Matt Mercer uses a house rule that a focus only needs to be on your person rather than actively used. This is a very common house rule.
"Caduceus: Always applying the shield bonus to AC, even before he had the Warcaster feat."
He has a holy symbol and his staff can be used as a focus too. Perfectly within rules.
"Jester & Fjord, both do not have Warcaster: Always applying the shield bonus; Never having to stow either the shield or the weapon (Falchion/Handaxe) when casting somatic or material spells (like Polymorph). It is a "free action" to all members of the M9."
It's a free action period. Every turn you get one free action to draw/stow things etc. The only houseruling is that Matt lets summon the falchion as a free action like any drawing of a sword instead of specifically taking an action as it states in the rules. A common houserule, also, since it's rather inane and makes no difference.
"Nott: No shield, but free switching between crossbow and actions that require both hands, no stowing etc."
Again, everyone gets a free action on their turn for these minor things which is perfectly RAW. Sam may not always state she's stowing the crossbow whenever she needs to but this is not really needed, it's obvious she would do that with the free action before doing the two-handed action (and she makes very few of these, so why is this an issue for you?)
"Beau: It is just ridiculous how she "stows" a 6-foot on her body, without constantly bumping into something"
A quarterstaff isn't 6 ft, but even if it was it's easy to stow and not bump into things - I'm a fat guy with poor movement and a bad back and I've done it in real life, so a super-dexterous Monk being able to seems perfectly fine. You just have it at a slight angle and be mindful. 6 ft isn't that big. Human beings can often be taller than this, and they can move about fine.
"Yasha: She carries two greatswords! two bulky 5 to 6 foot sharp metal objects"
More like 4 to 5 ft, in a crossed pattern, again not that difficult for a 6 ft+ warrior. And she only uses one in battle and is attuned to both. There's no rule-breaking here.
"Caleb: Liam actually handles material components very well, you always see him taking out sulfur, bat guano etc. for casting stuff. Can't say anything about weapons, because I think Caleb doesn't even carry a dagger or knife."
I think he has a dagger but he never uses it.
For the Clerics I will remind that a holy symbol can be used as a focus without needing to be handled.
Holy Symbol. A holy symbol is a representation of a god or pantheon. It might be an amulet depicting a symbol representing a deity, the same symbol carefully engraved or inlaid as an emblem on a shield, or a tiny box holding a fragment of a sacred relic. A cleric or paladin can use a holy symbol as a spellcasting focus. To use the symbol in this way, the caster must hold it in hand, wear it visibly, or bear it on a shield.
Matt Mercer uses a house rule that a focus only needs to be on your person rather than actively used. This is a very common house rule.
"Caduceus: Always applying the shield bonus to AC, even before he had the Warcaster feat."
He has a holy symbol and his staff can be used as a focus too. Perfectly within rules.
"Jester & Fjord, both do not have Warcaster: Always applying the shield bonus; Never having to stow either the shield or the weapon (Falchion/Handaxe) when casting somatic or material spells (like Polymorph). It is a "free action" to all members of the M9."
It's a free action period. Every turn you get one free action to draw/stow things etc. The only houseruling is that Matt lets summon the falchion as a free action like any drawing of a sword instead of specifically taking an action as it states in the rules. A common houserule, also, since it's rather inane and makes no difference.
"Nott: No shield, but free switching between crossbow and actions that require both hands, no stowing etc."
Again, everyone gets a free action on their turn for these minor things which is perfectly RAW. Sam may not always state she's stowing the crossbow whenever she needs to but this is not really needed, it's obvious she would do that with the free action before doing the two-handed action (and she makes very few of these, so why is this an issue for you?)
"Beau: It is just ridiculous how she "stows" a 6-foot on her body, without constantly bumping into something"
A quarterstaff isn't 6 ft, but even if it was it's easy to stow and not bump into things - I'm a fat guy with poor movement and a bad back and I've done it in real life, so a super-dexterous Monk being able to seems perfectly fine. You just have it at a slight angle and be mindful. 6 ft isn't that big. Human beings can often be taller than this, and they can move about fine.
