Wizards & swords

[Li Shenron]

Posted by Starfox:

But, question is, can you have a two-handed weapon, and then hold it with only one hand while casting your spell, only to grip it with two hands afterwards for possible attacks of opportunity?

Good question! I don't think that the action "switching between a two-hands and a one-hand hold of the same weapon" is ever mentioned in the PHB. I always considered it a free action, but in case of an AoO you may decide not to allow it. Anyway, your players will learn immediately to always remind you they are going back to both hands after casting.

I have a doubtful comment: shouldn't a Wizard (and anyone else) first get Simple Weapon Proficiency before buying a Martial Weapon Proficiency? In the case it is required, to use a sword cost the Wizard TWO FEATS. Just one feat to a Sorcerer, since it has Simple Weapon Proficiency for free.

 

[CRGreathouse]

I have a doubtful comment: shouldn't a Wizard (and anyone else) first get Simple Weapon Proficiency before buying a Martial Weapon Proficiency? In the case it is required, to use a sword cost the Wizard TWO FEATS. Just one feat to a Sorcerer, since it has Simple Weapon Proficiency for free.

No, MWP doesn't require SWP.

Also, note that SWP applies to all simple weapons, while MWP allpies to a single weapon, like EWP.

 

[Jalkain]

Couple of questions about wizards and armour:

1. Am I right in thinking that Bracers of Armour stack with the Shield spell, but not with the Mage Armour spell?

2. Does armour only affect spells with a somatic component, or all spells? Would a verbal only spell like Teleport still have a chance of failure if the caster was wearing plate mail?

Many thanks...

 

[RigaMortus]

I think if you swing a two-handed sword in the same round you wish to cast a spell, you shouldn't be allowed to do it. It would go on the same principal as wearing a buckler and swinging a two-handed sword. You lose the AC bonus from the buckler since you are also using that arm to swing a sword. Of course, this wouldn't come into play all that much since you can't normally cast AND attack in the same round (haste is the only thing I can think of that might mess with this).

 

[Crothian]

Quicken spell allows you to do this. That's the most common way I've seen it

 

[CRGreathouse]

1. Am I right in thinking that Bracers of Armour stack with the Shield spell, but not with the Mage Armour spell?

2. Does armour only affect spells with a somatic component, or all spells? Would a verbal only spell like Teleport still have a chance of failure if the caster was wearing plate mail?

1. Yes
2. Yes; no.

Note that there's no armor called plate mail any more - just half plate and full plate.

 

[Starfox]

I think if you swing a two-handed sword in the same round you wish to cast a spell, you shouldn't be allowed to do it.

You can get an AoO in the same round you use a two-handed weapon, such as a staff. At least, that's my take on it.

 

[krupintupple]

if you're just coming in from 2e, be wary as a wizard with a longsword or two-handed sword (now called a greatsword) is not as good or effective as it used to be. unless you go elf, you'll need to burn that precious feat in order to use it properly, but still, your poor BAB will likely ensure that it's a lost cause.

if you're keen on being effective, i'd reccomend 'improved initiative' because it'll up your chances of going first, when combined with the typical wizard's higher dexterity. if you go first in combat, you can decide if you want to run (not a bad choice) or use a spell like sleep or obscuring mist, which may end the combat anyhow.

 

[Starbuck_II]

Okay, I've been reading 3e products ever since they came out but haven't had a chance to use them in play yet. I'm going to be starting a new campaign with them now and I'm trying to brush up on the rules.

Am I correct in my understanding that the only downside to a wizard using a sword (or other non-allowed weapon) is that he/she needs to spend a feat on the martial weapon proficiency?

Thee is a 1st level spell that lets you use a weapon as if proficient for 1 min/level called Master's Touch. Complete Adventurer and Spell Compendruim both have it.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

My current Ftr/Sorc is a Maul-wielding, Scale & Lg shield using, dragon breathing nightmare (see http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/239192-forked-thread-mage-brute-revisited-2.html )

Is he the most efficient, tweaked-out, min-maxed arcane spellslinger ever to stalk the world?

Not even close...but he's fun though!

Re: Master's Touch- be careful, there are at least 2 versions of the spell. The one in Complete Arcane does exactly what was stated above- IOW, granting proficiency with a particular weapon in the PC's hand. However, there is another one (in PHB2, I believe) that is a 2nd level spell with different effects.

I prefer to think of them kind of like the Summon Monster spells- MT 1 and MT 2 are the tip of an iceberg we'll never get to see the rest of.

There is a Dragon magazine- the one with the Modron on the cover (from 2007 I think) that contains a list of arcane spells without somatic components. Unfortunately, it covers only the PHB and the Spell Compendium, and even with that limitation, it misses a few...like True Strike. You'll find a few more while scouring other sources like CompArc, etc., but there's a significant gap of such spells around Lvl 5, and several are meant to be used with certain special abilities from other classes, like Sneak Attack.

So if you want to wear actual armor, you'll probably want to save your $$$ and get it made of mithril, and you should opt to take Still Spell at some point.

If you're crafty and silver-tongued, use spell research rules (and your friendly DM) to expand the list of spells without S components. In the Ftr/Sorc's campaign, he (actually any spellcaster) can learn permanently metamagically altered versions of spells- for example, an inherently Stilled Magic Missile would be a 2nd level spell in all ways.