Spellcasting focus and somatic components - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 neilselden Nov 24, 2014 9:25:03	Hi, I just read a tweet from Jeremy Crawford which states that a spellcasting focus (specifically, a holy symbol emblazoned on a shield) can be used to replace the somatic components of a spell, if the spell has both somatic and material components. I'm aware that a spellcasting focus replaces material components... but I cannot find any reference (other than that tweet) which says that a focus replaces somatic components. Can anyone help explain please? Thanks, Neil
#2 mellored Nov 24, 2014 9:32:47	neilselden wrote:
#3 neilselden Nov 24, 2014 9:44:55	Thaks for the reply. However, it states that only under the MATERIAL components for a spell. A character can use a component pouch or a spellcasting focus (found in chapter 5) in place of the components specified for a spell. I don't see any reference anywhere about a spellcasting focus being used to replace the Somatic components of a spell. Any insight on this? Thanks, Neil
#4 Coredump00 Nov 24, 2014 13:44:23	That is not quite what he tweeted: "The intent is that the shield hand can be used for a somatic component if the holy shield is used to cast the spell." So the shield is not "replacing" the somatic components, but rather the hand holding the shield can still be used for making the motions etc needed. IOW, for the purposes of these spells, holding a 'holy symbol shield' still counts as having a "free hand" to use for Somatic components.
#5 jonathonhawke Nov 24, 2014 13:47:35	It seems likely to me that the somatic component for spells using a divine focus would primarily involve presenting the focus strongly toward the target.
#6 cowleymen Nov 24, 2014 16:33:47	if your using a focus, wouldnt you point your focus instead of making what have hand signs you usually make? I never really liked that somatic components are generally percived as being really complex things like
#7 lawrencehoy Nov 24, 2014 22:50:07	cowleymen wrote:
#8 neilselden Nov 25, 2014 5:46:02	Are arcane foci treated similarly? Should a character be able to hold a wand in the same hand as a shield... and then simply use the focus that way, or even swap weapon and focus in order to cast, and then swap back to be ready to use the weapon? I'm looking for the right balance so my casters are not nerfed, but I also ted to think there should be some opportunity cost for casting. How are other people ruling it? I've looked for something from Jeremy Crawford on this, but so far cannot find anything on it. Thanks, Neil
#9 mellored Nov 25, 2014 6:06:18	neilselden wrote:
#10 neilselden Nov 25, 2014 7:25:31	Thanks for that. So in general, the action sequence for an arcane caster using a weapon and shield is: 1) Stow weapon using your item interaction 2) Draw your arcane focus as part of casting a spell (This was tweeted by Jeremy Crawford I think - may have been Mike Mearls) 3) Cast your spell 4) Next turn, stow your arcane focus as an item interaction. 5) Draw your weapon as part of your attack Is that sounding right? Thanks, Neil
#11 CFK Nov 25, 2014 7:24:31	mellored wrote:
(Reply to #10) SillyMind	neilselden wrote:
#13 mellored Nov 25, 2014 7:49:33	CFK wrote:
(Reply to #10) Ashrym	neilselden wrote:
#15 Sword_of_Spirit Nov 25, 2014 21:22:57	Sword of Spirit: Holy symbol engraved shield counts as material component, but does holding the shield replace somatic component also? Jeremy Crawford: The intent is that the shield hand can be used for a somatic component if the holy shield is used to cast the spell. Sword of Spirit: Minor detail, but this means you are moving your shield around to produce the somatic component, not that you are exempt? Jeremy Crawford: That's correct. You still need use of the shield arm to move it while performing the somatic component.
(Reply to #10) Coredump00	neilselden wrote:
(Reply to #16) SillyMind	Coredump00 wrote:

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

neilselden

Nov 24, 2014 9:25:03

Hi,

I just read a tweet from Jeremy Crawford which states that a spellcasting focus (specifically, a holy symbol emblazoned on a shield) can be used to replace the somatic components of a spell, if the spell has both somatic and material components.

I'm aware that a spellcasting focus replaces material components... but I cannot find any reference (other than that tweet) which says that a focus replaces somatic components.

Can anyone help explain please?

Thanks,

Neil

mellored

Nov 24, 2014 9:32:47

neilselden wrote:

neilselden

Nov 24, 2014 9:44:55

Thaks for the reply.

However, it states that only under the MATERIAL components for a spell.

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

I don't see any reference anywhere about a spellcasting focus being used to replace the Somatic components of a spell.

Any insight on this?

Thanks,

Neil

Coredump00

Nov 24, 2014 13:44:23

That is not quite what he tweeted: "The intent is that the shield hand can be used for a somatic component if the holy shield is used to cast the spell."

So the shield is not "replacing" the somatic components, but rather the hand holding the shield can still be used for making the motions etc needed.

IOW, for the purposes of these spells, holding a 'holy symbol shield' still counts as having a "free hand" to use for Somatic components.

jonathonhawke

Nov 24, 2014 13:47:35

It seems likely to me that the somatic component for spells using a divine focus would primarily involve presenting the focus strongly toward the target.

cowleymen

Nov 24, 2014 16:33:47

if your using a focus, wouldnt you point your focus instead of making what have hand signs you usually make? I never really liked that somatic components are generally percived as being really complex things like

lawrencehoy

Nov 24, 2014 22:50:07

cowleymen wrote:

neilselden

Nov 25, 2014 5:46:02

Are arcane foci treated similarly? Should a character be able to hold a wand in the same hand as a shield... and then simply use the focus that way, or even swap weapon and focus in order to cast, and then swap back to be ready to use the weapon?

I'm looking for the right balance so my casters are not nerfed, but I also ted to think there should be some opportunity cost for casting. How are other people ruling it? I've looked for something from Jeremy Crawford on this, but so far cannot find anything on it.

Thanks,

Neil

mellored

Nov 25, 2014 6:06:18

neilselden wrote:

#10

neilselden

Nov 25, 2014 7:25:31

Thanks for that.

So in general, the action sequence for an arcane caster using a weapon and shield is:

1) Stow weapon using your item interaction

2) Draw your arcane focus as part of casting a spell (This was tweeted by Jeremy Crawford I think - may have been Mike Mearls)

3) Cast your spell

4) Next turn, stow your arcane focus as an item interaction.

5) Draw your weapon as part of your attack

Is that sounding right?

Thanks,

Neil

#11

CFK

Nov 25, 2014 7:24:31

mellored wrote:

(Reply to #10)

SillyMind

neilselden wrote:

#13

mellored

Nov 25, 2014 7:49:33

CFK wrote:

(Reply to #10)

Ashrym

neilselden wrote:

#15

Sword_of_Spirit

Nov 25, 2014 21:22:57

Sword of Spirit: Holy symbol engraved shield counts as material component, but does holding the shield replace somatic component also?

Jeremy Crawford: The intent is that the shield hand can be used for a somatic component if the holy shield is used to cast the spell.

Sword of Spirit: Minor detail, but this means you are moving your shield around to produce the somatic component, not that you are exempt?

Jeremy Crawford: That's correct. You still need use of the shield arm to move it while performing the somatic component.

(Reply to #10)

Coredump00

neilselden wrote:

(Reply to #16)

SillyMind

Coredump00 wrote: