D&D 5E War Caster Confusion

[TheBDU]

"You can perform the somatic components of spells even when you have weapons or a shield in ONE OR BOTH hands."

Why do they even say in one hand? I'm just making sure that I understand the somatic component properly. I thought that you just need one free hand normally to do the somatic component and access your material components.

 

[Crothian]

In case your character only has one hand.

 

[Syntallah]

I suspect they're simply covering all possibilities: weapon in one hand, weapon in both hands, weapon in one - shield in the other. Any of these situations still allows the use of somatic components.

 

[dbm]

The other hand might be occupied by a non-weapon item, like a torch?

 

[Lackenthor]

War Caster feat 5th ed

So, in 5th ed ... a Cleric with a Mace and a Shield can't cast spells with Somatic componets w/o droping his Mace or shield??

 

[Boarstorm]

So, in 5th ed ... a Cleric with a Mace and a Shield can't cast spells with Somatic componets w/o droping his Mace or shield??

Kind of. He can use his holy symbol as a focus to ignore that restriction, which is often emblazoned on his shield or armor.

 

[MonkeezOnFire]

Kind of. He can use his holy symbol as a focus to ignore that restriction, which is often emblazoned on his shield or armor.

Does the holy symbol replace somatic components of a spell? I was under the impression that the holy symbol (and similar focuses) only replace the material components of a spell since they are described under the material component heading of the spellcasting chapter. Rereading it the language is kinda vague and could be interpreted either way.

 

[Blackwarder]

He can also sheath his weapon as part of casting.

Warder

 

[SilverfireSage]

Kind of. He can use his holy symbol as a focus to ignore that restriction, which is often emblazoned on his shield or armor.

Nope, that only replaces the material component. The somatic component requires the use of at least one hand.

 

[SilverfireSage]

So, in 5th ed ... a Cleric with a Mace and a Shield can't cast spells with Somatic componets w/o droping his Mace or shield??

Yup.