snickersnax
Explorer
I'm wondering if anyone has a good consistency rule change for spell casting in armor vs encumbrance vs grappling. It seems strange to me that padded armor is too distracting and physically hampering to cast a spell, but you could be carrying 200lbs of pots and pans in back packs and if you were heavily encumbered ( I know its a variant rule) have a reduced speed of 20 with disadvantage on str, con and dex saves and checks and not have a problem casting a spell.
You can be grappled and being moved against your will, have zero move speed, and still cast a spell and not have any penalties on saves or checks. Meaning if you are grappled by inanimate equipment there is less penalty than being grappled by an equal or heavier weight animate creature.
But if you are actually restrained by magic/ manacles/huge creatures/ inanimate objects (you are being pinned down by a 500 lb rock (exceeding your strength by 30x)) There is less penalty than heavy encumbrance and somehow can still cast spells.
I recognize that there are balance issues with each of these things, but I'd really like to have a great system that makes sense.
You can be grappled and being moved against your will, have zero move speed, and still cast a spell and not have any penalties on saves or checks. Meaning if you are grappled by inanimate equipment there is less penalty than being grappled by an equal or heavier weight animate creature.
But if you are actually restrained by magic/ manacles/huge creatures/ inanimate objects (you are being pinned down by a 500 lb rock (exceeding your strength by 30x)) There is less penalty than heavy encumbrance and somehow can still cast spells.
I recognize that there are balance issues with each of these things, but I'd really like to have a great system that makes sense.
Grant AoOs for casting in melee, disallow casting when encumbered, require a concentration check when grappled or suffering from an movement-restricting conditions, etc... 
