Casting Spells with a 2-handed weapon ..Remaster

[Grumpus]

I am trying to adjust to the remaster, and did not purchase the new books, so I'm going off of Nethys and find it hard to search for rules there.

So my main question is since they seemed to do away with material components, is there anything stopping you from casting most spells without a free hand? Such as holding a 2-handed weapon and not having to free-action release, then spend an action to re-grip.

[Easl]

Grumpus wrote:

I am trying to adjust to the remaster, and did not purchase the new books, so I'm going off of Nethys and find it hard to search for rules there.

So my main question is since they seemed to do away with material components, is there anything stopping you from casting most spells without a free hand? Such as holding a 2-handed weapon and not having to free-action release, then spend an action to re-grip.

Most spells have the 'manipulate' trait, which requires a free hand. I think that's the main limitation on hand use, but I could be forgetting something.

[shroudb]

Easl wrote:

Grumpus wrote:

I am trying to adjust to the remaster, and did not purchase the new books, so I'm going off of Nethys and find it hard to search for rules there.

So my main question is since they seemed to do away with material components, is there anything stopping you from casting most spells without a free hand? Such as holding a 2-handed weapon and not having to free-action release, then spend an action to re-grip.

Most spells have the 'manipulate' trait, which requires a free hand. I think that's the main limitation on hand use, but I could be forgetting something.

Manipulate Trait does NOT require a free hand.

There are some manipulate actions that do, but those are specific actions and it does not depend on the trait for said limitation.

There's nothing stopping you from casting with a two-handed.

[Squiggit]

There are no listed requirements for having a free hand in the spellcasting rules, except that spells that require a locus require you to hold the locus.

[HammerJack]

Or very specific cases like Slashing Gust caring whether you have one or two free hands.

[Tridus]

shroudb wrote:

Easl wrote:

Grumpus wrote:

I am trying to adjust to the remaster, and did not purchase the new books, so I'm going off of Nethys and find it hard to search for rules there.

So my main question is since they seemed to do away with material components, is there anything stopping you from casting most spells without a free hand? Such as holding a 2-handed weapon and not having to free-action release, then spend an action to re-grip.

Most spells have the 'manipulate' trait, which requires a free hand. I think that's the main limitation on hand use, but I could be forgetting something.

Manipulate Trait does NOT require a free hand.

There are some manipulate actions that do, but those are specific actions and it does not depend on the trait for said limitation.

There's nothing stopping you from casting with a two-handed.

This is correct. Ditto with weapon & shield, or staff & potion, or whatever you like to hold.

The limitation for most spells is that you have use of your hands. You can't cast if you are Restrained or otherwise can't use your hands, and you have a failure chance if you're Grabbed.

[Ascalaphus]

For what it's worth, pre-remaster you also didn't need free hands for somatic components. So not much has changed.

Previously "somatic" components had Manipulate. Now spells just directly have Manipulate. Somatic components explicitly said you could do then with the hand full.

But Manipulate doesn't require your hands to be empty, just that you can use them, so not paralyzed or restrained. So for example a paladin with sword and shield can still use lay on hands - which is clearly working as intended.

(But to be fair, a lot of manipulate things do also ask for an empty hand. Just not spellcasting.)