casting spells with weapons in your hands [Archive] - Wizards Community

casting spells with weapons in your hands [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Flushpuppie
06-18-05, 07:22 AM can you?
JStegmaier
06-18-05, 07:39 AM can you?

If the spell requires somatic components (or material, I believe) or need at least one hand free to cast the spell. If the spell requires only verbal components, then you do not need to have your hands free at all.

In short, with a one-handed weapon and nothing else, you can always casts spells (as long as you actually have at least two hands.)
Ehlijen Iswa Tschingjo
06-18-05, 08:27 AM Even if you have a two-handed weapon, you can still adjust your grip as a free action to cast the spell and hold the weapon in the other. You cannot attack in the same round though and it depends on your DM if he still lets you threaten with it.

You can even cast spells with weapon and buckler/light (keeping ACP in mind) shield as those do not preclude you form holding anything in your shield hand, thus ut still free.
Derren S.
06-18-05, 09:30 AM You need a hand for holding a material component/focus and a hand for making somantic components.

So if a spell has either a S or M or (D)F component you need one free hand, when it has two of them two free hands.
Ehlijen Iswa Tschingjo
06-18-05, 09:55 AM You need a hand to hold your Divine Focus? I didn't know that. Does that mean a cleric cannot cast most of his spells if he holds a weapon?
Callista
06-18-05, 09:56 AM That depends on whether the spellcaster performs first the somatic component and then the material component (or vice versa); or whether he does them at the same time. The former option would allow for one-handed spellcasting, even with both components necessary.
ehrin
06-18-05, 11:30 AM holding a weapon takes one hand, so clerics are free to hold their divine focus in the other. However, having a shield may complicate that a bit.

(BTW, holding a two handed weapon only takes one hand as well. It is using it that takes two.)
Nom
06-18-05, 03:04 PM You need a hand to hold your Divine Focus? I didn't know that. Does that mean a cleric cannot cast most of his spells if he holds a weapon?Yes. It means that to cast a spell (with an S, M or DF component) the cleric needs to free up at least 1 hand. This is usually done by using a light shield or buckler and transferring the weapon to it temporarily. How long this takes (move or free action) is up to your DM, so you should check his ruling.
Greyman
06-19-05, 12:26 PM You need a hand for holding a material component/focus and a hand for making somantic components.

So if a spell has either a S or M or (D)F component you need one free hand, when it has two of them two free hands.No, you only need only one free hand. You manipulate the component as part of the guesture.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Flushpuppie 06-18-05, 07:22 AM	can you?
JStegmaier 06-18-05, 07:39 AM	can you? If the spell requires somatic components (or material, I believe) or need at least one hand free to cast the spell. If the spell requires only verbal components, then you do not need to have your hands free at all. In short, with a one-handed weapon and nothing else, you can always casts spells (as long as you actually have at least two hands.)
Ehlijen Iswa Tschingjo 06-18-05, 08:27 AM	Even if you have a two-handed weapon, you can still adjust your grip as a free action to cast the spell and hold the weapon in the other. You cannot attack in the same round though and it depends on your DM if he still lets you threaten with it. You can even cast spells with weapon and buckler/light (keeping ACP in mind) shield as those do not preclude you form holding anything in your shield hand, thus ut still free.
Derren S. 06-18-05, 09:30 AM	You need a hand for holding a material component/focus and a hand for making somantic components. So if a spell has either a S or M or (D)F component you need one free hand, when it has two of them two free hands.
Ehlijen Iswa Tschingjo 06-18-05, 09:55 AM	You need a hand to hold your Divine Focus? I didn't know that. Does that mean a cleric cannot cast most of his spells if he holds a weapon?
Callista 06-18-05, 09:56 AM	That depends on whether the spellcaster performs first the somatic component and then the material component (or vice versa); or whether he does them at the same time. The former option would allow for one-handed spellcasting, even with both components necessary.
ehrin 06-18-05, 11:30 AM	holding a weapon takes one hand, so clerics are free to hold their divine focus in the other. However, having a shield may complicate that a bit. (BTW, holding a two handed weapon only takes one hand as well. It is using it that takes two.)
Nom 06-18-05, 03:04 PM	You need a hand to hold your Divine Focus? I didn't know that. Does that mean a cleric cannot cast most of his spells if he holds a weapon?Yes. It means that to cast a spell (with an S, M or DF component) the cleric needs to free up at least 1 hand. This is usually done by using a light shield or buckler and transferring the weapon to it temporarily. How long this takes (move or free action) is up to your DM, so you should check his ruling.
Greyman 06-19-05, 12:26 PM	You need a hand for holding a material component/focus and a hand for making somantic components. So if a spell has either a S or M or (D)F component you need one free hand, when it has two of them two free hands.No, you only need only one free hand. You manipulate the component as part of the guesture.