1: I'm making a new druid (circle of spores) and plan to use a quarterstaff, shield and shillelagh. I want my staff as a druidic focus. Appearantly i can't use a quarterstaff as a focus, but i can use a staff focus as a quarterstaff if i haven't misunderstood. I can therefore cast all spells while holding my staff and shild, right?
2: If i end up getting a "Staff of the Woodlands" or another staff, can it be used as my focus also?
I see so many different answers while googling, and i have spent hours. Hope someone can give me a REAL answer.
1) For the most part, yes. The Sage Advice Compendium will tell you that you cannot cast spells that have a somatic component but no material component so equipped, but you've understood the core of the matter.
1) For the most part, yes. The Sage Advice Compendium will tell you that you cannot cast spells that have a somatic component but no material component so equipped, but you've understood the core of the matter.
The rules also tell you that, but that is a discussion that has gone on for pages and pages on this form. It basically comes down to people who try to take the exception provided for S,M spells in the M rules and apply the exception at times when the M rules don't apply. (All this in an exception based game where rules have scope)
I very explicitly did not bring up anything people argue about ad nauseam. It certainly has gone on for pages and pages, so if you want to talk about it, I’m begging you to do so on one of those pages rather than turning this into another one of them.
1) For the most part, yes. The Sage Advice Compendium will tell you that you cannot cast spells that have a somatic component but no material component so equipped, but you've understood the core of the matter.
2) Yes.
Thanks for quick answer. I'm still a little confused.
1a: Why can for example "Staff of the Woodlands" be used as a focus, but not a "Quarterstaff"? Is the reason "only" that it cost less than a focus? Or is there another reason?
1b: Does this mean i can't cast for example "poison spray" or "entangle" with staff(focus)+shield, since those spells don't have any "M"? And is this where "Warcaster" feat can help?
If I still understand, I'd need to unequip the shield for many spells (which feels very cumbersome). Does equip/unequip use up my actions? If so, a shield would limit my spellcasting very much, but still it seems most ppl use a shield for their druid (at least spore druid). Is there any workaround except Warcaster?
SA compendium seems nice btw, will spend some time reading there also :D
1a: Yes, the effect of the rules is that all staff foci can be used as quarterstaffs unless they say otherwise.
1b: According to the SAC interpretation (which in this case is just following the scope of the rules that are written), you need a free hand to cast a spell with S components (without M). This means you would have to stow your staff (which can be done as your object interaction, I think - but that uses up your object interaction for that turn, so you can't get it back out) or your shield (requires an action to doff a shield). Once one of the things is out of your hands, then you can cast your S or V,S component spells. Warcaster is the easiest way around this and a great feat for all of its other features anyway (especially the advantage on con saves for concentration).
1a: Yes, the effect of the rules is that all staff foci can be used as quarterstaffs unless they say otherwise.
1b: According to the SAC interpretation (which in this case is just following the scope of the rules that are written), you need a free hand to cast a spell with S components (without M). This means you would have to stow your staff (which can be done as your object interaction, I think - but that uses up your object interaction for that turn, so you can't get it back out) or your shield (requires an action to doff a shield). Once one of the things is out of your hands, then you can cast your S or V,S component spells. Warcaster is the easiest way around this and a great feat for all of its other features anyway (especially the advantage on con saves for concentration).
1b: Does that mean that i have to wait until start of next round to get the staff in hand again, and does this also not use an action? What are the downsides to this except missing "opportunity of attack"?
That is exactly my interpretation if you are to follow that SAC ruling (which isn't a given, to be fair - plenty of people interpret that rule differently or just don't think it's fun and play it differently anyway): you can get the weapon out again for free on your next turn, and you only miss out on that intervening round's opportunity attack or anything else that might require you to have a weapon in hand. What you can't do is put your scimitar away and get out your wand out on one turn, for example (at least I think that is the common interpretation), since you get only one free item interaction per turn.
Since a shield requires an action to doff and another to don, my recommendation would either be to stow the staff for the S and V,S spells. Using three turns to cast a spell (and losing two if you are bringing the shield back out quickly) is very rough. Losing out on an opportunity attack by comparison is peanuts, particularly if your strength isn't high and you aren't using Shillelagh on the staff as your likelihood to hit with the attack is lower.
If you like the visual of having the staff in hand more, then I'd suggest that you position yourself more defensively for a bit so that your lack of a shield won't be as disadvantageous for a few rounds. This will be easier if you have a bonus action spell that you'll want to cast while donning or doffing the shield and a ranged cantrip to give you something to do for a few rounds. Note Shillelagh is a bonus action spell and does last 1 minute (10 rounds). Casting it the round that you don or doff your shield will have it ready for your following attacks. Other options may be more advantageous, depending on your circumstances. Many people don't like Shillelagh because the damage doesn't scale like other cantrips and you won't want to take it for that particular reason. The reason to take it is because you want to use a strength based weapon but don't want to have subpar melee attacks with it and don't want to boost your strength score as well as dex, con, and wis. Consider both aspects and choose the option that feels right for you.