"Yasha: She carries two greatswords! two bulky 5 to 6 foot sharp metal objects"
More like 4 to 5 ft, in a crossed pattern, again not that difficult for a 6 ft+ warrior. And she only uses one in battle and is attuned to both. There's no rule-breaking here.
"Caleb: Liam actually handles material components very well, you always see him taking out sulfur, bat guano etc. for casting stuff. Can't say anything about weapons, because I think Caleb doesn't even carry a dagger or knife."
I think he has a dagger but he never uses it.
For the Clerics I will remind that a holy symbol can be used as a focus without needing to be handled.
Holy Symbol. A holy symbol is a representation of a god or pantheon. It might be an amulet depicting a symbol representing a deity, the same symbol carefully engraved or inlaid as an emblem on a shield, or a tiny box holding a fragment of a sacred relic. A cleric or paladin can use a holy symbol as a spellcasting focus. To use the symbol in this way, the caster must hold it in hand, wear it visibly, or bear it on a shield.
Donning a shield is an action according to the PHB. But I don't want to argue about rules with anyone here or Critical Role house rules (this is not the forum to do that). On historical accuracy of terms: a quarterstaff in historical treateases (e.g. George Silver, Paulus Hector Mair) is at least 6 foot, quite heavy and even if you would be able to tie this thing to your back, you would constantly hit branches, the ceiling of low tunnels, your allies when turning arond). A greatword (Zweihänder, montante etc.) is of a man's hight. What you are thinking about is a historical longsword, which is between 4 and 5 feet long (and a two handed weapon). Drawing both types of weapon from "fantasy back scabards" isn't possible, just by reasons of geometry: Your arms are not long enough
Back on topic for Epsisode 69:
I expected some kind of "turn" for Yasha and I really liked how it turned out. If you guys watch the corresponding episode of Talks Machina, Travis and Matt (+ Brian, who knows Yashas complete backstory) will give you a lot more insights on motivations and the set up of the encounter. I am completely with Travis on the subject of "reporting this to the Bright Queen": Anything can happen, when they fall out of favour with the queen.
Donning a shield is an action according to the PHB.
Sure but in combat they don't have to, they still cast spells even with a shield. And almost never do anything in combat requiring them to don/doff a shield. If you don't want to discuss rules why were you arguing about it in the first place? You started this. after all, under the claim they were breaking rules over the shield bonus and casting with a shield.
How weapons work in real life is irrelevant to a discussion on how people use actions in a fantasy game. FYI.
So how about last night's episode?! While they didn't progress as far as I think Matt had planned they would, this was some amazing character development for so many of them (spoiler section below).
Wow, Fjord. That was such a great moment that felt like the culmination of so many things. The sending from Jester to Vandren felt like it was the catalyst in him thinking that he should change what's happening with him. And then to add on top of that the timing of the dream and losing his powers yet again, it was the perfect setup so we could experience that whole scene in the Underforge(?). I thought for sure the smoke from his blood would form into an image of the Wildmother and offer him a different path, but what happened was so much better, because we then get the group being able to talk about it.
Then for the rest of the TM9 to just give him their magic items, I was in tears to see their bond be made all the stronger from it. Liam does such an amazing job showing how Caleb expresses is emotions, not with words but his actions, and got everyone to follow that sentiment.
All the Caduceus stuff was so great to see. There are times when I think Taliesin is going a bit too much into the spiritual feeling of things around him, but then he pulls out his spells like commune and we see those images from the Wildmother and it just reaffirms both that he is brilliant and playing the low Intelligence high wisdom in such a way that confirms his comments and actions about faith.
In some ways last night's episode was more intense than any they've done. I would say Fjord's actions are on par with Caleb giving the beacon back to the Krynn as far as intensity. Normally when an episode is on, my attention wanders between what's going on in the episode and video games or the like. The last hour of this episode had my full attention.
I kind of thought when Fjord looked back at the anvil he was going to see a new pact weapon waiting for him. But it was cool that it was just a symbol of Melora that was subtle and clearly caught his attention for a reason. I loved how Caduceus didn't blink at the change in Fjord's accent. And that Fjord didn't just bottle things up this time. He told Jester, then the crap happened with U'kotoa and he told the whole group in the morning. I really didn't expect him to legit drop the Vandren voice and go to his real accent come the morning. Frankly, it was a surprise he hadn't gone back to it by the time he woke up Caddyshack.
I am looking forward to how Matt & Travis will make the change from Ukatoa Patron / Hexblade to whatever is next. Will Travis pick up a new character class? Will someone like the Wildmother or the Allfather take over as his Patron? Could Paladin be a way to go for a future class? I am pretty excited.
Can someone explain to me, what kind of "ritual" Caleb did at 2:56 (YT timer)? I kind of doubt Liam just did it for flavour only.
I am looking forward to how Matt & Travis will make the change from Ukatoa Patron / Hexblade to whatever is next. Will Travis pick up a new character class? Will someone like the Wildmother or the Allfather take over as his Patron? Could Paladin be a way to go for a future class? I am pretty excited.
Can someone explain to me, what kind of "ritual" Caleb did at 2:56 (YT timer)? I kind of doubt Liam just did it for flavour only.
Memorisation. Keen Mind only works for a month. Also probably a way to "take stock" of things mentally/emotionally.
In some ways last night's episode was more intense than any they've done. I would say Fjord's actions are on par with Caleb giving the beacon back to the Krynn as far as intensity. Normally when an episode is on, my attention wanders between what's going on in the episode and video games or the like. The last hour of this episode had my full attention.
My thoughts, on the progression from episode 72
It would be hard for fjord to be a paladin with strength and Dex both at 11. I think the easiest option is for the wild Mother or a being from the upper planes that serves her to become his patron, in which case he would probably change to a Celestial warlock.
The broken weapon could be remade on the anvil bearing the sigh of the wild mother and become his pact weapon.
The description of a celestial warlock includes "You might find yourself driven to annihilate the undead, to defeat fiends, and to protect the innocent" so the wild mother could get him to defeat Uk'otoa to finally put to rest his original pact.
In some ways last night's episode was more intense than any they've done. I would say Fjord's actions are on par with Caleb giving the beacon back to the Krynn as far as intensity. Normally when an episode is on, my attention wanders between what's going on in the episode and video games or the like. The last hour of this episode had my full attention.
My thoughts, on the progression from episode 72
It would be hard for fjord to be a paladin with strength and Dex both at 11. I think the easiest option is for the wild Mother or a being from the upper planes that serves her to become his patron, in which case he would probably change to a Celestial warlock.
The broken weapon could be remade on the anvil bearing the sigh of the wild mother and become his pact weapon.
The description of a celestial warlock includes "You might find yourself driven to annihilate the undead, to defeat fiends, and to protect the innocent" so the wild mother could get him to defeat Uk'otoa to finally put to rest his original pact.
Changing patrons or converting his levels to sorcerer (i.e. discovering that his power was within him the whole time, which people posit could be based on Caduceus' hypothesis that U'kotoa wouldn't keep Fjord around if he didn't have something of use to U'kotoa) or multiclassing to bard given his high charisma are also the prevailing theories on Tumblr. Personally, I think Matt's been setting it up for a while now for Fjord to change his patron and quite a bit of that time it's been intimated it might be the Wildmother. And Caduceus did outright call Dwueth’var "your sword" to Fjord when talking about getting it re-forged and seeking the smith who originally magicked it up. It's a longsword though so per RAW Fjord isn't proficient in them with the warlock class and sailor background. (It's a martial weapon not simple.) But given that a falchion isn't even a weapon in the PHB (are there other weapons besides guns in the other sourcebooks?) Matt could houserule it.
