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The rules for somatic components say that you must be able to gesture freely, but also that you may hold something in your hands while casting a spell with somatic components.
Now, since two-handed weapons give a clear advantage in terms of damage over 1-handed weapons, it sounds like game balance-wise, spellcasters should not be able to cast while wielding a two handed weapon. But RAW, this doesn’t seem crystal clear. It seems weird to I imagine a spellcaster gesturing while holding a heavy crossbow.
Im looking for clarification.
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I think you're assuming a balance factor that isn't really there. A caster with a greatsword is not inherently stronger than, say, a caster with a 1+ hand bow (action economy fits better with 2 action spells) or a Bastion warpriest with a 1 handed weapon and shield.
I don't see why we would think you couldn't cast with a two-hander.
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This is something that was changed in the playtest because it was weird and bad for Clerics of Gorum to be completely nonfunctional. You can cast just fine with a 2-handed weapon.
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Cool. Seems everyone agrees that I am reading too much into the “gesturing freely” part. Thx!
I think you're assuming a balance factor that isn't really there.
Just wanna comment on that: Having to add a hand to a weapon or not (costs an interact action) does change balance. If we talk battle caster or gish, that’s significant, as Arachnofiend’s post confirms, it’s not just me who noticed that issue. Any weapon with the two-hand trait does deal higher damage when used two handed, so the question was if that damage comes at a cost for a battle caster. Like the higher range of the crossbow comes at the cost of the reload.
In 5e for example it specifically says that you only need two hands for two-handed weapons while attacking with it, meaning that adding and removing a hand isn’t an action but part of the attack. So gesturing freely for a spell and then attacking with a two-handed in one round would be theoretically possible if the action economy allowed it. In 2e, by deduction, that cannot be, because adding a hand to a weapon is an action.
So my question ultimately might be: We should I spend an action to add a hand to a weapon, as in where does this additional action make the game more functional?
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Now, since two-handed weapons give a clear advantage in terms of damage over 1-handed weapons, it sounds like game balance-wise, spellcasters should not be able to cast while wielding a two handed weapon. But RAW, this doesn’t seem crystal clear. It seems weird to I imagine a spellcaster gesturing while holding a heavy crossbow.
The playtest Magus had a subclass dedicated entirely to casting while fighting with a two-handed weapon, and said subclass lacked any wording to indicate it was a deviation from the standard rule. Being able to cast while wielding a twohander is definitely intended.
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The balance for 2h vs 1h weapons comes from being able to use a shield, a second weapon or maneuvers with the latter.
Agreed. Shields can be very strong. Maneuvers can be very strong. Fighting on ladders, while dragging team members, or holding a potion at the ready can be very useful.
To extend this dynamic to also include spells would be an unnecessary complication, and would dramatically hinder lots of potential builds, while being based on some frankly shoddy armchair balance reasoning.
For more confirmation that you don't need a free hand for somatic components there is the Wizard's Eschew Material feat.
ESCHEW MATERIALS
You can use clever workarounds to replicate the arcane essence of certain materials. When Casting a Spell that requires material components, you can provide these material components without a material component pouch by drawing intricate replacement sigils in the air. Unlike when providing somatic components, you still must have a hand completely free. This doesn’t remove the need for any materials listed in the spell’s cost entry.
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The balance for 2h vs 1h weapons comes from being able to use a shield, a second weapon or maneuvers with the latter.
Also being able to do things like open doors and drink potions more easily.