If neither of those options is palatable, Warcaster is the way for you. Keep in mind that you'll want a melee spell or a spell that forces a save for the Opportunity Attack replacement should you choose to use it instead of your opportunity attack.
Since a shield requires an action to doff and another to don, my recommendation would either be to stow the staff for the S and V,S spells. Using three turns to cast a spell (and losing two if you are bringing the shield back out quickly) is very rough. Losing out on an opportunity attack by comparison is peanuts, particularly if your strength isn't high and you aren't using Shillelagh on the staff as your likelihood to hit with the attack is lower.
If you like the visual of having the staff in hand more, then I'd suggest that you position yourself more defensively for a bit so that your lack of a shield won't be as disadvantageous for a few rounds. This will be easier if you have a bonus action spell that you'll want to cast while donning or doffing the shield and a ranged cantrip to give you something to do for a few rounds. Note Shillelagh is a bonus action spell and does last 1 minute (10 rounds). Casting it the round that you don or doff your shield will have it ready for your following attacks. Other options may be more advantageous, depending on your circumstances. Many people don't like Shillelagh because the damage doesn't scale like other cantrips and you won't want to take it for that particular reason. The reason to take it is because you want to use a strength based weapon but don't want to have subpar melee attacks with it and don't want to boost your strength score as well as dex, con, and wis. Consider both aspects and choose the option that feels right for you.
If neither of those options is palatable, Warcaster is the way for you. Keep in mind that you'll want a melee spell or a spell that forces a save for the Opportunity Attack replacement should you choose to use it instead of your opportunity attack.
Since a shield requires an action to doff and another to don, my recommendation would either be to stow the staff for the S and V,S spells. Using three turns to cast a spell (and losing two if you are bringing the shield back out quickly) is very rough. Losing out on an opportunity attack by comparison is peanuts, particularly if your strength isn't high and you aren't using Shillelagh on the staff as your likelihood to hit with the attack is lower.
If you like the visual of having the staff in hand more, then I'd suggest that you position yourself more defensively for a bit so that your lack of a shield won't be as disadvantageous for a few rounds. This will be easier if you have a bonus action spell that you'll want to cast while donning or doffing the shield and a ranged cantrip to give you something to do for a few rounds. Note Shillelagh is a bonus action spell and does last 1 minute (10 rounds). Casting it the round that you don or doff your shield will have it ready for your following attacks. Other options may be more advantageous, depending on your circumstances. Many people don't like Shillelagh because the damage doesn't scale like other cantrips and you won't want to take it for that particular reason. The reason to take it is because you want to use a strength based weapon but don't want to have subpar melee attacks with it and don't want to boost your strength score as well as dex, con, and wis. Consider both aspects and choose the option that feels right for you.
If neither of those options is palatable, Warcaster is the way for you. Keep in mind that you'll want a melee spell or a spell that forces a save for the Opportunity Attack replacement should you choose to use it instead of your opportunity attack.
Thanks for the answer. I wish to use Shillelagh to use my Wisdom modifier when i want to melee. As a druid with "Circle of Spores" I will be able to deal more damage than just Shillelagh because of "Halo of Spores" and "Symbiotic Entity", and various spells which moves creatures (for example "Thorn Whip")(Probably more combo's coming at higher levels or with):
Symbiotic Entity:
Starting at 2nd level, you are surrounded by invisible, necrotic spores that are harmless until you unleash them on a creature nearby. When a creature you can see moves into a space within 10 feet of you or starts its turn there, you can use your reaction to deal 1d4 necrotic damage to that creature unless it succeeds on a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. The necrotic damage increases to 1d6 at 6th level, 1d8 at 10th level, and 1d10 at 14th level.
Halo of Spores:
At 2nd level, you gain the ability to channel magic into your spores. As an action, you can expend a use of your Wild Shape feature to awaken those spores, rather than transforming into a beast form, and you gain 4 temporary hit points for each level you have in this class. While this feature is active, you gain the following benefits:
When you deal your Halo of Spores damage, roll the damage die a second time and add it to the total.
Your melee weapon attacks deal an extra 1d6 poison damage to any target they hit.
These benefits last for 10 minutes, until you lose all these temporary hit points, or until you use your Wild Shape again.
