Timeline for answer to Can a wizard using an arcane focus quarterstaff and a shield still cast somatic component spells? by Pumpkinjo
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
Post Revisions
8 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 12, 2023 at 9:17 | comment | added | Pumpkinjo | Thank you for your feedback! I will edit the post once I find time. | |
| Jul 11, 2023 at 20:01 | comment | added | smbailey | Honestly, I think your first point is strong, and I would probably give an upvote if it was just that. The JC tweet just muddles things because 1) a tweet is just a tweet and should not be considered RAI, and 2) the tweet doesn't even seem to support your argument, as Matthieu points out. | |
| Jul 11, 2023 at 10:13 | comment | added | Pumpkinjo | And to add to that: if JC refers to using the shield as replacement for material components when using it to cast the spell, why does he not mention material components at all (which would be RAW) and instead says that it's RAI? | |
| Jul 11, 2023 at 10:00 | comment | added | Pumpkinjo | No he doesn't refer to material components, he just refers to using the shield for casting the spell and it's unclear by which means you use the shield to cast the spell. There is the possibility to use it as replacement for material components to cast the spell, yes. But, as I pointed out, it's also possible to use it to cast somatic components - if you accept that a shield allows for free use of this hand with regards to cast somatic components. | |
| Jul 11, 2023 at 9:54 | comment | added | Matthieu | It's not about it being "typically associated with material components", it's actually what the rules state. The rule explicitely state that the focus can be used instead of material components, but it's never stated that they can be used instead of the somatic components themselves, except in the case where you also use it to replace material components. And that's what Crawford repeats here : it works, if the shield is used for casting the spell. Which, RAW, can only be done by using it as a focus, replacing material components. | |
| Jul 11, 2023 at 9:52 | comment | added | Pumpkinjo | I see your point that using a focus to cast a spell is typically associated with material components, but I'd argue that if you perform only the somatic components with the shield-hand, you definitely use the shield to cast the spell, too. Why would JC otherwise state that it only works if you can move the shield arm? However, it's a question of interpretation I think since JC doesn't state whether the spell is required to have material components, too, and the fact that he doesn't adress that is clearly only a small evidence for my point of view. | |
| Jul 11, 2023 at 9:37 | comment | added | Matthieu | It seems to me like the tweet you quoted actually works against your argument, in favor of the currently accepted answer. The quote says "the shield hand can be used for a somatic component if the shield is used to cast the spell" (emphasis mine). In the case of a spell without material components, you don't use the shield to cast the spell, which would mean you cannot use the shield for somatic components. | |
| Jul 11, 2023 at 9:25 | history | answered | Pumpkinjo | CC BY-SA 4.0 |