The Tools, Are all of these props really required? Options

Okay, I'll be the fool for five.

In all of me 'extensive' research I'v come across several methods of evocation. The Golden Dawn seems to the the most popular.

My question is, whats with all the tools? I mean, sure I know they can help the summoner and all, but do you really need an elemental weapon for every direction as well as a sword and a dagger, in addition to a magick wand, a blasting rod, a rainbow wand, a banishing wand and well, the list goes on.

Maybe it's just me. I'm more of a simple is better kind of guy. I have one dagger. I have one bowel and a small scrying mirror. Not too big into tools, as useful as they can be. My great luxery is a sword (I love my sword! ^_^).

I have yet to do an evocation, I'm working my way up to it very slowly, but the huge amount of stuff that seems to be required (at least in popular use) is a little big baffling to me.

Are they really all required?

Sincerely, an eternal newbie.

It depends on which philosophy you're going by. I find all the complexities of the GD system to be a bit cumbersome and sluggish. It requires a lot of time and dedication to really be good at it. However aspects of it quite useful and applicable to chaos magick. Under this philosophy you may choose to use which ever tools you feel are nesseccary for directing will, control and energy over your microcosm. Really what I think matters is that you are able to focus direction over which ever energies you are using.