

No, it does not add material components to the spells it grants, but it must be held in the hand for the character to have access to these spells.

There are no hidden rules.

The star chart gives you the following benefits:

• you can use it as an arcane focus
• while holding it you can cast additional spells

Notably it does not say it is a material component.

D&D 5e works on the principle of

Specific Beats General

(PHB, XGtE, TC)

That principle requires that, in order for an exception to be created in the rules, a specific effect must contradict a general rule.

In this case, the general rule is, spells have material components if they say they do in their spell block. Neither of these spells have material components specified, so they don't have material components.

The rule for the star chart does not create an exception saying that they have material components. Ergo, they still don't have material components.

Now, regarding your related question, which (to paraphrase) is:

do you have to have another hand free to cast these spells because of the holding requirement?

No. Because the star chart can be used as a spellcasting focus, this exception applies:

A spellcaster must have a hand free to access a spell's material components — or to hold a spellcasting focus — but it can be the same hand that he or she uses to perform somatic components.

As a result, they can use the same hand that is holding the star chart to perform any somatic components required.

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Additionally, War Caster does not apply in this situation because the exception it gives to the spellcasting rules is:

You can perform the somatic components of spells even when you have weapons or a shield in one or both hands.

So, if the star chart were not a spellcasting focus (which it is) then the War Caster feat would not allow you to use the hand holding the star chart to perform somatic components.

Answer 2

It must be held in hand, but it is unclear if it counts as a material component.

The feature description is clear that you must be holding the star chart:

While holding this map:

But, this does not necessarily make it a material component. The Artificer's spellcasting feature explicitly tells us that all Artificer spells have a material component:

You produce your artificer spell effects through your tools. You must have a spellcasting focus—specifically thieves’ tools or some kind of artisan’s tool—in hand when you cast any spell with this Spellcasting feature (meaning the spell has an ‘M’ component when you cast it).

It is unclear if this applies uniquely to the Artificer, or if the same logic applies to the Stars druid as well. This rule for the Artificer seems to set up a definition that may be applicable elsewhere. That is, that a requirement to hold something in hand to cast the spell means the spell has a material requirement.

It's up to the DM.