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#1 Strill Sep 22, 2014 8:45:32

I'm confused as to how stringent the rules are supposed to be on whether or not you can use somatic components and/or an arcane focus, while you're already using normal weapons. The War Caster feat waives this restriction, but there seem to be so many other ways to get around it that I wonder if it was really even a restriction in the first place.   The War Caster feat lets you use somatic components even when you have weapons in both hands. As I understand though, a spellcaster can have a staff that is both a quarterstaff, and an arcane focus staff. This provides the same benefit without the need for a feat. But once you go down that road, how far can you take it?  Could a polearm also be a spellcasting staff?  And if a polearm can be a focus, why not a sword? Where does it end? Is the ability to waive somatic components just a matter of fluff, or is it supposed to be a genuine mechanical limitation to hybrid weapon/spellcaster characters?   The rules seem inconsistent on whether you can get around the somatic component limitation too. For example, say a character has a greatsword, and uses a crystal as their arcane focus. Holding the greatsword in one hand doesn't cost them any action at all, allowing them to draw the crystal and cast the spell. On the other hand, say a character is dual-wielding. They have to use their free action to sheathe one sword to cast, meaning they can't bring it back out until at least next turn. If the DM is feeling especially stringent, they can't even pull out their arcane focus out until next turn. All of a sudden the dual-wielder is very limited in their spellcasting, while the greatsword user is not.  It all just seems arbitrary.