After I posted I started thinking divine soul sorcerer with the wild mother being the divine source. Might be difficult to get Dwueth'var to be his weapon that way though.
If he does stay warlock no problem with longsword proficiency, a warlock is always proficient with their pact weapon.
I think Matt boosted his STR to 13 to make it happen, which is fine.
My guess is that book they stole was a manual of gainful exercise. He confirmed on Twitter that Fjord got a STR boost ahead of multiclassing.
Matt tweeted that the Str boost to 13 was for the multiclass requisite, but also based on who he responded to it may actually have been the seaweed wrap that did it.
I need to rewatch it to make sure I didn't miss anything, but a lot of people are also saying that Fjord hadn't finished reading the book.
I think Matt boosted his STR to 13 to make it happen, which is fine.
My guess is that book they stole was a manual of gainful exercise. He confirmed on Twitter that Fjord got a STR boost ahead of multiclassing.
Matt tweeted that the Str boost to 13 was for the multiclass requisite, but also based on who he responded to it may actually have been the seaweed wrap that did it.
I need to rewatch it to make sure I didn't miss anything, but a lot of people are also saying that Fjord hadn't finished reading the book.
Just FYI, you only need one hand available to cast a spell so having a shield and casting is ok. Also, with a Hexblade, they can use their weapon as a spellcasting focus without needing war caster. As far as casting with 2 handed weapons, you need 2 hands to use the weapon, not to hold it. You can cast with a 2 handed weapon, you just remove the one hand. Now if I have a player that is actively using a melee weapon and then casts, I make sure to let them know the order in which they cast or melee is important. So if a player attacks with a weapon then stows their weapon to cast with their free action that is totally fine. But if something then happens and they try to take an opportunity attack, that weapon is now stowed so they can only use a fist. Or if conversely they cast and then use their free action to grab their weapon and attack I would not allow a reaction spell to be cast as they have used their free action that turn to grab their weapon as use it, unless they have warcaster or are a hexblade that can use their weapon as a focus.
Sorry, didn’t hit quote! It’s from the discussion at the top of this page, a little late I know, but clearing up a possible misconception on casting with things in your hand/s.
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Ah, gotcha. Regarding Fjord, I assume he has improved pact weapon and can use his pact weapon as a focus.
DMGorani
Matt Mercer uses a house rule that a focus only needs to be on your person rather than actively used. This is a very common house rule.
"Caduceus: Always applying the shield bonus to AC, even before he had the Warcaster feat."
He has a holy symbol and his staff can be used as a focus too. Perfectly within rules.
"Jester & Fjord, both do not have Warcaster: Always applying the shield bonus; Never having to stow either the shield or the weapon (Falchion/Handaxe) when casting somatic or material spells (like Polymorph). It is a "free action" to all members of the M9."
It's a free action period. Every turn you get one free action to draw/stow things etc. The only houseruling is that Matt lets summon the falchion as a free action like any drawing of a sword instead of specifically taking an action as it states in the rules. A common houserule, also, since it's rather inane and makes no difference.
"Nott: No shield, but free switching between crossbow and actions that require both hands, no stowing etc."
Again, everyone gets a free action on their turn for these minor things which is perfectly RAW. Sam may not always state she's stowing the crossbow whenever she needs to but this is not really needed, it's obvious she would do that with the free action before doing the two-handed action (and she makes very few of these, so why is this an issue for you?)
"Beau: It is just ridiculous how she "stows" a 6-foot on her body, without constantly bumping into something"
A quarterstaff isn't 6 ft, but even if it was it's easy to stow and not bump into things - I'm a fat guy with poor movement and a bad back and I've done it in real life, so a super-dexterous Monk being able to seems perfectly fine. You just have it at a slight angle and be mindful. 6 ft isn't that big. Human beings can often be taller than this, and they can move about fine.
