I have been considering a chronurgist/artificer as part of a new campaign and think I have stumbled upon a major impediment to the multiclass. The artificer must hold artisan's tools when casting an artificer spell with a material component. Similarly, the chronurgist must either hold an arcane focus or have a free hand to manipulate spell components drawn from a component pouch when casting a wizard spell. When casting a spell that requires both material and somatic components, the hand holding the tools (or holding the arcane focus or manipulating components drawn from the pouch) can also be used to perform the somatic components. However, if a spell has only a somatic component or verbal and somatic components, then a free hand holding nothing must be available to perform the somatic component.
The above considerations would seem to make it difficult for a chronurgist/artificer (or frankly, even an artificer) to cast VS or S spells while holding a shield. They would seem to be constantly in the position of having to drop and pick up their tools. I presume use of a component pouch would at least enable the chronurgist/artificer to avoid the even more cumbersome situation of having to drop and then switch between tools and focus when alternately casting artificer and wizard spells.
I believe there is an infusion the artificer can use to turn their shield into a focus. However, this requires at least level 2. For someone who takes a single-level dip in artificer, this is not an option. A strict reading of the war caster feat suggests that it would do nothing to solve the dilemma since it refers to casting spells with somatic components "when you have weapons or a shield in one or both hands." There is no reference to holding an arcane focus or set of tools in the hand not holding the shield. The UA shield training feat might provide a solution since it states that one "can use a shield as a spellcasting focus." The wording would seem to satisfy the focus requirement for both wizard and artificer spells. However, this feat is UA and may not be accepted at all tables. Additionally, and importantly, a key reason for multiclassing into artificer is to avoid the need for taking the resilient (con) feat, and if a feat is needed to address the casting of spells with somatic components, then one is simply trading one feat for another. This would make taking a dip into artificer much less attractive.
Am I missing anything (short of the fact that some tables will ignore the free-hand requirement for spells with somatic but no material components)?
I think War Caster would solve this. Isn’t there an magic item called All-Purpose Tool or something that allows you to use as an arcane focus for both Artificer and Wizard?
I think War Caster would solve this. Isn’t there an magic item called All-Purpose Tool or something that allows you to use as an arcane focus for both Artificer and Wizard?
I'm not sure that All-Purpose Tool helps with the problem, as it takes an action to change it and it's limited to artisan's tools; it's a great item though.
War Caster definitely helps as it lets you do the somatic component of a spell even if one or both hands has a weapon or shield; i.e- it implies that you can use a weapon or shield to perform somatic components.
I think though the solution you're really looking for is this part of the Artificer spellcasting feature:
After you gain the Infuse Item feature at 2nd level, you can also use any item bearing one of your infusions as a spellcasting focus.
Simply apply Enhanced Arcane Focus to your Wizard focus and you can use it to cast spells for both classes. You'll require the 2nd level in Artificer to do this of course, and you'll still want War Caster if you're determined to use a shield at the same time.
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I would say this is a RAW vs RAI issue. The whole purpose of Warcaster is to allow you to cast spells whilst using a shield. It just simply hasn't been updated to take Artificer into account.
If it were my table I would home rule that ArtiChron works with Warcaster. Otherwise what you're effectively saying is that this mage who is so competent that they can cast spells in battle whilst doning a shield, is also so incompetent that they haven't figured out how to use their arcane focus for the M cost of Artificer spells when they definitely can for wizard spells that also require materials.
Ran out of spells slots? Shoot Lightning Launcher from special weapon on the chest
As for tools or arcane focus of wiz you can just hang one on your neck and another at the belt easy grab and release free action since the don't fall in the ground. Talk to your DM.
I have been considering a chronurgist/artificer as part of a new campaign and think I have stumbled upon a major impediment to the multiclass. The artificer must hold artisan's tools when casting an artificer spell with a material component. Similarly, the chronurgist must either hold an arcane focus or have a free hand to manipulate spell components drawn from a component pouch when casting a wizard spell. When casting a spell that requires both material and somatic components, the hand holding the tools (or holding the arcane focus or manipulating components drawn from the pouch) can also be used to perform the somatic components. However, if a spell has only a somatic component or verbal and somatic components, then a free hand holding nothing must be available to perform the somatic component.
The above considerations would seem to make it difficult for a chronurgist/artificer (or frankly, even an artificer) to cast VS or S spells while holding a shield. They would seem to be constantly in the position of having to drop and pick up their tools. I presume use of a component pouch would at least enable the chronurgist/artificer to avoid the even more cumbersome situation of having to drop and then switch between tools and focus when alternately casting artificer and wizard spells.
I believe there is an infusion the artificer can use to turn their shield into a focus. However, this requires at least level 2. For someone who takes a single-level dip in artificer, this is not an option. A strict reading of the war caster feat suggests that it would do nothing to solve the dilemma since it refers to casting spells with somatic components "when you have weapons or a shield in one or both hands." There is no reference to holding an arcane focus or set of tools in the hand not holding the shield. The UA shield training feat might provide a solution since it states that one "can use a shield as a spellcasting focus." The wording would seem to satisfy the focus requirement for both wizard and artificer spells. However, this feat is UA and may not be accepted at all tables. Additionally, and importantly, a key reason for multiclassing into artificer is to avoid the need for taking the resilient (con) feat, and if a feat is needed to address the casting of spells with somatic components, then one is simply trading one feat for another. This would make taking a dip into artificer much less attractive.
Am I missing anything (short of the fact that some tables will ignore the free-hand requirement for spells with somatic but no material components)?
I think War Caster would solve this. Isn’t there an magic item called All-Purpose Tool or something that allows you to use as an arcane focus for both Artificer and Wizard?
Really not sure.
I'm not sure that All-Purpose Tool helps with the problem, as it takes an action to change it and it's limited to artisan's tools; it's a great item though.
War Caster definitely helps as it lets you do the somatic component of a spell even if one or both hands has a weapon or shield; i.e- it implies that you can use a weapon or shield to perform somatic components.
I think though the solution you're really looking for is this part of the Artificer spellcasting feature:
Simply apply Enhanced Arcane Focus to your Wizard focus and you can use it to cast spells for both classes. You'll require the 2nd level in Artificer to do this of course, and you'll still want War Caster if you're determined to use a shield at the same time.
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
I would say this is a RAW vs RAI issue. The whole purpose of Warcaster is to allow you to cast spells whilst using a shield. It just simply hasn't been updated to take Artificer into account.
If it were my table I would home rule that ArtiChron works with Warcaster. Otherwise what you're effectively saying is that this mage who is so competent that they can cast spells in battle whilst doning a shield, is also so incompetent that they haven't figured out how to use their arcane focus for the M cost of Artificer spells when they definitely can for wizard spells that also require materials.
I been planning to make an armorer/chrono MC.
As for tools or arcane focus of wiz you can just hang one on your neck and another at the belt easy grab and release free action since the don't fall in the ground. Talk to your DM.