Spellcasting Components expanded

Magic in the Age of Enialis

High level Synopsis:

• Verbal and somatic components need to be loud and exaggerated. Think Gandalf and Dr. Strange. Some roll playing is encouraged.
• Material components (that have cost or are consumed) need to be obtained and should be identified when casting the spell.
• Players need to be conscious of all components in the spells they cast.

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As outlined in the PHB, casting a spell may have 3 components: Verbal, Somatic and Material.

In the Age of Eniails, the weave is weak and the use of these components is needed as explained below.

Verbal:

Verbal spells will have a "V" tag on them. These are the words you say out loud when casting a spell.

"Most spells require the chanting of mystic words. The words themselves aren’t the source of the spell’s power; rather, the particular combination of sounds, with specific pitch and resonance, sets the threads of magic in motion."

In the Age of Enialis, the magical weave is weak. Unless you have the trait of Subtle spell, the verbal and somatic components need to be exaggerated for the spell to work.

I leave this to your interpretation, but a whisper under your breath won't work. Consider Gandalf's voice when he intimidates Bilbo to leave the ring, or at the bridge of Khazad doom, he wasn't quietly saying "None shall pass." His voice was strong and confident, it forcefully caused the shield to stay strong.

When Roll playing

You don't have to make up words every time. But doing so occasionally adds flavor and is enjoyable. Note that if the casting time is 1 action, all the components should be swift. If the casting time is 10 minutes, for the sake of gameplay you don't need to roll play out the 10 minute incantation. But you should understand when casting a ritual spell, it does take 10 minutes+ and during those 10 minutes, you are not sitting in a corner peacefully doing nothing unless the spell has no components. If the spell has Verbal and Somatic components, you are doing an intense Somatic exercise while strongly calling forth the magic with a lengthy verbal incantation. This takes concentration as explained in Concentration spells and you can't really be interrupted to do other things. Remember Dr. Strange in Spiderman: No way home?

Somatic:

Somatic components will have an "S" tag on them. They are movements required to cast the spell.

"Spellcasting gestures might include a forceful gesticulation or an intricate set of gestures. If a spell requires a somatic component, the caster must have free use of at least one hand to perform these gestures."

In the Age of Enialis, the magical weave is weak. Unless you have the trait of Subtle spell, the verbal and somatic components need to be exaggerated for the spell to work.

I leave this to your interpretation, but a flick of a finger won't work. Consider Dr. Strange's gestures when he casts spells. Note his posture, his hand movements, they are not subtle. They are forceful and specific.

When Roll playing

You don't have to stand and perform a choreographed dance every time, but once in a while would be fun. A brief word on your hand movements is encouraged. Once your types of somatic gestures are established you don't need to explain it every time, but once in a while for flavor it is fun.

Material

Material components will have an "M" tag on them. These are the physical items needed to cast a spell.

"Casting some spells requires particular objects, specified in parentheses in the component entry. A character can use a component pouch or a spellcasting focus (found in chapter 5, “Equipment”) in place of the components specified for a spell. But if a cost is indicated for a component, a character must have that specific component before he or she can cast the spell.
If a spell states that a material component is consumed by the spell, the caster must provide this component for each casting of the spell.
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."

Note A spellcasting focus can be used in place of a material component only if that component has no cost noted in the spell’s description and if that component isn’t consumed.

Also note that a spellcasting focus can only be used if material components are required. If the spell requires Somatic components but no material components you must have a "free hand" as explained in Spellcasting Rules Sage Advice where a cleric has a shield as her spellcasting focus:

"If the same cleric casts cure wounds, she needs to put the mace or the shield away, because that spell doesn’t have a material component but does have a somatic component. She’s going to need a free hand to make the spell’s gestures. If she had the War Caster feat, she could ignore this restriction."

Obtaining Material components

If there is a Material component that has an associated cost, is consumable or has a specific gathering requirement you MUST first obtain that item in game before you can cast the spell. The caster is responsible to identify these material components and letting the DM know that they're looking for such an item.
Other components (that are not consumed, have no specific cost or gathering requirements) are assumed to be in your component pouch if you have one.

When Roll playing

If you are using components, you can always role play the use of them when casting spells for flavor. If the spell has consumable or cost related components, please call it out when casting the spell.

Summary

When casting a spell, know its components and understand that you must use them (even if you don't roll play it out.)

Just because you have access to a spell does not mean you can cast it. If you don't have the necessary components you can't cast it. Finding those components may be easy, but may be an adventure in itself.

It's the player's responsibility to know what components are needed and to find and keep track of any necessary components.

It is assumed in this world that the same spell cast by different people is done the same way unless they have feats that allow them to do otherwise. They use the same components V,S&M. However, there is no expectation that the Players do the same thing every time. If you want to track it, good for you. But for the purpose of in game spell recognition. If you know the spell, you recognize when someone else is casting it.

The components and rules cited here are in line with the Counterspell: How, what, where and when? article. They apply to PCs, NPCs and monsters alike unless those creatures have specific abilities that allow them to bypass the rules.

References:

Players Handbook
Spellcasting Rules Sage Advice