From Core Rulebook: "You can use this [somatic] component while holding something in your hand, but not if you are restrained or otherwise unable to gesture freely. Spells that require you to touch the target require a somatic component. You can do so while holding something as long as part of your hand is able to touch the target (even if it’s through a glove or gauntlet).
Probably that means that I can cast spells which require somatic component with a hand that is holding a shield, as long as those are not touch spells.
For example, I can cast Divine Lance while holding both a sword and a shield, but I can not cast Chill Touch.
Have I got it right?
Follow-up question! :-P But, given that the above assumptions are correct, I guess I can still apply touch spells to myself even while holding a shield and a sword.
You quoted the answer yourself above.
You can do so while holding something as long as part of your hand is able to touch the target (even if it’s through a glove or gauntlet).
You can cast touch spells with full hands. Unless they have a Material Component.
Aratorin I asked because I was not sure if holding a shield satisfies the condition that part of the hand must be able to touch the target.
Though on second thought, the hand that holds the sword qualifies for that just fine so my question is probably meaningless...
Just think of delivering a touch spell with a shield-holding hand as slapping the target. Sure they might spend half a second inside your shield before you get it back in position, but the glove/gauntlet holding the shield has managed to touch them.
Thanks Shinigami02 for helping me to visualise the scene. Not a very elegant maneuver but I guess it does the trick.
I wouldn't allow it after using Raise Shield and still maintain the benefit of Raise Shield.
If you're interposing your shield between your hand and your target, you can't use that hand to touch the target (the shield is very much in the way).
You either touch the target THEN Raise Shield, or Raise Shield, touch the target, and lose all benefits from Raise Shield. Or use your non-shield hand to make the touch.
Point is going to be largely moot 99.9% of the time though, as a character likely has a weapon or something in the other hand (most people don't wield two shields) and I have no problem with someone getting a touch spell off with a knuckle-wrapped pommel strike.
Thanks Ravingdork, I will keep that in mind.
A kind of off-topic but since you mentioned it: if I have the Shield Block reaction then I do not need to spend an action during my turn in order to Raise Shield, is that correct? So I can end my turn with Chill Touch and reap all benefits from Raise Shield/Shield Block during opponent's turn.
If you want to Shield Block, you must have that feat AND have used an action to Raise Shield within the last round.
Some feats and abilities might alter this.
So you could cast a two action spell, Raise Shield with your last action, then when an enemy hits and deals damage to you on their turn, you can use Shield Block as a reaction.
I express to you my gratitude, finally I understand how to play shield correctly (it took me a while)...
I express to you my gratitude, finally I understand how to play shield correctly (it took me a while)...
One thing that some people miss is the fact that, unlike many other reactions, you can decide whether or not to Shield Block AFTER you know what the damage is.
That way, your shield never risks getting obliterated unless you chose for it to. This is supported by both the rules and by the developers in a number of threads on these boards.