Casting with a two handed weapon [Archive] - Wizards Community

Casting with a two handed weapon [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Raumz
03-02-08, 02:55 AM Hi.
Recently I was talking to a player in my group and he said he was thinking of taking a couple levels on wizard since his intelligence is decent. I pointed out that he has specialized into two handed weapons and he dosen't have a free hand to be able to fulfill the somatic requirement. He said he read in the PHB or another core book that you could have a free hand for casting spells while using a two handed weapon. I scanned through the DMG, DMGII and PHB but didn't find anything talking about being able to have a free hand while using a two handed weapon.
Does anyone know if this is true and if so can you let me know what book and what section the rule is located.
Thanks for your time.
J.B.
03-02-08, 03:07 AM Rule-wise I have not seen anything to support this. However, common sense would dictate that you could still keep one hand on your weapon while casting with the other, but that still might not be enough (you may need 2 hands to cast).

I've always thought of a wizard being able to let his staff lay against his chest as he casts with both hands and this could similarly be done with a 2-handed sword (guess its a judgement call by the DM). Anyhoo, there is a feat that makes this whole thing moot, "Somatic Weaponry" from Complete Mage, page 47 which will let the guy cast while hanging on to his weapon.
Shaggy_Shaggs
03-02-08, 03:23 AM You're this guy's (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=998258) DM, aren't you?
groveborn
03-02-08, 03:25 AM You only need 1 free hand for casting, and 2 handed weapons only need 2 hands while attacking. This is permissible.
Fireclave
03-02-08, 03:29 AM However, common sense would dictate that you could still keep one hand on your weapon while casting with the other

I agree. Unless there is some reason that it is impossible to free one of your hands (such as if you're doing Sword and Board fighting and don't want to drop your weapon), you should be able to do somatic components just fine.

but that still might not be enough (you may need 2 hands to cast).

You only need one hand. Behold:

Somatic (S)

A somatic component is a measured and precise movement of the hand. You must have at least one hand free to provide a somatic component.
WebJiCi
03-02-08, 09:54 AM Hi.
Recently I was talking to a player in my group and he said he was thinking of taking a couple levels on wizard since his intelligence is decent. I pointed out that he has specialized into two handed weapons and he dosen't have a free hand to be able to fulfill the somatic requirement. He said he read in the PHB or another core book that you could have a free hand for casting spells while using a two handed weapon. I scanned through the DMG, DMGII and PHB but didn't find anything talking about being able to have a free hand while using a two handed weapon.
Does anyone know if this is true and if so can you let me know what book and what section the rule is located.
Thanks for your time.You've missed PHB II... in this book, there's a feat called Somatic Weaponry, which allows you to cast spells with your hands full; very useful for Duskblades BTW.
elyse
03-10-08, 11:35 PM In my opinion (and maybe this is because I've played many a cleric who is very combat-oriented), you can cast spells while wielding a two-handed weapon because you are not casting a spell and attacking in the same round, so you are never using your weapon and casting a spell at the same time (unless it's a swift action spell in which case it's not an issue anyway)

I don't have any actual rules to back this up however, but every DM I've played with allows it
Beckettvampire
03-11-08, 12:06 AM Strict rpga style actually doesn't allow this. Otherwise, I've never met a DM that stuck to the rule that a caster can't do it.
mvincent
03-11-08, 01:06 PM Strict rpga style actually doesn't allow this.The RPGA follows the FAQ, and the FAQ says:
"A character can hold a two-handed weapon in one hand; he just can’t attack with it while it’s held like that."

and:

"To cast a spell with a somatic (S) component,
you must gesture freely with at least one hand. (Player’s
Handbook, page 140) A cleric (or any caster, for that matter)
who holds a weapon in one hand and wears a heavy shield on
the other arm doesn’t have a hand free to cast a spell with a
somatic component (which includes most spells in the game).
To cast such a spell, the character must either drop or sheathe
his weapon.
Another simple option is for the cleric to carry a buckler or
light shield instead of a heavy shield. The buckler leaves one
hand free for spellcasting, and you don’t even lose the
buckler’s shield bonus to AC when casting with that hand. The
light shield doesn’t give you a free hand for spellcasting, but
since you can hold an item in the same hand that holds the light
shield, you could switch your weapon to that hand to free up a
hand for spellcasting. (You can’t use the weapon while it’s held
in the same hand as your shield, of course.)"