The basic rules state that the hand holding the focus or material component can be the same hand used to perform the somatic gesture. A druid focus can be a staff, wand, club, an actual shilleagh, anything made from a living tree. Your club or staff can be a focus and you can perform the somatic gesture with the hand holding it so yes...you can have a shield equipped and cast shilleagh while holding a club or staff.
The basic rules state that the hand holding the focus or material component can be the same hand used to perform the somatic gesture. A druid focus can be a staff, wand, club, an actual shilleagh, anything made from a living tree. Your club or staff can be a focus and you can perform the somatic gesture with the hand holding it so yes...you can have a shield equipped and cast shilleagh while holding a club or staff.
Not quite; any staff focus qualifies as a quarterstaff, but not every quarterstaff qualifies as a staff focus; it's a rectangle/square thing. Basically the idea is that a magic focus typically needs to be specifically made for the purpose, it's just that in the case of staves they still happen to serve well for beating someone about the head and shoulders after they've been prepared. This doesn't really affect the Shillelagh spell, since your staff focus qualifies as a quarterstaff. Now, if you wanted to cast Cure Wounds, you'd technically need to stow your staff first as an item interaction, cast the spell as an action, and then next turn draw the staff again with your item interaction, but as the only mechanical effect this has in any typical combat scenario is that you can't make an opportunity attack with the staff until it's back in your hand, it's not worth specifically calling out and tracking this interaction in practice most of the time.
TLDR: If you plan to use Shillelagh often and use a shield, just take a staff for your focus and it will both meet the requirements of the spell and keep your focus in hand. You cannot pick up any random piece of wood and use it as a focus.
The rule you're thinking is not about the staff arcane focus but the magic staff in the Dungeon Master Guide which doesn't say is the same, to illustrate their differences you can check their weight; a staff arcane focus (4 lb) quarterstaff (4 lb) magic staff (2-7 lb). But to be honest i think most DM let them be used interchangeably.
Staffs: A magic staff is about 5 or 6 feet long. Staffs vary widely in appearance: some are of nearly equal diameter throughout and smooth, others are gnarled and twisted, some are made of wood, and others are composed of polished metal or crystal. Depending on the material, a staff weighs between 2 and 7 pounds. Unless a staff’s description says otherwise, a staff can be used as a quarterstaff.
1: I'm making a new druid (circle of spores) and plan to use a quarterstaff, shield and shillelagh. I want my staff as a druidic focus. Appearantly i can't use a quarterstaff as a focus, but i can use a staff focus as a quarterstaff if i haven't misunderstood. I can therefore cast all spells while holding my staff and shild, right?
2: If i end up getting a "Staff of the Woodlands" or another staff, can it be used as my focus also?
I see so many different answers while googling, and i have spent hours. Hope someone can give me a REAL answer.
1) For the most part, yes. The Sage Advice Compendium will tell you that you cannot cast spells that have a somatic component but no material component so equipped, but you've understood the core of the matter.
2) Yes.
The rules also tell you that, but that is a discussion that has gone on for pages and pages on this form. It basically comes down to people who try to take the exception provided for S,M spells in the M rules and apply the exception at times when the M rules don't apply. (All this in an exception based game where rules have scope)
I very explicitly did not bring up anything people argue about ad nauseam. It certainly has gone on for pages and pages, so if you want to talk about it, I’m begging you to do so on one of those pages rather than turning this into another one of them.
Thanks for quick answer. I'm still a little confused.
1a: Why can for example "Staff of the Woodlands" be used as a focus, but not a "Quarterstaff"? Is the reason "only" that it cost less than a focus? Or is there another reason?
1b: Does this mean i can't cast for example "poison spray" or "entangle" with staff(focus)+shield, since those spells don't have any "M"? And is this where "Warcaster" feat can help?
If I still understand, I'd need to unequip the shield for many spells (which feels very cumbersome). Does equip/unequip use up my actions? If so, a shield would limit my spellcasting very much, but still it seems most ppl use a shield for their druid (at least spore druid). Is there any workaround except Warcaster?
SA compendium seems nice btw, will spend some time reading there also :D
1a: Yes, the effect of the rules is that all staff foci can be used as quarterstaffs unless they say otherwise.
1b: According to the SAC interpretation (which in this case is just following the scope of the rules that are written), you need a free hand to cast a spell with S components (without M). This means you would have to stow your staff (which can be done as your object interaction, I think - but that uses up your object interaction for that turn, so you can't get it back out) or your shield (requires an action to doff a shield). Once one of the things is out of your hands, then you can cast your S or V,S component spells. Warcaster is the easiest way around this and a great feat for all of its other features anyway (especially the advantage on con saves for concentration).
