D&D 5E Rules Discussion: Somatic Components and Restrained

[Dausuul]

It's certainly a reasonable ruling. I would be inclined to say you have to make a Strength save versus the web's DC every time you try to cast a somatic spell. Fail, and nothing happens. You don't lose the spell slot, but you do use up your action for the round.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Do keep in mind that, while balance isn't the holy grail of 5E that it was with the prior two, it's still a consideration. If web prevents casting, you've just made a 2nd-level spell a complete mage-ender. I mean, most of them are going to have lousy Strength, anyway. I really feel like restrained and no movement and disadvantage on attacks really ought to be enough.

And I would allow a wizard to cast in manacles (albeit possibly with disadvantage on attacks), unless they were specifically designed to prevent finger movement as well.

 

[Kobold Stew]

Do keep in mind that, while balance isn't the holy grail of 5E that it was with the prior two, it's still a consideration. If web prevents casting, you've just made a 2nd-level spell a complete mage-ender. I mean, most of them are going to have lousy Strength, anyway. I really feel like restrained and no movement and disadvantage on attacks really ought to be enough.

See, this is interesting, since Silence already is a second-level mage-ender. Web just has more alternative uses.

And I would allow a wizard to cast in manacles (albeit possibly with disadvantage on attacks), unless they were specifically designed to prevent finger movement as well.

Interesting.

 

[Thaumaturge]

Do keep in mind that, while balance isn't the holy grail of 5E that it was with the prior two, it's still a consideration. If web prevents casting, you've just made a 2nd-level spell a complete mage-ender.

Silence. (/crickets)

Both web (if it prevents or interferes with casting) and silence are 2nd level spells. The difference being a caster can spend a move action to get out of one and not the other. Hmmm.

And I would allow a wizard to cast in manacles (albeit possibly with disadvantage on attacks), unless they were specifically designed to prevent finger movement as well.

I thought of this today: If he'd wanted to cast burning hands, I would have let him, because I know the somatic component of burning hands. The general description of somatic gestures has me imagining all sorts of gesticulations. But burning hands is simple, and could easily be done from in manacles or trapped in a web. (Also, setting himself on fire would have helped, but that's not the point).

Thaumaturge.

 

[mach1.9pants]

And I would allow a wizard to cast in manacles (albeit possibly with disadvantage on attacks), unless they were specifically designed to prevent finger movement as well.

Mage-acles

EDIT: ps she passed her Concentration Check

 

[KidSnide]

I had the same initial reaction as Thaumaturge, but have been persuaded that - if the restrained condition permits attacks - it should permit some amount of somatic spell casting. Certainly, the Burning Hands response is a traditional (albeit painful) response to finding oneself in a web.

That all said, I could easily see an argument that a cleric whose unconscious fall has been interrupted by a web would be much more entangled than the ordinary web target. Overall, I like your general thinking, but agree with the point that this probably isn't the right generalization of the rule.

-KS

 

[mach1.9pants]

Kidsnide it right, you could certainly rule an unconscious fall into a web makes you more stuck than normal. More than fair.

Thinking about movies and Frodo gets into a web, movement 0 (his feet are off the ground) manages to attack the web and free himself. Just for visualisation purposes it helps, IMO

[video=youtube;-NVWQNzQbTA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NVWQNzQbTA#t=123[/video]

 

[GSHamster]

To me, the issue is that you can be "restrained" and have one hand free; and you can be "restrained" and not have one hand free.

For example, if you get shacked to a chair by 2 legs and 1 arm, you still have the other arm free. Or if you get grabbed around the middle by a tentacle, you have your arms free. Both those cases I'd think you were still restrained.

But alternatively, if the shackles included both arms, you don't have an arm free. Or if your arms were at your sides when the tentacle wrapped around you, they aren't free.

I'd err on the side of physical activity. If you an make an attack, you can cast a spell, maybe with a penalty. If the only thing you can do is Str/Dex checks to escape, then you can't cast a spell.

 

[Ruzak]

...
I'd err on the side of physical activity. If you an make an attack, you can cast a spell, maybe with a penalty. If the only thing you can do is Str/Dex checks to escape, then you can't cast a spell.

I like this.

I would definitely say no to casting in manacles. You need more than finger motion.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Silence and web aren't comparable, though.

Web lasts longer, and slows even those it doesn't restrain, and obscures vision, and requires a Strength check to even try to escape (or move at all).

Silence... makes things silent. While there are lots of circumstantial benefits, its only mechanical effects are penalties on Perception and canceling out vocal spells.

You're basically taking a second level spell and tacking on a whole extra 2nd-level effect if it prevents casting.