"Yasha: She carries two greatswords! two bulky 5 to 6 foot sharp metal objects"
More like 4 to 5 ft, in a crossed pattern, again not that difficult for a 6 ft+ warrior. And she only uses one in battle and is attuned to both. There's no rule-breaking here.
"Caleb: Liam actually handles material components very well, you always see him taking out sulfur, bat guano etc. for casting stuff. Can't say anything about weapons, because I think Caleb doesn't even carry a dagger or knife."
I think he has a dagger but he never uses it.
For the Clerics I will remind that a holy symbol can be used as a focus without needing to be handled.
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Spells | Magic Items | Feats
Need help with Homebrew? Check out this FAQ/Guide thread by IamSposta
See My Youtube Videos for Tips & Tricks using D&D Beyond
Sure but in combat they don't have to, they still cast spells even with a shield. And almost never do anything in combat requiring them to don/doff a shield. If you don't want to discuss rules why were you arguing about it in the first place? You started this. after all, under the claim they were breaking rules over the shield bonus and casting with a shield.
How weapons work in real life is irrelevant to a discussion on how people use actions in a fantasy game. FYI.
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Spells | Magic Items | Feats
Need help with Homebrew? Check out this FAQ/Guide thread by IamSposta
See My Youtube Videos for Tips & Tricks using D&D Beyond
So how about last night's episode?! While they didn't progress as far as I think Matt had planned they would, this was some amazing character development for so many of them (spoiler section below).
Wow, Fjord. That was such a great moment that felt like the culmination of so many things. The sending from Jester to Vandren felt like it was the catalyst in him thinking that he should change what's happening with him. And then to add on top of that the timing of the dream and losing his powers yet again, it was the perfect setup so we could experience that whole scene in the Underforge(?). I thought for sure the smoke from his blood would form into an image of the Wildmother and offer him a different path, but what happened was so much better, because we then get the group being able to talk about it.
Then for the rest of the TM9 to just give him their magic items, I was in tears to see their bond be made all the stronger from it. Liam does such an amazing job showing how Caleb expresses is emotions, not with words but his actions, and got everyone to follow that sentiment.
All the Caduceus stuff was so great to see. There are times when I think Taliesin is going a bit too much into the spiritual feeling of things around him, but then he pulls out his spells like commune and we see those images from the Wildmother and it just reaffirms both that he is brilliant and playing the low Intelligence high wisdom in such a way that confirms his comments and actions about faith.
Can't wait for the live show!
AdmiralChry's Homebrew Compendium - A collection of all my classes, subclasses, magic items, and etc.
In some ways last night's episode was more intense than any they've done. I would say Fjord's actions are on par with Caleb giving the beacon back to the Krynn as far as intensity. Normally when an episode is on, my attention wanders between what's going on in the episode and video games or the like. The last hour of this episode had my full attention.
I kind of thought when Fjord looked back at the anvil he was going to see a new pact weapon waiting for him. But it was cool that it was just a symbol of Melora that was subtle and clearly caught his attention for a reason. I loved how Caduceus didn't blink at the change in Fjord's accent. And that Fjord didn't just bottle things up this time. He told Jester, then the crap happened with U'kotoa and he told the whole group in the morning. I really didn't expect him to legit drop the Vandren voice and go to his real accent come the morning. Frankly, it was a surprise he hadn't gone back to it by the time he woke up Caddyshack.
My Homebrew Backgrounds | Feats | Magic Items | Monsters | Races | Subclasses
I am looking forward to how Matt & Travis will make the change from Ukatoa Patron / Hexblade to whatever is next. Will Travis pick up a new character class? Will someone like the Wildmother or the Allfather take over as his Patron? Could Paladin be a way to go for a future class? I am pretty excited.
Can someone explain to me, what kind of "ritual" Caleb did at 2:56 (YT timer)? I kind of doubt Liam just did it for flavour only.