1b: Does that mean that i have to wait until start of next round to get the staff in hand again, and does this also not use an action? What are the downsides to this except missing "opportunity of attack"?
That is exactly my interpretation if you are to follow that SAC ruling (which isn't a given, to be fair - plenty of people interpret that rule differently or just don't think it's fun and play it differently anyway): you can get the weapon out again for free on your next turn, and you only miss out on that intervening round's opportunity attack or anything else that might require you to have a weapon in hand. What you can't do is put your scimitar away and get out your wand out on one turn, for example (at least I think that is the common interpretation), since you get only one free item interaction per turn.
Since a shield requires an action to doff and another to don, my recommendation would either be to stow the staff for the S and V,S spells. Using three turns to cast a spell (and losing two if you are bringing the shield back out quickly) is very rough. Losing out on an opportunity attack by comparison is peanuts, particularly if your strength isn't high and you aren't using Shillelagh on the staff as your likelihood to hit with the attack is lower.
If you like the visual of having the staff in hand more, then I'd suggest that you position yourself more defensively for a bit so that your lack of a shield won't be as disadvantageous for a few rounds. This will be easier if you have a bonus action spell that you'll want to cast while donning or doffing the shield and a ranged cantrip to give you something to do for a few rounds. Note Shillelagh is a bonus action spell and does last 1 minute (10 rounds). Casting it the round that you don or doff your shield will have it ready for your following attacks. Other options may be more advantageous, depending on your circumstances. Many people don't like Shillelagh because the damage doesn't scale like other cantrips and you won't want to take it for that particular reason. The reason to take it is because you want to use a strength based weapon but don't want to have subpar melee attacks with it and don't want to boost your strength score as well as dex, con, and wis. Consider both aspects and choose the option that feels right for you.
If neither of those options is palatable, Warcaster is the way for you. Keep in mind that you'll want a melee spell or a spell that forces a save for the Opportunity Attack replacement should you choose to use it instead of your opportunity attack.
Thanks for the answer. I wish to use Shillelagh to use my Wisdom modifier when i want to melee. As a druid with "Circle of Spores" I will be able to deal more damage than just Shillelagh because of "Halo of Spores" and "Symbiotic Entity", and various spells which moves creatures (for example "Thorn Whip")(Probably more combo's coming at higher levels or with):
Symbiotic Entity:
Starting at 2nd level, you are surrounded by invisible, necrotic spores that are harmless until you unleash them on a creature nearby. When a creature you can see moves into a space within 10 feet of you or starts its turn there, you can use your reaction to deal 1d4 necrotic damage to that creature unless it succeeds on a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. The necrotic damage increases to 1d6 at 6th level, 1d8 at 10th level, and 1d10 at 14th level.
Halo of Spores:
At 2nd level, you gain the ability to channel magic into your spores. As an action, you can expend a use of your Wild Shape feature to awaken those spores, rather than transforming into a beast form, and you gain 4 temporary hit points for each level you have in this class. While this feature is active, you gain the following benefits:
These benefits last for 10 minutes, until you lose all these temporary hit points, or until you use your Wild Shape again.
The basic rules state that the hand holding the focus or material component can be the same hand used to perform the somatic gesture. A druid focus can be a staff, wand, club, an actual shilleagh, anything made from a living tree. Your club or staff can be a focus and you can perform the somatic gesture with the hand holding it so yes...you can have a shield equipped and cast shilleagh while holding a club or staff.
Not quite; any staff focus qualifies as a quarterstaff, but not every quarterstaff qualifies as a staff focus; it's a rectangle/square thing. Basically the idea is that a magic focus typically needs to be specifically made for the purpose, it's just that in the case of staves they still happen to serve well for beating someone about the head and shoulders after they've been prepared. This doesn't really affect the Shillelagh spell, since your staff focus qualifies as a quarterstaff. Now, if you wanted to cast Cure Wounds, you'd technically need to stow your staff first as an item interaction, cast the spell as an action, and then next turn draw the staff again with your item interaction, but as the only mechanical effect this has in any typical combat scenario is that you can't make an opportunity attack with the staff until it's back in your hand, it's not worth specifically calling out and tracking this interaction in practice most of the time.
TLDR: If you plan to use Shillelagh often and use a shield, just take a staff for your focus and it will both meet the requirements of the spell and keep your focus in hand. You cannot pick up any random piece of wood and use it as a focus.
The rule you're thinking is not about the staff arcane focus but the magic staff in the Dungeon Master Guide which doesn't say is the same, to illustrate their differences you can check their weight; a staff arcane focus (4 lb) quarterstaff (4 lb) magic staff (2-7 lb). But to be honest i think most DM let them be used interchangeably.