gearing a duskblade

[delericho]

Having checked the books, I now feel I have educated myself enough to comment:

As for having a had free, given that one would not normally be able to make a melee attack and cast a spell in the same round I have decided as DM that in the process of channeling making the melee attack is the somatic component for any spell that requires it.

That would not be my interpretation, as the description of the Arcane Channelling ability makes no mention of it. As such, I would require a free hand, or the Still Spell feat.

That would be my interpretation of Shocking Grasp anyway - that the attack was the somatic componet of the spell, and given that the duskblade can only channel touch spells that pretty much covers it. When not channeling any spell with a somatic component would need a hand free as normal.

Again, my interpretation differs. (It should be noted, however, that in both cases I'm only stating my interpretation of the rules - not making any special claim to validity.)

As I recall, you can wear a light shield and cast spells with that hand without a penalty.

The PHB makes no mention of this. It does state that you can hold things in that hand, but not make attacks. That would suggest to me that you cannot do so. I would, however, allow it with a Buckler.

If you're wielding a two-hander, that's even easier: just let go with one hand while you cast.

Note that the FAQ has addresses this (or perhaps it was the Sage in Dragon): his ruling was that readying the weapon from that position would require a move action, or the Quick Draw feat. (Personally, I disagree, and ignore that ruling IMC. However, it is relevant, so I thought best to mention it.)

The two-handed weapon comment is also valid, but at the same time keeping up two primary stats - Int and Str - and making sure Con doesn't fall by the wayside at the same time means that a mid-low level duskblade is lucky to have an 18 Str even with enhancement bonuses. Aren't sword-and-board combos still a valid choice these days, or is it pretty much two-hander or forget it?

If Animated shields are available at the standard availability, then go with the two-handed weapon. Otherwise, it seems to be a trade of. It's also worth noting that the more generous the stat generation method used, the more the scales seem to shift towards the two-handed weapon (and also away from heavy armour in general). At standard 25-point buy it seems to be about equal, at least until those Animated shields show up.

 

[GAAAHHH]

Animated shields

As a DM I would give them an animated shield that was afraid of combat. Imagine your shield cowering behind you everytime you got in a fight.

 

[fafhrd]

A sword & board duskblade could do worse than taking Somatic Casting from Complete Mage. Not only does it obviate any issues with channeling, but it aids in using the rest of their spell repertoire.

 

[Stormborn]

A sword & board duskblade could do worse than taking Somatic Casting from Complete Mage. Not only does it obviate any issues with channeling, but it aids in using the rest of their spell repertoire.

Its Somatic Weaponry, but you bring a good point. Given that this book came out after PHB2 it was likely added to adress the very issue of the duskblade's channeling. I, however, am not now going to change how the Duskblade works and still think that folding this feat into Arcane Channeling is a viable option, even a viable assumption - but would of course be at the discretion of the DM.

Back on to evilbob's question. I guess that while there are a lot of useful items for the duskblade there are not any that I know of that are really unique, particularly at that level.

 

[evilbob]

Thanks for the suggestions! It sounds like a spell-storing weapon and the swift boots are good ideas. The animated shield is also a good bet but that's probably a little ways off, since that would be a minimum +3 item.

As a DM I would give them an animated shield that was afraid of combat.

lol

 

[Vanye]

Another good item would be a Glove of Storing. Need a free hand to cast a spell? Store the item, and there you go....