bucklers and spellcasting [Archive] - Wizards Community

bucklers and spellcasting [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ishpu
05-31-07, 10:40 AM do bucklers prevent you from somatic spellcasting actions?
Sphere
05-31-07, 10:46 AM Only 5% of the time.
Dunamin
05-31-07, 12:11 PM To clarify: they don't prevent you from attempting to cast a spell in and of themselves, but they impose a 5% arcane spell failure chance (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/armor.htm#arcaneSpellFailure).

Only 5% of the time.
Note that this only applies for arcane magic, not divine.
tarkin
05-31-07, 12:50 PM Mithral ones don't even do that.

With no check penalty, mithral buckler shields are pretty much useuable by anyone at no penalty.
gotbrain
05-31-07, 12:56 PM Mithral ones don't even do that.

yea for mithral! The wonder metal.
Dunamin
05-31-07, 12:59 PM Buy stocks in mithral now! Contact your local dwarven clan elders or send a Sending spell to our guildmaster around noon!
ishpu
05-31-07, 04:57 PM i was just looking at whether it made you have to use still spell feat or if your hands could move enough... i was looking at it from a divine caster just didnt know what the holdups were. thanks guys.
ssvegeta555
06-01-07, 02:56 AM Bucklers don't impede on spellcasting for spells with somatic since your hand is still considered free. Larger shields on the otherhand take up your hand preventing you from casting any spells with somatic components (if both of your hands arn't free of course, sword and shield pretty much).
There are a few ways to avoid this, drop the shield/weapon or cast a still spell. I hear there is a feat that prevents the restriction, not sure where it is though.
Father Dale
06-02-07, 03:13 PM If your a divine caster, then the only concern is do you have a hand free to perform the somatic componenet. Often the issue is casting a spell with a weapon in one hand and a shield on the other arm.

Reading the description for the buckler in the SRD, I would think you can use the hand on the same arm as the buckler to cast spells, since your hand is unoccupied and since you could normally weild a weapon or bow with that hand. The only question is do you retain the AC bonus from the shield when you use that hand to perform somatic components? (You would not when using it to wield a weapon.)

From a common sense perspective, I would think its ok and that you would keep the AC bonus. From a game balance perspective I'm not so sure; even a buckler can provide a significant boost to AC if its enchanted.

If your DM rules that you would lose the AC bonus, a trick you can do is to wear the shield on the same arm as the weapon that is being wielded. You would take a -1 to attacks with the weapon, but you could cast spells freely without taking a hit to AC.

I would definitely say that if the character also has the Improved Buckler Defense feat than they should be able to retain their AC when using the shield hand to cast spells.

Theres also a feat in Complete Mage (I think) called Somatic Weaponry that lets you use a weapon or similarly sized object to perform somatic components. So with that feat you could wield a longsword and a heavy shield and have no problems casting spells and would not lose the shield bonus or take penalties to attacks.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ishpu 05-31-07, 10:40 AM	do bucklers prevent you from somatic spellcasting actions?
Sphere 05-31-07, 10:46 AM	Only 5% of the time.
Dunamin 05-31-07, 12:11 PM	To clarify: they don't prevent you from attempting to cast a spell in and of themselves, but they impose a 5% arcane spell failure chance (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/armor.htm#arcaneSpellFailure). Only 5% of the time. Note that this only applies for arcane magic, not divine.
tarkin 05-31-07, 12:50 PM	Mithral ones don't even do that. With no check penalty, mithral buckler shields are pretty much useuable by anyone at no penalty.
gotbrain 05-31-07, 12:56 PM	Mithral ones don't even do that. yea for mithral! The wonder metal.
Dunamin 05-31-07, 12:59 PM	Buy stocks in mithral now! Contact your local dwarven clan elders or send a Sending spell to our guildmaster around noon!
ishpu 05-31-07, 04:57 PM	i was just looking at whether it made you have to use still spell feat or if your hands could move enough... i was looking at it from a divine caster just didnt know what the holdups were. thanks guys.
ssvegeta555 06-01-07, 02:56 AM	Bucklers don't impede on spellcasting for spells with somatic since your hand is still considered free. Larger shields on the otherhand take up your hand preventing you from casting any spells with somatic components (if both of your hands arn't free of course, sword and shield pretty much). There are a few ways to avoid this, drop the shield/weapon or cast a still spell. I hear there is a feat that prevents the restriction, not sure where it is though.
Father Dale 06-02-07, 03:13 PM	If your a divine caster, then the only concern is do you have a hand free to perform the somatic componenet. Often the issue is casting a spell with a weapon in one hand and a shield on the other arm. Reading the description for the buckler in the SRD, I would think you can use the hand on the same arm as the buckler to cast spells, since your hand is unoccupied and since you could normally weild a weapon or bow with that hand. The only question is do you retain the AC bonus from the shield when you use that hand to perform somatic components? (You would not when using it to wield a weapon.) From a common sense perspective, I would think its ok and that you would keep the AC bonus. From a game balance perspective I'm not so sure; even a buckler can provide a significant boost to AC if its enchanted. If your DM rules that you would lose the AC bonus, a trick you can do is to wear the shield on the same arm as the weapon that is being wielded. You would take a -1 to attacks with the weapon, but you could cast spells freely without taking a hit to AC. I would definitely say that if the character also has the Improved Buckler Defense feat than they should be able to retain their AC when using the shield hand to cast spells. Theres also a feat in Complete Mage (I think) called Somatic Weaponry that lets you use a weapon or similarly sized object to perform somatic components. So with that feat you could wield a longsword and a heavy shield and have no problems casting spells and would not lose the shield bonus or take penalties to attacks.