Li Shenron
Legend
I definitely need opinions from any DM or spellcaster player about this subject which has been debated for a long time among my players.
Does a spell Material Component or Focus/Divine Focus Component requires the caster to have ONE HAND FREE to manipulate the component? The PHB does not explicitly state this, or does it? I think it only says you need to "manipulate" it, but nothing more specific.
If you need one hand free, do you need TWO HANDS FREE to cast a spell with both a Material and a Focus or with a Material and a Somatic or with a Focus and a Somatic? I really don't think so!
If you need one hand free, and you prepare a Still Spell, do you still need one hand free for the Material/Focus? I don't think this one either!
The only sure thing to me is that you can't cast a spell with Material Component while grappled UNLESS you have the component in hands.
We have played it in this way: the spellcaster needs to be able not to be impeded in a serious way to touch, sprinkle or drop the component (such as when grappled pr pinned), but otherwise there is no need to have a free hand. It is ok to think he can retrieve & manipulate the component while holding something else in that hand (although specific situation may hamper, such as wearing locked gauntlets or being halfway high on a rope).
Notice that a former discussion on this messageboard revolved around the time required to retrieve the component, and we already agreed that the time is negligible, or included within the casting time.
Does a spell Material Component or Focus/Divine Focus Component requires the caster to have ONE HAND FREE to manipulate the component? The PHB does not explicitly state this, or does it? I think it only says you need to "manipulate" it, but nothing more specific.
If you need one hand free, do you need TWO HANDS FREE to cast a spell with both a Material and a Focus or with a Material and a Somatic or with a Focus and a Somatic? I really don't think so!
If you need one hand free, and you prepare a Still Spell, do you still need one hand free for the Material/Focus? I don't think this one either!
The only sure thing to me is that you can't cast a spell with Material Component while grappled UNLESS you have the component in hands.
We have played it in this way: the spellcaster needs to be able not to be impeded in a serious way to touch, sprinkle or drop the component (such as when grappled pr pinned), but otherwise there is no need to have a free hand. It is ok to think he can retrieve & manipulate the component while holding something else in that hand (although specific situation may hamper, such as wearing locked gauntlets or being halfway high on a rope).
Notice that a former discussion on this messageboard revolved around the time required to retrieve the component, and we already agreed that the time is negligible, or included within the casting time.
