D&D 5E Grappling and gfb/bb

[ECMO3]

So a cleric that has weapon and shield you don't allow to cast most spells?

Honestly, I would never play a cleric under such conditions, that is terribly restricting.

A cleric can put their holy symbol on their shield so it acts as a focus.

If that is the case said cleric while carrying a weapon and a shield:

1. Can cast any spells with V only
2. Can cast any spells with any combination that includes M as long as the material components do not have a value.
3. Can cast any spell with any combination that includes M and ccomponents that do have a value as long as either the weapon or the shield is that component (so good for GFB/BB).

4 can NOT cast any spells that include S but do not include M because they do not have a hand free. If the spell requires both S and M they can use their shield with a holy symbol as a focus and the shield-holding hand can also do the somatic component.

 

[ECMO3]

If you forego the shield's bonus for the round, you can cast a spell with a somatic component.

If you are holding a shield it costs 3 actions to do this and you would spend 2 rounds without a shield bonus.

Turn 1 - Doff shield (1 action)
No shield for this round
Turn 2 - cast spell (1 action)
No shield for this round
Turn 3 - don shield (1 action)

This assumes you start with your shield. If you don;t start with it then it takes 2 turns instead of 3. This also assumes the spell takes an action to cast. If the spell is cast with a reaction or a bonus action you could also do this in 2 turns instead of 3.

 

[Flamestrike]

I wouldn't allow it. "If a spell requires a somatic component, the caster must have free use of at least one hand to perform these gestures."

Read the section on material components:

A Spellcaster must have a hand free to access a spell’s material components—or to hold a Spellcasting focus—but it can be the same hand that he or she uses to perform somatic Components.

Roll20

You use the same hand for the S components that you do for the M components.

If you have a shield in one hand, and a sword in the other, and the sword is the M component, you can use the hand holding the sword to complete both the S and M components.

 

[Charlaquin]

If the spell requires both S and M

Now that’s my kind of spell!

 

[Flamestrike]

Now that’s my kind of spell!

Loviatar likes this.

 

[Lyxen]

Loviatar likes this.

Ah, those illustrations in the 1e Deities and Demigods... Not posting a link, but easy to find...

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

"Free hand management" is probably my least favorite part of the 5e rules.

 

[Leatherhead]

You brandish the weapon used in the spell’s casting and make a melee attack with it against one creature within 5 feet of you.

According to natural language: Swinging the weapon is the somatic component of these spells.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

"Free hand management" is probably my least favorite part of the 5e rules.

Excessive juggling fails the "is it fun" requirement for the rules.

But, the D&DB rules compendium, which I think it's reasonable to assume is the latest version of the rules, states this:

A spellcaster must have a hand free to access a spell's material components -- or to hold a spellcasting focus -- but it can be the same hand that he or she uses to perform somatic components.

I.e. the hand that is holding the material component, or a focus, can perform the somatic components. That includes shields for those classes who can use a shield as a focus.

My houserule is that you can always add a focus to spellcasting components, even if the spell doesn't specify one. I.e anyone with a focus in one hand can always cast their spells (unless an expensive component is required). This just saves unfun messing around.

 

[Flamestrike]

"Free hand management" is probably my least favorite part of the 5e rules.

It pretty much boils down to:

Does this spell have an S component [and not also an M component that you are currently holding] and if so, do you have a free hand?

War caster only obviates the S component, so if you have your hands full and the spell has a M component (that doesnt happen to be one of the things you're holding in your hands) it doesnt help you.

Shield (for example) which has V and S components, cant be cast with your hands full, even if one of the things you are holding is a Spell focus (like a shield emblazoned with your holy symbol or a staff), because it doesn't have an M component (so you cant sub a hand holding one for the S component). It works fine with Warcaster though.