If a character is proficient with shields and are a magic user, can he have the holy symbol and / or arcane focus put onto the shield and cast spells shield in hand? Do you need the war caster feat for this?
If the character do not want to use weapons, can he use a shield in each hand? Would he get AC improvement for both shields?
If using two shields and having holy symbol / arcane focus put onto them, could he cast spells while wielding the shields? Without the warcaster feat?
Holy symbols can be put on shields per RAW. Technically, nothing says an arcane focus or druidic focus can't be put on a shield, but nothing says it can either, so up to DM.
Spell have 3 possible components: verbal, somatic, and material. Verbal doesn't care about your hands. Somatic requires a free hand. Material requires your hand to be holding either a specific material or a focus, and allows you to to use the same hand for material and somatic components (no longer requiring an empty hand).
Spells that require a S component, but not a M component always require an empty hand. The warcaster feat removes that requirement (as well as a few other bonuses).
Wielding 2 shields does not give extra AC, only the highest AC applies.
I think that covers everything. Anything need clarified? Follow up questions?
There is also the Ruby of the War Mage from XGtE. It requires attunement, can be attached to a weapon, and the weapon becomes your spellcasting focus. No reason you couldn't have a similar item that attaches to shields or just allow RotWM to attack to shields anyways. I still prefer to allow my players to spend a little extra to craft or buy a shield or weapon that doubles as a focus or I would eventually provide one of the various weapons/shields that already do so.
could I attach axe blades to a staff and still use it as a focus. I'm planning on using a hobgoblin sorcerer with proficiency in twohanded axes as race trait.
could I attach axe blades to a staff and still use it as a focus. I'm planning on using a hobgoblin sorcerer with proficiency in twohanded axes as race trait.
Probably, but the weapon you're describing would almost certainly be ruled as an improvised weapon, not a battleaxe.
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could I attach axe blades to a staff and still use it as a focus. I'm planning on using a hobgoblin sorcerer with proficiency in twohanded axes as race trait.
If you plan to do that, you probably should just ask your DM if you can have an axe as an arcane focus. I don't think there's a rule specifically against it. If they demur, ask if you can get your hands on a ruby of the war mage during gameplay - a common magic item that lets you turn a weapon into a focus (and which you could transfer to another axe in the future).
RAW you can't create hybrid items by sticking one on another; an item does what the rules say it does and no more. The emblem in an exception to this, as its description specifically says it is placed on a shield or clothing. The separation of weapons and foci is a deliberate design choice, which is also why certain gish classes get a feature that allows them to use a weapon as a focus. DMs are of course free to rule differently at their tables, but that's at their discretion.
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If a character is proficient with shields and are a magic user, can he have the holy symbol and / or arcane focus put onto the shield and cast spells shield in hand? Do you need the war caster feat for this?
If the character do not want to use weapons, can he use a shield in each hand? Would he get AC improvement for both shields?
If using two shields and having holy symbol / arcane focus put onto them, could he cast spells while wielding the shields? Without the warcaster feat?
Thankful for advise!
A lot of questions here.
Holy symbols can be put on shields per RAW. Technically, nothing says an arcane focus or druidic focus can't be put on a shield, but nothing says it can either, so up to DM.
Spell have 3 possible components: verbal, somatic, and material. Verbal doesn't care about your hands. Somatic requires a free hand. Material requires your hand to be holding either a specific material or a focus, and allows you to to use the same hand for material and somatic components (no longer requiring an empty hand).
Spells that require a S component, but not a M component always require an empty hand. The warcaster feat removes that requirement (as well as a few other bonuses).
Wielding 2 shields does not give extra AC, only the highest AC applies.
I think that covers everything. Anything need clarified? Follow up questions?
There is also the Ruby of the War Mage from XGtE. It requires attunement, can be attached to a weapon, and the weapon becomes your spellcasting focus. No reason you couldn't have a similar item that attaches to shields or just allow RotWM to attack to shields anyways. I still prefer to allow my players to spend a little extra to craft or buy a shield or weapon that doubles as a focus or I would eventually provide one of the various weapons/shields that already do so.
could I attach axe blades to a staff and still use it as a focus. I'm planning on using a hobgoblin sorcerer with proficiency in twohanded axes as race trait.
Probably, but the weapon you're describing would almost certainly be ruled as an improvised weapon, not a battleaxe.
Join the Competition of the Finest 'Brews XIX! (Or just spectate and vote, that's cool too. Either way, go there. It's awesome, and it'll be even more awesome if you join.)
If you plan to do that, you probably should just ask your DM if you can have an axe as an arcane focus. I don't think there's a rule specifically against it. If they demur, ask if you can get your hands on a ruby of the war mage during gameplay - a common magic item that lets you turn a weapon into a focus (and which you could transfer to another axe in the future).
RAW you can't create hybrid items by sticking one on another; an item does what the rules say it does and no more. The emblem in an exception to this, as its description specifically says it is placed on a shield or clothing. The separation of weapons and foci is a deliberate design choice, which is also why certain gish classes get a feature that allows them to use a weapon as a focus. DMs are of course free to rule differently at their tables, but that's at their discretion.