Paladin somatic spells how?

[Deathjester]

I'm using a paladin with sword and shield, i can't cast spells because i don't have a free hand, how do i free my hand? Should i use a sword and no shield or can i use spells if i'm using two handed weapons? Please help!

[Nismu]

either not use shield or when you need to cast spell you switch to other weapon (spells work with two handed weapons)

[Carog the Fat]

2 hand weapons let you cast spells as you temporarily just carry the weapon in one hand, where as you have to put away a sword or shield the other way. or you can remove somantic components in the option and cast with the sword and shield

[Gawdsmack]

yeah this is one hangup I do not like..I honestly have never seen this in a game with traditional paladins.

[Metabunker]

Once per turn you can switch to the second weapon set which is "empty hand + shield." Same AC, one free hand for casting. Then switch back to "1H weapon + shield."

[avil]

I've pretty much used my shield paladin like they're a fighter with attitude. Paladin goes smite or big smite, no other spells needed.

[glenn3e]

Turn it off in options if you camt handle it

[dulany67]

Honestly, just turn off somatic in settings. It doesn't really affect wizards as they don't have anything to carry except a staff. I understand why the rule is there, but it effectively means that a S&B paladin is at a disadvantage to a 2-hand paladin. There are ways to do it as stated above, but there's already a lot of clicking- no need for more.

[psychotron666]

Originally posted by Dredd:

yeah this is one hangup I do not like..I honestly have never seen this in a game with traditional paladins.

It's the basic rules of DND. Spells that require somatic components require a free hand (not all spells require somatic, but most do). It's easy enough to put away a shield and cast a spell in the same turn (you just can't reequip until next turn)

[Ommamar]

Originally posted by Nismu:

either not use shield or when you need to cast spell you switch to other weapon (spells work with two handed weapons)

Range weapons are considered two hand weapons so you can carry a bow and switch to it to be able to cast. At first I found ti annoying but it has grown on me now it makes casting a spell seem like a more tactical decision as you lose some AC to do it. As many have pointed out you can always turn it off so Paladin/Clerics will play more in a way they have in past games.

[Zeel Ara]

Originally posted by Dredd:

yeah this is one hangup I do not like..I honestly have never seen this in a game with traditional paladins.

It's one of those rules that most tabletop GMs ignore because it's mostly just annoying, without really making the game any more fun or interesting. Like the darkness rules. But for good or ill, the devs have tried to be as true to the rules as at all possible.

It can be turned off in settings though.

[dulany67]

Originally posted by Fluffeh:

Originally posted by Dredd:

yeah this is one hangup I do not like..I honestly have never seen this in a game with traditional paladins.

It's one of those rules that most tabletop GMs ignore because it's mostly just annoying, without really making the game any more fun or interesting. Like the darkness rules. But for good or ill, the devs have tried to be as true to the rules as at all possible.

It can be turned off in settings though.

If you think about it, the rule kind of unbalances the trade off between S&B and 2-hand, where you can opt for more AC or more damage. That's fine, but then you add in that somatic affects S&B and not 2-hand and suddenly the trade off is not so even.

[PXR5]

Originally posted by psychotron666:

Originally posted by Dredd:

yeah this is one hangup I do not like..I honestly have never seen this in a game with traditional paladins.

It's the basic rules of DND. Spells that require somatic components require a free hand (not all spells require somatic, but most do). It's easy enough to put away a shield and cast a spell in the same turn (you just can't reequip until next turn)

True but then you have the Warcaster feat to solve that problem. I even think there is already a mod on nexus that ads that feat.

[Gorgeous_Joe]

In my entire play through with my Paladin class, twice now. I can honestly say I didn't cast a single spell during battle or felt the need to.
You can smite while using a sword and board and you can use your AOE abilities are always active.
Its a toss up, you can have the 2 AC for the guardian prayer thing use a 2 hander and have the option to cast spells or use a shield which eventually gets to +4 if you are lucky enough to find it.
Smiting at level 10 with a pally equipped with a 2H sword though against certain enemies finishes fights crazy quick.

[valky]

Originally posted by Gorgeous_Joe:

Smiting at level 10 with a pally equipped with a 2H sword though against certain enemies finishes fights crazy quick.

:Þ shield o' Faith is/was my one-to-go spell to offset missing s/s-combat and I started to waste high-level spells for smiting first; but yeah - certain Paladin subclass' are plenty strong. Literally nothing is immune to radiant damage.....

Still took the defense-oath.....one dice to rule them all!

[Player333676]

Right-click on the shield and select "Mark Deity", then you can use it as somatic/material component.