In UA6 we see the Valor Bard get Martial Training at 3rd level, allowing them to use weapons as spellcasting focus. This helps them get to their spellfightin' without needing the War Caster feat.
>> Blade Pact Warlock, Eldritch Knight Fighter, and Bladesinger Wizard has entered the chat
Ought there be a standard archetype feature for every caster (or caster-adjacent) archetype which explicitly focuses on combined weapon and spell use, where they may use their weapons as spellcasting focus? Do you have spells? Does your archetype feature a very strong thematic component of skewering things with your favourite rapier while also throwing Acid Spray? Then you get Martial Training! (Or its regional equivalent).
In my mind, War Caster seems intended more for full-time casters who ALSO would like to wave a greataxe around (for clout, no doubt), and not as a requirement for a half-caster who would very much like that shield or off-hand flail for various reasons. (Be honest now, haven't we all sometimes wished for an off-hand flail?)
War Caster is intended for those who want to keep both hands occupied. When it comes to wielding a weapon such as a greataxe, they only need two hands when attacking with it. An Eldritch Knight can easily retain their weapon and still cast spells with their other hand; whether open or with a component pouch.
But if someone wanted to fight with a weapon and shield, such as a cleric, druid, paladin, and even some fighters, then War Caster becomes a generally better option.
Shield is less of a consideration for Paladins and Clerics, actually. The emblem focus can be placed on a shield, so it's only a consideration for VS or S spells.
It is at this point where my reading comprehension skills wanted to let me know that War Caster provides somatic component relief, whereas weapon-as-spell-focus handles the material component aspect, and a character wielding things in both hands will need both of those abilities to be able to cast V/S/M while so occupied.
So, looks like War Caster is still on the compulsory menu for every spellcaster in the sword-and-board or dual-wielding line of business anyway!
Note to self: Sometimes it is a good idea to read things just a few extra times. Just in case.
BUT!
I still feel weapon-themed archetypes ought to have weaponised spellcasting focus anyway. So there!
Not really; sheathing or drawing a weapon is a free action once per turn, so on the off chance you're casting a VS or S spell, you can sheathe your weapon, cast, and then draw your weapon at the start of the next turn. The only impact that has in most circumstances is that you can't make an AoO with it.
Now, that said, War Caster is still a decent pick for any caster who's going to be spending a lot of time in melee.
Those are some very good points, Lilith. I guess I still had a bit of XGE Hexblade Warlock rattling around in my head, where they get shield proficiency along with their medium armour.
Also, thanks for letting me know about that magic item - I wasn't aware of it at all! A bit unfortunate to go with a workaround that requires treasure, but at least the option is there.
I wonder if the War Caster feat could be expanded upon to include spellcaster focus wording as well, to really make it the one-stop shopping option for fully occupied hands that yearn for cantrips as well?
In UA6 we see the Valor Bard get Martial Training at 3rd level, allowing them to use weapons as spellcasting focus. This helps them get to their spellfightin' without needing the War Caster feat.
>> Blade Pact Warlock, Eldritch Knight Fighter, and Bladesinger Wizard has entered the chat
Ought there be a standard archetype feature for every caster (or caster-adjacent) archetype which explicitly focuses on combined weapon and spell use, where they may use their weapons as spellcasting focus? Do you have spells? Does your archetype feature a very strong thematic component of skewering things with your favourite rapier while also throwing Acid Spray? Then you get Martial Training! (Or its regional equivalent).
In my mind, War Caster seems intended more for full-time casters who ALSO would like to wave a greataxe around (for clout, no doubt), and not as a requirement for a half-caster who would very much like that shield or off-hand flail for various reasons. (Be honest now, haven't we all sometimes wished for an off-hand flail?)
IMO it would make more sense to just get rid of the need for spellcasting focuses all together at that point, just remove M components that don't have a gold cost from all spells and make S components do able as long as you have at least one hand that is either empty or holding a weapon or shield. Why have a rule if the only ones that would be affected by it are exempted from it? Better to just get rid of the rule.
>> Blade Pact Warlock, Eldritch Knight Fighter, and Bladesinger Wizard has entered the chat
5e Blade Warlocks can take an invocation to use their pact weapon as a focus. OneD&D don't have that invocation, but they don't have shield proficiency by default anyway. Bladesingers can only use one-handed weapons, and their Bladesong ends even if they make a two-handed attack with a versatile weapon, so they almost always have a free hand.
In addition, there's a common magic item, the Ruby of the War Mage, that lets you use any simple or martial weapon as a focus.
Bladesong limits to one-handed weapons, but not a singular one-handed weapon, is it worth using two weapons on bladesinger? questionable, but it's more potential damage at least. you'd just have to drop the secondary weapon to cast a spell with relevant components.
In UA6 we see the Valor Bard get Martial Training at 3rd level, allowing them to use weapons as spellcasting focus. This helps them get to their spellfightin' without needing the War Caster feat.
