S&b/twf ek

[ZenBear]

By RAW there is no way for an Eldritch Knight to cast spells with material components while wielding a weapon and shield or two weapons. War Caster allows you to use somatic, but you still need a free hand for material which means you need to drop/stow your weapon to access your component pouch.

Do any DMs here enforce this restriction? Would you houserule an EK can use their bonded weapons as their arcane focus?

[supergoji18]

a creative way of getting around this: buy an arcane focus and have it welded into the palm of the Eldritch Knight's gauntlet.

[Hrugner]

I see arcane focus listed on the wizard class info, but not in the eldritch knight class info, is it normally an option to use an arcane focus as an eldritch knight?

As to the question though, I don't care enough to enforce things like that, but the fighter can recall his weapon as a bonus action so it isn't too big a deal to drop it and call it back.

[ZenBear]

EKs cannot use a focus by RAW. Recalling on a bonus action is an opportunity cost when War Magic allows a weapon attack after casting a cantrip/spell. Not to mention if you're casting as a reaction (War Caster) you can't use a bonus action or item interaction.

[Malifice]

By RAW there is no way for an Eldritch Knight to cast spells with material components while wielding a weapon and shield or two weapons. War Caster allows you to use somatic, but you still need a free hand for material which means you need to drop/stow your weapon to access your component pouch.

Do any DMs here enforce this restriction? Would you houserule an EK can use their bonded weapons as their arcane focus?

Use a staff as your weapon. Theyre versatile so can be used with a shield, and double as arcane foci.

Better yet, use a staff in one hand and a sword in the other.

Works for this guy:

http://garydavidstratton.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/gandalf-two-hands.png

[Goodberry]

Each turn you drop your main-hand weapon(a free action) to cast your spell and pick it up again(your one free item interaction).

[Tanarii]

I enforce it in most campaigns. You can sheath your weapon if you want to use a M spell, although S&B EKs (and Valor Bards) lose out on being able to effectively use War Magic (or Battle Magic for Bards) if they do so. Most casters who have their hands full select spells accordingly. I feel that it gives distinct feel to the various possible classes and builds, especially EKs.

For reference, here are the PHB cantrips and Evocation/Abjuration spells without M components.


Acid Splash
Blade Ward
Chill Touch
Fire Bolt
Mage Hand
Poison Spray
Prestidigitation
Ray of Frost
Shocking Grasp
True Strike


Burning Hands (evocation)
Magic Missile (evocation)
Shield (abjuration)
Thunderwave (evocation)
Scorching Ray (evocation)
Counterspell (abjuration)
Dispel Magic (abjuration)
Protection from Energy (abjuration)
Remove Curse (abjuration)


As you can see, it's many of the core lower level combat spells. What's important is that for higher level (for a EK) AoEs & buffs, you'll need to put your weapon away. But that's not the end of the world, since you aren't using them on the same round as attacking usually.


Banishment
Chromatic Orb
Darkness
Fireball
Fire shield
Gust of Wind
Ice Storm
Lightning Bolt
Melf's Acid Arrow
Otiluke's Resilient Sphere
Shatter
Stone skin
Wall of Fire