D&D 5E Shield in one hand, Axe in the other

[trentonjoe]

How do I:

1. Cast a spell with S,M components and a time of 1 action?
2. Cast a spell as a bonus spell with S,M and then attack?
3. Cast a spell (like Shield) as a reaction?

 

[Baumi]

It depends on your class. A Cleric or Paladin can just use the Shield as Focus and therefore has no Problem. A Bard can use the Shield or Weapon as Focus if he can use them as Musical Instrument (singing Sword, Shells on the Shield, Drum on the Hip, etc). Everyone else needs a hand free for S/M Spells or the War Caster feat.

If it's your round, you can also drop the weapon (maybe even sheat it), cast the spell and draw a new one for free, but this would not work as a reaction.

 

[trentonjoe]

Focus only removes Material components, not somatic right?

 

[Baumi]

Focus only removes Material components, not somatic right?

No, you can also use the Focus to make the Somatic Gestures.

Page 203:
"A character can use a component pouch or a speIlcasting focus in place of the components specified for a spell."

"A spellcaster must have a hand free to access these components, but it can be the same hand that he or she uses to perform somatic components."

 

[Psikerlord#]

just handwave it, honestly it aint worth worrying about

 

[Paraxis]

If the spell needs both S and M components, having one focus in hand or a free hand to access the components is fine.

So clerics and paladins are OK because they can have the holy symbol on their shield. Other casters are kind of screwed.

The real issue are spell that just have S component, you need a free hand for this even if you are a cleric or paladin.

But all of that is a headache and kinda pointless so in my groups we just usually ignore it and only really care about verbal components and silence spells or gags, or somatic and material components if the caster is tied up, we just assume the caster juggles his components and wiggles his fingers with weapon and shield in hand.

 

[KarinsDad]

Nevermind. Got that wrong.

 

[KarinsDad]

The real issue are spell that just have S component, you need a free hand for this even if you are a cleric or paladin.

That's really obscure, but it looks like it is technically correct. Wow.


This also means that a spell with a material component does not need verbal components and the caster can cast such spells in stealth mode, standing right in front of the king and his entire court:

"A character can use a component pouch or a spellcasting focus (found in chapter 5) in place of the components specified for a spell."

 

[Baumi]

I really wish they would have just dropped the whole Compontents part, which is just confusing and 99% of the time it doesn't really matter anyway.

They could have ruled that you cannot cast if you are restrained and/or gagged and thats it. A few Spells might include costly Materials for balance but free Materials could just go the way of the Dodo. With that you would have different Rules for Classes, Focus, Feats, etc..

 

[thalmin]

There's a feat for this called War Caster.

And tough choices are a feature of D&D. Your character shouldn't be able to do and have everything at once. Without decisions to be made, you're just rolling dice.