Level Up (A5E) Can shields be used as spellcasting foci?

[xiphumor]

O5e allowed for a holy symbol on a shield to be used as a spellcasting focus, which allowed Paladins to use their spells without dropping things. The section on material components in AG seems to suggest that this can be done, but I can’t find anywhere else in the rules that explicitly allows you to use a shield in this way.

 

[Selganor]

Since the Holy Symbol (aka Divine Focus) can also be an Emblem (which costs 5 gp and weighs nothing) I can't see why a Herald couldn't put this emblem on his shield.

And then there's always the option of a hand-mounted light shield (which leaves your hand free to cast)

 

[Tessarael]

Agreed. I think that is the intent of the emblem divine focus.

 

[xiphumor]

Agreed. I think that is the intent of the emblem divine focus.

I’ll take that and run, but I think it could be much clearer.

 

[Tessarael]

You may find this thread useful:

https://www.enworld.org/threads/do-material-spell-components-always-require-a-free-hand-in-a5e.695692/

 

[Selganor]

Until proven wrong I'd have no problem allowing casters to use their Spellcasting Focus for the "Seen" component even for spells that don't have a "Material" component.
Waving your Wand, showing your Holy Symbol or the like are classic tropes of spellcasters.

 

[Tessarael]

The 5E D&D, and hence A5E, rules on somatic/seen components are complicated and confusing. Long story short:

• If you have a shield or weapon that is your spellcasting focus (e.g., shield with holy emblem), you can cast while your hands are full and holding it: V; V,M (excluding spells with expensive material components); and V,S,M spells.
• In order to cast spells with only V,S components, you require the War Caster (D&D 5E) or Battle Caster (A5E) feats, if you are dual wielding, or using weapon-and-shield.
• If neither of these cases apply, and your hands are full, then you can only cast spells with V components.

To further complicate this, you can sheathe or drop a weapon, or temporarily hold a two-handed weapon in one hand (makes sense particularly for a versatile weapon, but less so otherwise), in order to free up a hand to spell cast.

 

[W'rkncacnter]

temporarily hold a two-handed weapon in one hand (makes sense particularly for a versatile weapon, but less so otherwise)

i mean...you can hold a greatsword or bow or crossbow in one hand just fine. you just can't use it very effectively that way.

 

[Tessarael]

i mean...you can hold a greatsword or bow or crossbow in one hand just fine. you just can't use it very effectively that way.

Right. So in the case of the greatsword, you run into the following:

• First turn:
  • Cast spell.
  • Draw greatsword, wielding it two-handed.
  • You're wielding it properly, so you can make opportunity attacks.
• Second turn:
  • Free object interaction to switch from two-handed to one-handed grip.
  • Cast spell.
  • You're not wielding it properly, so you cannot make opportunity attacks.
• Third turn:
  • Cast spell.
  • Switch back to two-handed grip.
  • You're wielding it properly, so you can make opportunity attacks.

So on the second turn, an opponent within 5' of you can move out of your reach without using the Withdraw action and as you're not wielding your two-handed greatsword properly, you cannot make an opportunity attack.

This is a hassle to track closely, and I would expect that many DMs would rule that you can switch back-and-forth between one-handed and two-handed grip in the same turn as free object interactions. In the case of a two-weapon fighter, or weapon-and-shield, replace the one-handed grip with sheathing one of the weapons, then unsheathing when you go back to two-handed. It is messy, and unnecessarily complicated.

 

[Selganor]

So on the second turn, an opponent within 5' of you can move out of your reach without using the Withdraw action and as you're not wielding your two-handed greatsword properly, you cannot make an opportunity attack.

... with your greatsword, you can still use unarmed attacks (like a kick, maybe even including a basic maneuver like Knockdown if you want to keep the enemy close)