Casting spells while armed...

[Artoomis]

I really dislike references to the FAQ wihout quoting it so one can see for oneself.

SO:

Can a spellcaster, arcane or divine, cast a spell
requiring somatic or material components if he has a
weapon in one hand and a buckler in the other? A small
shield? A large shield?
No in all cases. You must have at least one free hand to
use a somatic component. (See page 151 in the Player™s
Handbook.) You could drop the weapon (or the buckler or
shield) as a free action and then cast the spell.

 

[drnuncheon]

According to the FAQ you cannot cast a spell while holding a weapon in one hand and any shield, even a buckler, in the other.

You need one hand free, and by that is obviously meant totally free.

I suppose that even though it is strapped to your forearm it still hinders some hand movements.

Yep, officially if you strap a metal disc to your forearm you can't cast a spell with that hand. Heck, even if you cast it with your other hand there's a 5% chance that it will screw you up.

But put on a heavy metal glove that restricts your finger and hand motion, and you can handle those somatic components just fine.

This ruling brought to you by the Failed-To-Think-It-Through...Again Department.

J