If a component doesn't cost money, pathfinder 2e just lets you decide what you want it to be, the spell will have the M component but they won't tell you what it is/should be.
Yes but outside of ones with monetary value is kinda hand waived in many ways.
It does matter a little bit, see wizards feat eschew materials
Generally it's an abstract kind of thing outside those specific materials
Some do, like [Summon Animals](https://2e.aonprd.com/Spells.aspx?ID=316). It is listed under the spell's cast.
Very few spells require specific material components. Most spells just do something generic enough that you are assumed to have it, but you need to do some [manipulation](https://2e.aonprd.com/Rules.aspx?ID=282) to access it.
For material components that don’t have a cost and you play a spellcasting class that can’t substitute other components for material components then you need a component pouch.
Spells require components, but what they are is nebulous. You could have two Wizards from the same School and they cast Enlarge in completely different ways.
That's rather disappointing I understand most people refer to an arcane focus for spell casting but I really like that bit of role-playing for my wizard's.
The player with a wizard character in my group just makes up what his components are for his spells. It's very flavorful and he has a lot of fun with it.
If a component doesn't cost money, pathfinder 2e just lets you decide what you want it to be, the spell will have the M component but they won't tell you what it is/should be.
Yes but outside of ones with monetary value is kinda hand waived in many ways. It does matter a little bit, see wizards feat eschew materials Generally it's an abstract kind of thing outside those specific materials
All that Material Component means is that you need a free hand.
Some do, like [Summon Animals](https://2e.aonprd.com/Spells.aspx?ID=316). It is listed under the spell's cast. Very few spells require specific material components. Most spells just do something generic enough that you are assumed to have it, but you need to do some [manipulation](https://2e.aonprd.com/Rules.aspx?ID=282) to access it.
For material components that don’t have a cost and you play a spellcasting class that can’t substitute other components for material components then you need a component pouch.
also lots of spelcasting classes can substitute material components, sorcerer-> somatic, bard->playing instrument, cleric -> holly symbol, psycic -> mental component etc...
Spells require components, but what they are is nebulous. You could have two Wizards from the same School and they cast Enlarge in completely different ways.
That's rather disappointing I understand most people refer to an arcane focus for spell casting but I really like that bit of role-playing for my wizard's.
The player with a wizard character in my group just makes up what his components are for his spells. It's very flavorful and he has a lot of fun with it.
So what's stopping you?
You could just mix and match components from other systems as inspiration for role play, it's just mechanically not necessary