Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Suggestions & Feedback Free hand to cast spells?

I agree that this is one of those things people misunderstand and overly complicate.

Ask yourself. What is the reason for the rule? It's purpose is to make it so there are circumstances that can exist that will render a character unable to complete certain spells. For example, if the DM needs to have a mage PC captured, he can bind and gag them so they can't cast spells. Or it is so players can capture wizard enemies and bind and gag them, take their spell focus, etc. The last thing you want is for some character type to be impossible to disable because they can still cast a spell even when captured.

The other point is to prevent players from doing exactly like what BG3 allows with ranged attacks and shields. Switch to bow, shoot, switch back to sword and shield, gain +2 AC. Likewise, put shield away, cast spell, pull shield out, gain +2 AC. No. The somantic rule is made so you are forced to focus on the spell, not gimmick the rule.

Magic with a somantic component is meant to be like sign language. You can't really form an intelligent gesture while holding a hilt or handle.

That all said, I hardly ever bother with imposing somantic, verbal or material restrictions with my players. Each round is 6 seconds. If they prepared the spell and silence was not cast - or something similar - I allow the mage to cast. I don't ask, "Now, you have a quarterstaff in one hand and short sword in the other, Gandalf. How do you plan on casting Dragon's Breath? After all, it requires a Hot Pepper, for you to speak the words, and perform the right gestures.". I just let him cast the spell assuming in 6 seconds he can speak the words while pulling out the hot pepper, popping it in his mouth and making a quick gesture.

But what about no hand being empty? Simple. Before he started chanting, he threw the blade into the dirt, hilt up right in front of him, and now his hand is free. Then he chanted while getting out the pepper and making the gesture. When he was finished, he snatched the sword back up. 3 seconds tops ( Dragon's Breath is a BA). Then he runs forward with both weapons and breathes lightning on enemies. Or... Even simpler... He put the short sword temporarily in his staff hand, holding both in one hand, did the gesture, and took the sword back.

As long as the PC doesn't abuse the system, it should really be an afterthought not something you have to micromanage. Like the hot pepper spell component. Please don't make me have to find hot peppers in the game world in order to cast Dragon's Breath. Let's just pretend I acquired plenty of them from somewhere. Or worse, Fireball. I don't want to have to find sulfur and bat guano to cast a single Fireball spell. That would suck.

But it's the same concept as free hand. Don't make me have to switch a weapon out just to cast a spell if it isn't going to do anything but annoy me. Can I attack with that weapon and cast a spell in the same round? Maybe with haste, but then that makes sense anyway. I'm moving faster. The only time a free hand should be a thing is maybe with a shield and that only because it provides a +2 AC which actually has an effect on gameplay.

One final thing I'll say, though. Spell Focus. This should at least be required in BG3 especially for clerics. They should have to possess some sort of holy symbol somewhere on their person. A necklace, CIRCLET, ring, gauntlet, shield... Something. And mages should need a wand or crystal ball or ring or gauntlet or quarterstaff spell focus. Why is this important? Pickpocket and disarm. Also, it forces clerics and mages to use some sort of item slot for their focus.

Battle master faces wizard with spell focus quarterstaff. Disarm maneuver. Disarms quarterstaff. Mage can't cast. Same with wand, etc. Adds strategy. Or thief sees mage. Sneaks up. Steals wand. Attacks mage. Mage reaches for wand. Gone. Mage is helpless.

Shadowheart has a circlet holy symbol spell focus. Unless she finds another symbol of Shar, she must equip her symbol on her head. Thus, she can't equip a helmet. My MC is a cleric of Tyr. His holy symbol is on his shield. This now restricts him a bit to using a shield. Even if he finds a super cool two handed weapon, he needs his shield to use his spells. This can have a huge impact on gameplay and the choices players have to make.