>> Blade Pact Warlock, Eldritch Knight Fighter, and Bladesinger Wizard has entered the chat
Ought there be a standard archetype feature for every caster (or caster-adjacent) archetype which explicitly focuses on combined weapon and spell use, where they may use their weapons as spellcasting focus? Do you have spells? Does your archetype feature a very strong thematic component of skewering things with your favourite rapier while also throwing Acid Spray? Then you get Martial Training! (Or its regional equivalent).
In my mind, War Caster seems intended more for full-time casters who ALSO would like to wave a greataxe around (for clout, no doubt), and not as a requirement for a half-caster who would very much like that shield or off-hand flail for various reasons. (Be honest now, haven't we all sometimes wished for an off-hand flail?)
IMO it would make more sense to just get rid of the need for spellcasting focuses all together at that point, just remove M components that don't have a gold cost from all spells and make S components do able as long as you have at least one hand that is either empty or holding a weapon or shield. Why have a rule if the only ones that would be affected by it are exempted from it? Better to just get rid of the rule.
Because part of the point of M components, as is brought up pretty much every time this issue is raised, is so that spellcasters can be "disarmed" while still being able to interact with the setting without resorting to overt "because the DM said so" methods of just dropping them in an anti-magic zone or putting a magic nullifier on any casters.
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Hi all!
In UA6 we see the Valor Bard get Martial Training at 3rd level, allowing them to use weapons as spellcasting focus. This helps them get to their spellfightin' without needing the War Caster feat.
>> Blade Pact Warlock, Eldritch Knight Fighter, and Bladesinger Wizard has entered the chat
Ought there be a standard archetype feature for every caster (or caster-adjacent) archetype which explicitly focuses on combined weapon and spell use, where they may use their weapons as spellcasting focus? Do you have spells? Does your archetype feature a very strong thematic component of skewering things with your favourite rapier while also throwing Acid Spray? Then you get Martial Training! (Or its regional equivalent).
In my mind, War Caster seems intended more for full-time casters who ALSO would like to wave a greataxe around (for clout, no doubt), and not as a requirement for a half-caster who would very much like that shield or off-hand flail for various reasons. (Be honest now, haven't we all sometimes wished for an off-hand flail?)
War Caster is intended for those who want to keep both hands occupied. When it comes to wielding a weapon such as a greataxe, they only need two hands when attacking with it. An Eldritch Knight can easily retain their weapon and still cast spells with their other hand; whether open or with a component pouch.
But if someone wanted to fight with a weapon and shield, such as a cleric, druid, paladin, and even some fighters, then War Caster becomes a generally better option.
Shield is less of a consideration for Paladins and Clerics, actually. The emblem focus can be placed on a shield, so it's only a consideration for VS or S spells.
It is at this point where my reading comprehension skills wanted to let me know that War Caster provides somatic component relief, whereas weapon-as-spell-focus handles the material component aspect, and a character wielding things in both hands will need both of those abilities to be able to cast V/S/M while so occupied.
So, looks like War Caster is still on the compulsory menu for every spellcaster in the sword-and-board or dual-wielding line of business anyway!
Note to self: Sometimes it is a good idea to read things just a few extra times. Just in case.
BUT!
I still feel weapon-themed archetypes ought to have weaponised spellcasting focus anyway. So there!
Not really; sheathing or drawing a weapon is a free action once per turn, so on the off chance you're casting a VS or S spell, you can sheathe your weapon, cast, and then draw your weapon at the start of the next turn. The only impact that has in most circumstances is that you can't make an AoO with it.
Now, that said, War Caster is still a decent pick for any caster who's going to be spending a lot of time in melee.
Those are some very good points, Lilith. I guess I still had a bit of XGE Hexblade Warlock rattling around in my head, where they get shield proficiency along with their medium armour.
Also, thanks for letting me know about that magic item - I wasn't aware of it at all! A bit unfortunate to go with a workaround that requires treasure, but at least the option is there.
I wonder if the War Caster feat could be expanded upon to include spellcaster focus wording as well, to really make it the one-stop shopping option for fully occupied hands that yearn for cantrips as well?
IMO it would make more sense to just get rid of the need for spellcasting focuses all together at that point, just remove M components that don't have a gold cost from all spells and make S components do able as long as you have at least one hand that is either empty or holding a weapon or shield. Why have a rule if the only ones that would be affected by it are exempted from it? Better to just get rid of the rule.
Bladesong limits to one-handed weapons, but not a singular one-handed weapon, is it worth using two weapons on bladesinger? questionable, but it's more potential damage at least. you'd just have to drop the secondary weapon to cast a spell with relevant components.
I suppose Bladesingers just need to get an off-hand... Dancing Sword! :D
<puts on sunglasses>
Because part of the point of M components, as is brought up pretty much every time this issue is raised, is so that spellcasters can be "disarmed" while still being able to interact with the setting without resorting to overt "because the DM said so" methods of just dropping them in an anti-magic zone or putting a magic nullifier on any casters.