Somatic Components for Divine Casters

[OldManAlexi]

When I first got into D&D, I assumed that since clerics are not subject to arcane spell failure, they do not require somatic components.

Now, I'm leaning towards the somatic components being so simple that armor does not restrict manual dexterity enough to interfere with the casting process. For example, the somatic component for a cure spell is the action of reaching out to touch the target.

I know this usually will not matter but is there any official ruling on how the somatic components for arcane and divine spells differ?

[wraithstrike]

Nope. They only say that clerics don't have to deal with ASF. I would fluff it as the divine spells being less complicated, so the armor is much less of a factor for the divine version of a spell that is also arcane.

[Mike Kimmel]

I always picture it as the cleric/druid/paladin/whatever touching or presenting a holy symbol, which is much less complicated than making fine arcane gestures.

[Jeraa]

The somatic components of divine spells are simpler then arcane spells, and so can be cast in armor with no problem. Or the somatic components are just as complicated as arcane somatic components, and divine spellcasters learn how to cast spells in armor (like how a bard can cast in light armor with no penalty.)

Either way you fluff it, clerics and other divine casters somatic components aren't hindered by armor the same way arcane casters are.

[Talon Stormwarden]

They do still require a free hand to make those gestures however. Not that anyone here has suggested that they don't, but I thought I'd point it out.

In my experience it's easy for players of clerics to forget this fact, since clerics are often prone to using a weapon and a shield. As a DM I usually hand wave the weapon/shield juggling act as long as the caster uses only a light shield or buckler. Using a heavy shield however means the PC has to worry about sheathing or dropping his weapon in order to cast.