I'm very much a P&PRPG noob, but I really am loving it. My new character is a cleric who wields a longsword, and I didn't acquire a shield because I thought I needed a free hand for spells, either to hold my holy symbol or to use the spells which require a hand movement to activate. First off, was this the right thing to do, or could I use those spells with a shield anyway?
Next question, if I got a holy tattoo, would this mean that I don't need the symbol, meaning I wouldn't need a free hand so I could get a shield with no consequences to spell casting?
I hope that's not too rambly and I hope it makes sense. Thank you very much for any advice and help!
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Your Holy Symbol needs to be out and visible, but not "held". It can be a tattoo, a necklace, or art on your clothing, shield, or armor.
You do need a free hand to cast spells, however, you can do so with a Longsword and a Light Shield. The Light Shield specifies that you can hold but not use a weapon in that hand, so you may (free action) transfer your sword to the hand, Cast the spell, and then (again free action) return the sword to you other hand and use it for attacks or AoO's thereafter. Grabbing spell components and making the somatic motions are not actions, and are part of casting the spell, so while the sword is held with your shield hand, you are good.
If you get a Holy Symbol Tattoo (or the Birthmark Trait), I would still keep a holy symbol or two as back up personally.
Oh that's cool, I'll wear it as a necklace or something. So is there any point at all in using 100 gp for a tattoo, other than a nifty thing your character has?
Things like shields and necklaces can be stolen, even destroyed via the sunder combat manuever. Unless your GM is using critical hit locations, the tattoo is there to stay. Remember that if you change faiths :)
Thank you so much to both of you! :D