I am trying to experiment and build a character that only has one arm for one reason and another, and I am trying to figure out any kinds of limitation that my character would have in terms of the mechanics, including and mostly in combats. What do I can and cannot do?
You will ever have 1 hand free to do everything from holding a weapon, item, shield, spell component and other item interaction. You will have to stow or drop anything held before pulling another item, open door, drink potion etc...
Do you have a class in mind? If you’re a full caster wizard, you might barely even notice (some subclasses will more than others). Most full casters would be fine, I’d think.
For more martial types, you couldn’t use weapons with the “heavy” tag. And you could use a weapon or a shield, but not both. Ranged weapons would generally be out. Even a hand crossbow needs a second hand to load the ammunition. But you could still use thrown weapons for some range — with the item swapping/interaction notes above.
The DM might also make you roll with disadvantage on checks where you'd typically be using both hands; grappling would probably be the most relevant instance combat-wise.
Do you have a class in mind? If you’re a full caster wizard, you might barely even notice (some subclasses will more than others). Most full casters would be fine, I’d think.
For more martial types, you couldn’t use weapons with the “heavy” tag. And you could use a weapon or a shield, but not both. Ranged weapons would generally be out. Even a hand crossbow needs a second hand to load the ammunition. But you could still use thrown weapons for some range — with the item swapping/interaction notes above.
I lot depends on the how the DM handles spell components. RAW a one handed wizard holding their wand would not be able to cast shield, as it has a somanatic component and no material component.
A one handed stars Stars Druid would not be able to cast guiding bolt, as they only know the spell while holding their star map but can not do the somantic component of the spell while holding it. I am very glad that in the game I am a (two handed) stars druid the DM waives a lot of the spell component rules as he is able to cast guiding bolt while holding a shield or moon sickle.
Outside of that if the one handed wizard wanted to drink a potion or open a door they would need to drop their focus.
You really need to discuss with your DM how they apply a lot of the rules concerning holding objects. You could also discuss other options, for example if you want to go ranged martial, an artificer might have made you a repeating shot hand crossbow.
The DM might also make you roll with disadvantage on checks where you'd typically be using both hands; grappling would probably be the most relevant instance combat-wise.
This is interesting... According to the rules, grappling only requires a free hand, but shoving is silent about this aspect. Perhaps the opposite would make more sense 😅
Grappling
When you want to grab a creature or wrestle with it, you can use the Attack action to make a special melee attack, a grapple. If you're able to make multiple attacks with the Attack action, this attack replaces one of them.
The target of your grapple must be no more than one size larger than you and must be within your reach. Using at least one free hand, you try to seize the target by making a grapple check instead of an attack roll [...]
The DM might also make you roll with disadvantage on checks where you'd typically be using both hands; grappling would probably be the most relevant instance combat-wise.
While I agree with the first part I strongly disagree with the second. Grappling only requires one free hand and is quite commonly allowed while wielding a weapon or shield so there really is not reason to say that a one-handed character should do it with disadvantage.
A lot depends on the how the DM handles spell components. RAW a one handed wizard holding their wand would not be able to cast shield, as it has a somanatic component and no material component.
It would seem that using a component pouch instead of an arcane focus is the superior choice for a Wizard that might be concerned about having enough free hands. The component pouch doesn't require any drawing or stowing object interactions and the hand is always free when not spellcasting.
Likewise, a Cleric or Paladin who uses a Holy Symbol is not required to hold that holy symbol when casting their spells, so this might also be an option to consider for a one-handed character.
Likewise, a Cleric or Paladin who uses a Holy Symbol is not required to hold that holy symbol when casting their spells, so this might also be an option to consider for a one-handed character.
Very good point. For the benefit of future readers, here are the rules:
Holy Symbol: 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.
EDIT: just take into account this official ruling if the holy symbol is emblazoned on, for example, a shield:
What’s the amount of interaction needed to use a spellcasting focus? Does it have to be included in the somatic component?
If a spell has a material component, you need to handle that component when you cast the spell. The same rule applies if you’re using a spellcasting focus as the material component.
If a spell has a somatic component, you can use the hand that performs the somatic component to also handle the material component. For example, a wizard who uses an orb as a spellcasting focus could hold a quarterstaff in one hand and the orb in the other, and he could cast lightning bolt by using the orb as the spell’s material component and the orb hand to perform the spell’s somatic component.
Another example: a cleric’s holy symbol is emblazoned on her shield. She likes to wade into melee combat with a mace in one hand and a shield in the other. She uses the holy symbol as her spellcasting focus, so she needs to have the shield in hand when she casts a cleric spell that has a material component. If the spell, such as aid, also has a somatic component, she can perform that component with the shield hand and keep holding the mace in the other.
If the same cleric casts cure wounds, she needs to put the mace or the shield away, because that spell doesn’t have a material component but does have a somatic component. She’s going to need a free hand to make the spell’s gestures. If she had the War Caster feat, she could ignore this restriction.
I am trying to experiment and build a character that only has one arm for one reason and another, and I am trying to figure out any kinds of limitation that my character would have in terms of the mechanics, including and mostly in combats. What do I can and cannot do?
You will ever have 1 hand free to do everything from holding a weapon, item, shield, spell component and other item interaction. You will have to stow or drop anything held before pulling another item, open door, drink potion etc...
In addition to what plaguescarred said.
Do you have a class in mind? If you’re a full caster wizard, you might barely even notice (some subclasses will more than others). Most full casters would be fine, I’d think.
For more martial types, you couldn’t use weapons with the “heavy” tag. And you could use a weapon or a shield, but not both. Ranged weapons would generally be out. Even a hand crossbow needs a second hand to load the ammunition. But you could still use thrown weapons for some range — with the item swapping/interaction notes above.
Most weapons with ammunition, two-handed or versatile property would be unusable, as well as shield, making sword & board melee character impossible.
Monk, Rogue and many spellcasters would in turn run fine i agree.
The DM might also make you roll with disadvantage on checks where you'd typically be using both hands; grappling would probably be the most relevant instance combat-wise.
I lot depends on the how the DM handles spell components. RAW a one handed wizard holding their wand would not be able to cast shield, as it has a somanatic component and no material component.
A one handed stars Stars Druid would not be able to cast guiding bolt, as they only know the spell while holding their star map but can not do the somantic component of the spell while holding it. I am very glad that in the game I am a (two handed) stars druid the DM waives a lot of the spell component rules as he is able to cast guiding bolt while holding a shield or moon sickle.
Outside of that if the one handed wizard wanted to drink a potion or open a door they would need to drop their focus.
You really need to discuss with your DM how they apply a lot of the rules concerning holding objects. You could also discuss other options, for example if you want to go ranged martial, an artificer might have made you a repeating shot hand crossbow.
This is interesting... According to the rules, grappling only requires a free hand, but shoving is silent about this aspect. Perhaps the opposite would make more sense 😅
While I agree with the first part I strongly disagree with the second. Grappling only requires one free hand and is quite commonly allowed while wielding a weapon or shield so there really is not reason to say that a one-handed character should do it with disadvantage.
It would seem that using a component pouch instead of an arcane focus is the superior choice for a Wizard that might be concerned about having enough free hands. The component pouch doesn't require any drawing or stowing object interactions and the hand is always free when not spellcasting.
Likewise, a Cleric or Paladin who uses a Holy Symbol is not required to hold that holy symbol when casting their spells, so this might also be an option to consider for a one-handed character.
You may have disadvantage climbing some place, if not be unable to.
Very good point. For the benefit of future readers, here are the rules:
EDIT: just take into account this official ruling if the holy symbol is emblazoned on, for example, a shield: