Cleric casting Spells while using Shield and Weapon

[Li Shenron]

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.

Except that in no way the buckler states that your hand is free. It just specifies that you can use a bow or crossbow at no penalty, or that you can use an off-hand weapon (or use the hand for a two-handed weapon) with -1 to attacks, but your hand is not free. It is NOT an exception for spellcasting. There is absolutely no reason to alllow casting with a buckler's hand except as an arbitrary decision.

 

[Li Shenron]

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.

That is a suggestion that I have seen many times before. However, I don't think that grabbing the weapon back should be a free action: try strapping an 8lb heavy mace on your right hand with a cord, and grab it back using your right hand alone! It seems even harder than picking up the same object from the ground (move action + AoO). At the same time, an 8lb object swinging from your wrist does not exactly leave your hand free for easily gesturing the spell somatic component

 

[Darklone]

All this tricks are mostly covered by the Quickdraw feat...

There should be a feat that covers sheathing a weapon fast.

 

[Jhulae]

Except that in no way the buckler states that your hand is free. It just specifies that you can use a bow or crossbow at no penalty, or that you can use an off-hand weapon (or use the hand for a two-handed weapon) with -1 to attacks, but your hand is not free. It is NOT an exception for spellcasting. There is absolutely no reason to alllow casting with a buckler's hand except as an arbitrary decision.

A buckler is a small shield that is strapped to your forearm. It's not held in the hand at all, which is why you can use it and still shoot a ranged weapon, attack with a two handed weapon, or attack offhand.

Since you're not holding the buckler, if you don't have anything in your hand, your hand is free. The -1 penalty for melee is because the buckler adds additional weight to the arm. Now, if you want to say that *that* is why you can't use the hand for spellcasting, then maybe you have an argument, even though that's what arcane spell failure is for.

The point remains that the buckler leaves the hand free, unlike a small shield (which can't be worn and allow the character to fire missile weapons, use a two handed weapon, or attack with a weapon off hand).

 

[Thanee]

It's all about the bashing, baby!

Heh. But that just underlines my statement.

A large shield is much better for bashing.
(some might say now, a tower shield is even better... )

The small shield simply has no place, it's always outperformed by either the large shield or the buckler.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

What Jhulae said. A buckler shouldn't hinder spellcasting, except by arcane spell failure chance. It leaves the shield-hand completely free.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

Do you allow the caster to benefit from the shield bonus to AC in that round, or is that lost?

On second thought and going into a similar route as TWF with a buckler strapped to one's arm, the shield bonus definitely shouldn't count during the entire round.

Bye
Thanee

 

[shilsen]

A buckler is a small shield that is strapped to your forearm. It's not held in the hand at all, which is why you can use it and still shoot a ranged weapon, attack with a two handed weapon, or attack offhand.

Since you're not holding the buckler, if you don't have anything in your hand, your hand is free. The -1 penalty for melee is because the buckler adds additional weight to the arm. Now, if you want to say that *that* is why you can't use the hand for spellcasting, then maybe you have an argument, even though that's what arcane spell failure is for.

The point remains that the buckler leaves the hand free, unlike a small shield (which can't be worn and allow the character to fire missile weapons, use a two handed weapon, or attack with a weapon off hand).

See FAQ response above. And feel free to disagree, of course

On second thought and going into a similar route as TWF with a buckler strapped to one's arm, the shield bonus definitely shouldn't count during the entire round.

That's how I'd do it. Mainly for balance reasons.

 

[shilsen]

A buckler is a small shield that is strapped to your forearm. It's not held in the hand at all, which is why you can use it and still shoot a ranged weapon, attack with a two handed weapon, or attack offhand.

Since you're not holding the buckler, if you don't have anything in your hand, your hand is free. The -1 penalty for melee is because the buckler adds additional weight to the arm. Now, if you want to say that *that* is why you can't use the hand for spellcasting, then maybe you have an argument, even though that's what arcane spell failure is for.

The point remains that the buckler leaves the hand free, unlike a small shield (which can't be worn and allow the character to fire missile weapons, use a two handed weapon, or attack with a weapon off hand).

See FAQ response above. And feel free to disagree, of course

On second thought and going into a similar route as TWF with a buckler strapped to one's arm, the shield bonus definitely shouldn't count during the entire round.

That's how I'd do it. Mainly for balance reasons.

 

[schnee]

Except that in no way the buckler states that your hand is free.

If your hand isn't free, how could you possibly fire a bow (which the rules specifically allow)?

/silly response
What, balance the bow on the edge of your knuckles? Pull the string back with your elbows?
/end silly response