Cleric casting Spells while using Shield and Weapon

[mikebr99]

Keep shield bonus, but it probably makes more sense otherwise (at least for AoO and ready actions).

You could also require a single move action to switch the weapon back and forth (right before and after the casting), so basically casting with weapon and shield requires a full-round action (note, that you could do the same (altho provoking an AoO then), if you drop the weapon and pick it up afterwards, but how silly would that be!? ).

Bye
Thanee

Well, that's a little harsh in my books... Free action both ways.

And if you provoke an AoO during all this, you don't get the shield's AC bonus, but would before and after your actual actions.


It's the weight that is the limiting facter... not that fact that there is a strap or handle in the shield hand.

You strap a shield to your forearm and grip it with your hand. A light shield’s weight lets you carry other items in that hand, although you cannot use weapons with it.

Mike​

 

[Rel]

Well, that's a little harsh in my books... Free action both ways.

And if you provoke an AoO during all this, you don't get the shield's AC bonus, but would before and after your actual actions.

I agree here but I'll also note that if there are any bad guys who are attempting to disrupt the Cleric's spellcasting with readied missile weapons or spells that he's not going to have his shield available when those attacks are incoming.

 

[milo]

Put a strap on the weapon, when casting the spell let go of the weapon, done casting grab the weapon. Hold the divine focus in the shield hand.

 

[Shin Okada]

>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.

It's from 3.0e FAQ. I can't find any direct answer to this topic in 3.5e FAQ.

But if your DM follow that ruling, even a buckler make a hand "not free".

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

If you decide against the small shield all you'll end up achieving is pushing the cleric (and paladin) into using two handed weapons.

Given the improvements in power attack and animated shields, the cleric will have the last laugh.

 

[Thanee]

I don't see any reason (except style, of course) to use a small shield, anyways.

Same AC as a buckler, just less useful.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Hypersmurf]

I don't see any reason (except style, of course) to use a small shield, anyways.

Same AC as a buckler, just less useful.

It's all about the bashing, baby!

-Hyp.

 

[shilsen]

If you decide against the small shield all you'll end up achieving is pushing the cleric (and paladin) into using two handed weapons.

Given the improvements in power attack and animated shields, the cleric will have the last laugh.

In our group we've never allowed spellcasting using a hand with a buckler, leave alone a small shield, and we've had only a single cleric (who was mainly a fighter-type) who used a two-handed weapon.

 

[Jhulae]

In our group we've never allowed spellcasting using a hand with a buckler, leave alone a small shield, and we've had only a single cleric (who was mainly a fighter-type) who used a two-handed weapon.

Bucklers state that your hand is free, because you can use it to make attacks with held weapons and such. There's no reason to restrict spellcasting. I can see not allowing the cleric (or paladin or ranger, or arcane casters who wear bucklers) to gain the AC bonus for the round, but absolutely no reason can be made to disallow casting with a buckler, except as an arbitrary descision.

 

[AoR]

Thanks for your replies!

Why do we want to prove him wrong: He is the kind of player who uses fluff as rules whenever he wants to. ("Here it states that a cleric is a meele oriented character. I should be able to use a shield and a weapon and still cast spells!")

Well I think we'll just use that 3.0 ruling...

If he wants to use a two-handed weapon we won´t stop him - but we really dislike the way he bends the rules whenever it suits him.