Memorisation. Keen Mind only works for a month. Also probably a way to "take stock" of things mentally/emotionally.
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Spells | Magic Items | Feats
Need help with Homebrew? Check out this FAQ/Guide thread by IamSposta
See My Youtube Videos for Tips & Tricks using D&D Beyond
My thoughts, on the progression from episode 72
It would be hard for fjord to be a paladin with strength and Dex both at 11. I think the easiest option is for the wild Mother or a being from the upper planes that serves her to become his patron, in which case he would probably change to a Celestial warlock.
The broken weapon could be remade on the anvil bearing the sigh of the wild mother and become his pact weapon.
The description of a celestial warlock includes "You might find yourself driven to annihilate the undead, to defeat fiends, and to protect the innocent" so the wild mother could get him to defeat Uk'otoa to finally put to rest his original pact.
Changing patrons or converting his levels to sorcerer (i.e. discovering that his power was within him the whole time, which people posit could be based on Caduceus' hypothesis that U'kotoa wouldn't keep Fjord around if he didn't have something of use to U'kotoa) or multiclassing to bard given his high charisma are also the prevailing theories on Tumblr. Personally, I think Matt's been setting it up for a while now for Fjord to change his patron and quite a bit of that time it's been intimated it might be the Wildmother. And Caduceus did outright call Dwueth’var "your sword" to Fjord when talking about getting it re-forged and seeking the smith who originally magicked it up. It's a longsword though so per RAW Fjord isn't proficient in them with the warlock class and sailor background. (It's a martial weapon not simple.) But given that a falchion isn't even a weapon in the PHB (are there other weapons besides guns in the other sourcebooks?) Matt could houserule it.
My Homebrew Backgrounds | Feats | Magic Items | Monsters | Races | Subclasses
After I posted I started thinking divine soul sorcerer with the wild mother being the divine source. Might be difficult to get Dwueth'var to be his weapon that way though.
If he does stay warlock no problem with longsword proficiency, a warlock is always proficient with their pact weapon.
Now THAT'S what I'm talking about :)
(great episode)
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Did you see the video that Matt tweeted out?!
They leveled up to 10 and Travis took a level in Paladin!!!
She/Her College Student Player and Dungeon Master
I think Matt boosted his STR to 13 to make it happen, which is fine.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
My guess is that book they stole was a manual of gainful exercise. He confirmed on Twitter that Fjord got a STR boost ahead of multiclassing.
My Homebrew Backgrounds | Feats | Magic Items | Monsters | Races | Subclasses
Matt tweeted that the Str boost to 13 was for the multiclass requisite, but also based on who he responded to it may actually have been the seaweed wrap that did it.
I need to rewatch it to make sure I didn't miss anything, but a lot of people are also saying that Fjord hadn't finished reading the book.
I think that it was the wrap
She/Her College Student Player and Dungeon Master
Just FYI, you only need one hand available to cast a spell so having a shield and casting is ok. Also, with a Hexblade, they can use their weapon as a spellcasting focus without needing war caster. As far as casting with 2 handed weapons, you need 2 hands to use the weapon, not to hold it. You can cast with a 2 handed weapon, you just remove the one hand. Now if I have a player that is actively using a melee weapon and then casts, I make sure to let them know the order in which they cast or melee is important. So if a player attacks with a weapon then stows their weapon to cast with their free action that is totally fine. But if something then happens and they try to take an opportunity attack, that weapon is now stowed so they can only use a fist. Or if conversely they cast and then use their free action to grab their weapon and attack I would not allow a reaction spell to be cast as they have used their free action that turn to grab their weapon as use it, unless they have warcaster or are a hexblade that can use their weapon as a focus.
What is this in reference to?
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Sorry, didn’t hit quote! It’s from the discussion at the top of this page, a little late I know, but clearing up a possible misconception on casting with things in your hand/s.