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General Tabletop Discussion
D&D Older Editions
Spell concept to replicate 4e Bladesingers
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<blockquote data-quote="DEFCON 1" data-source="post: 6569255" data-attributes="member: 7006"><p>I'm pretty sure you can just take your hand off a two-handed weapon to cast a spell with somatic components. That's what EKs do all the time.</p><p></p><p>But if you are saying that you cannot use a two-handed weapon with this cantrip because you need to have both hands on the weapon for the Attack action... and the magic from the Bonus action casting of Elemental Arc isn't manifesting UNTIL a successful attack with that Attack action-- I'm not sure if that's actually legal. You are essentially casting a magical effect with part of an Attack action and I don't think that's technically allowed. Any other Bonus action spell manifests during the Bonus action itself. Unless I'm mistaken, I can't think of any other magical Bonus action spell whose completion happens not during said Bonus action, but only during the paired Action of the player.</p><p></p><p>Thus, you have a conundrum. If you say the Elemental Arc spell *is* completely cast with a Bonus action but just doesn't manifest until a successful Attack action with a weapon... the character wouldn't need a hand free during that Attack action because the actual casting is already done and they can use a two-handed weapon for the attack while the magical effect manifests during it. The magical effect just occurs later that the Bonus action used to cast it. If, however, you are saying that you do need a hand free during the Attack action when the spell manifests (and by free, you mean completely open and not coming off of a two-handed weapon, thus one-handed weapons only and no shields/lanterns etc.)... then you are actually *casting* part of the spell during an Attack action (since the Somatic requirement is part of the casting process.) Which causes two problems-- one being you can't cast a spell with an Attack action, and two, you are technically casting two spells in the same turn (a Bonus action spell, and a paired required Attack action spell.)</p><p></p><p>Now of course, all that being said... since this would be for your home game, you can just say "Those nitpicky adjudications of the rules be damned! The effect is cool and I like it!" and I'd say go for it. Truth be told, it doesn't matter all that much in the long run since the balancing only matters when its put directly up against a fighter with the Polearm Master feat. And if you have no players playing one, then you're balancing against nothing and the spell might be fine for your game. I was just throwing out what my own concerns would be were I to need to adjudicate the spell.</p><p></p><p>Best of luck!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="DEFCON 1, post: 6569255, member: 7006"] I'm pretty sure you can just take your hand off a two-handed weapon to cast a spell with somatic components. That's what EKs do all the time. But if you are saying that you cannot use a two-handed weapon with this cantrip because you need to have both hands on the weapon for the Attack action... and the magic from the Bonus action casting of Elemental Arc isn't manifesting UNTIL a successful attack with that Attack action-- I'm not sure if that's actually legal. You are essentially casting a magical effect with part of an Attack action and I don't think that's technically allowed. Any other Bonus action spell manifests during the Bonus action itself. Unless I'm mistaken, I can't think of any other magical Bonus action spell whose completion happens not during said Bonus action, but only during the paired Action of the player. Thus, you have a conundrum. If you say the Elemental Arc spell *is* completely cast with a Bonus action but just doesn't manifest until a successful Attack action with a weapon... the character wouldn't need a hand free during that Attack action because the actual casting is already done and they can use a two-handed weapon for the attack while the magical effect manifests during it. The magical effect just occurs later that the Bonus action used to cast it. If, however, you are saying that you do need a hand free during the Attack action when the spell manifests (and by free, you mean completely open and not coming off of a two-handed weapon, thus one-handed weapons only and no shields/lanterns etc.)... then you are actually *casting* part of the spell during an Attack action (since the Somatic requirement is part of the casting process.) Which causes two problems-- one being you can't cast a spell with an Attack action, and two, you are technically casting two spells in the same turn (a Bonus action spell, and a paired required Attack action spell.) Now of course, all that being said... since this would be for your home game, you can just say "Those nitpicky adjudications of the rules be damned! The effect is cool and I like it!" and I'd say go for it. Truth be told, it doesn't matter all that much in the long run since the balancing only matters when its put directly up against a fighter with the Polearm Master feat. And if you have no players playing one, then you're balancing against nothing and the spell might be fine for your game. I was just throwing out what my own concerns would be were I to need to adjudicate the spell. Best of luck! [/QUOTE]
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