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Raumz 03-02-08, 02:55 AM	Hi. Recently I was talking to a player in my group and he said he was thinking of taking a couple levels on wizard since his intelligence is decent. I pointed out that he has specialized into two handed weapons and he dosen't have a free hand to be able to fulfill the somatic requirement. He said he read in the PHB or another core book that you could have a free hand for casting spells while using a two handed weapon. I scanned through the DMG, DMGII and PHB but didn't find anything talking about being able to have a free hand while using a two handed weapon. Does anyone know if this is true and if so can you let me know what book and what section the rule is located. Thanks for your time.
J.B. 03-02-08, 03:07 AM	Rule-wise I have not seen anything to support this. However, common sense would dictate that you could still keep one hand on your weapon while casting with the other, but that still might not be enough (you may need 2 hands to cast). I've always thought of a wizard being able to let his staff lay against his chest as he casts with both hands and this could similarly be done with a 2-handed sword (guess its a judgement call by the DM). Anyhoo, there is a feat that makes this whole thing moot, "Somatic Weaponry" from Complete Mage, page 47 which will let the guy cast while hanging on to his weapon.
Shaggy_Shaggs 03-02-08, 03:23 AM	You're this guy's (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=998258) DM, aren't you?
groveborn 03-02-08, 03:25 AM	You only need 1 free hand for casting, and 2 handed weapons only need 2 hands while attacking. This is permissible.
Fireclave 03-02-08, 03:29 AM	However, common sense would dictate that you could still keep one hand on your weapon while casting with the other I agree. Unless there is some reason that it is impossible to free one of your hands (such as if you're doing Sword and Board fighting and don't want to drop your weapon), you should be able to do somatic components just fine. but that still might not be enough (you may need 2 hands to cast). You only need one hand. Behold: Somatic (S) A somatic component is a measured and precise movement of the hand. You must have at least one hand free to provide a somatic component.
WebJiCi 03-02-08, 09:54 AM	Hi. Recently I was talking to a player in my group and he said he was thinking of taking a couple levels on wizard since his intelligence is decent. I pointed out that he has specialized into two handed weapons and he dosen't have a free hand to be able to fulfill the somatic requirement. He said he read in the PHB or another core book that you could have a free hand for casting spells while using a two handed weapon. I scanned through the DMG, DMGII and PHB but didn't find anything talking about being able to have a free hand while using a two handed weapon. Does anyone know if this is true and if so can you let me know what book and what section the rule is located. Thanks for your time.You've missed PHB II... in this book, there's a feat called Somatic Weaponry, which allows you to cast spells with your hands full; very useful for Duskblades BTW.
elyse 03-10-08, 11:35 PM	In my opinion (and maybe this is because I've played many a cleric who is very combat-oriented), you can cast spells while wielding a two-handed weapon because you are not casting a spell and attacking in the same round, so you are never using your weapon and casting a spell at the same time (unless it's a swift action spell in which case it's not an issue anyway) I don't have any actual rules to back this up however, but every DM I've played with allows it
Beckettvampire 03-11-08, 12:06 AM	Strict rpga style actually doesn't allow this. Otherwise, I've never met a DM that stuck to the rule that a caster can't do it.
mvincent 03-11-08, 01:06 PM	Strict rpga style actually doesn't allow this.The RPGA follows the FAQ, and the FAQ says: "A character can hold a two-handed weapon in one hand; he just can’t attack with it while it’s held like that." and: "To cast a spell with a somatic (S) component, you must gesture freely with at least one hand. (Player’s Handbook, page 140) A cleric (or any caster, for that matter) who holds a weapon in one hand and wears a heavy shield on the other arm doesn’t have a hand free to cast a spell with a somatic component (which includes most spells in the game). To cast such a spell, the character must either drop or sheathe his weapon. Another simple option is for the cleric to carry a buckler or light shield instead of a heavy shield. The buckler leaves one hand free for spellcasting, and you don’t even lose the buckler’s shield bonus to AC when casting with that hand. The light shield doesn’t give you a free hand for spellcasting, but since you can hold an item in the same hand that holds the light shield, you could switch your weapon to that hand to free up a hand for spellcasting. (You can’t use the weapon while it’s held in the same hand as your shield, of course.)"