Confused about free hands to cast spells

[Kel'Thuzad]

First time playing Solasta but I'm somewhat familiar with D&D 5e.

I have a Cleric and a Paladin both using 1H weapon + shield and they can't cast spells.
I've never known that equipment setup to prevent casting before.
Furthermore, when Lt Beryl Stonebeard joins your party, she is using 1H mace + shield and is able to cast her clerical spells.

Seems kind of lame if I have to lower my AC by switching out the shield just to cast..
Am I missing something here?

[ToGK]

Spells that require only S need a free hand to cast and those that have M need a free hand to access components or a focus; Clerics and Paladins can mark a shield with their deity's symbol and use that to fulfil spells that have both S+M (but not S only) or turn it off in settings.

On a separate note, 5e does have the same rule.

[Kel'Thuzad]

Originally posted by anon.lsyw:

Spells that require only S need a free hand to cast and those that have M need a free hand to access components or a focus; Clerics and Paladins can mark a shield with their deity's symbol and use that to fulfil spells that have both S+M (but not S only) or turn it off in settings.

On a separate note, 5e does have the same rule.

Oh ok. How does one go about marking a shield?

[ToGK]

Right-click on it and it should give you an option to mark it.

[Adimas]

There's actually a cleric domain specifically for casting while wielding a weapon and shield, the battle Domain it allows them to do the somatic component of spells with their hands full.

As for paladins there might be another work around in the rules but I tend to run my paladin as a 2 handed weapon user like great sword or maul or something as while the weapon requires 2 hands to swing they can hold it with 1 hand while casting spell with the other.

You'll come across similar issues with other classes tho, like a shadowcaster rogue that dual-wields being unable to cast certain spells without switching to their bow first for example.