What's your rule for clerics, armor, and somatic spell?

[Steerpike]

Just curious how people here treat that. Under wizards and illusionists, the point is made in the PH that armor can affect spells with somatic components. No such point is made under the Cleric description, but some cleric spells do have somatic components. Stands to reason any somatic components, regardless of class, could be affected by armor. On the other hand, such a restriction can effectively limit the cleric's ability to wear any armor (or penalize certain choices).

What is your rule for this in your own game?
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[gideon_thorne]

Simple. I don't use spell components for either class. Magic operates in a different fashion in my setting.
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[Omote]

That's an interesting point Steerpike. I think most players use the assumption that divine spells are granted through prayer and thus bypass the need for fiddly mechanical bits that would prevent them from casting these spells.

However, I personally default to the armor rules presented on page 9 of the PHB 4th printing. This states that each class is fully proficent with any armor that is on their class list. That being the case, I assume that clerics are fully trained in the use of somatic components with those armors, and thus impose no penalties.

~O
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[CnD]

Omote wrote:
That being the case, I assume that clerics are fully trained in the use of somatic components with those armors, and thus impose no penalties.

~O

+1
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[Steerpike]

Thanks guys. Seems like somatic movement would be hindered to some degree in, say, full plate, no matter whether you are proficient with the armor or not.

But I don't want to take away something the class is meant to have so I'll probably just go with no hindrance for clerics.
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[Jackal]

Omote wrote:
That being the case, I assume that clerics are fully trained in the use of somatic components with those armors, and thus impose no penalties.~O

That has always been my understanding as well. Divine spells are less flashy and powerful than arcane spells in most situations so I don't mind the cleric gaining the extra benefit of heavy armor.
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Troll Lord Games
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[Go0gleplex]

What somantic component? Clasping the holy symbol and praying are about all I can see related to divine stuff.
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[Steerpike]

Go0gleplex wrote:
What somantic component? Clasping the holy symbol and praying are about all I can see related to divine stuff.

Some cleric spells actually say they have somatic components, so presumably more movement than that is needed for those.
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"There are two kinds of people in the world: those with guns, and those who dig." - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

[anonymous]

Steerpike wrote:
Thanks guys. Seems like somatic movement would be hindered to some degree in, say, full plate, no matter whether you are proficient with the armor or not.

Why?

[Wulfgarn]

Ummm- Clericical somantic movement is thrusting forth thier Holy symbol or beeseeching thier god with upraised armsetc

Mages must fiddle about perhaps drawingrunes in air to release the power.

Besides think of Chain mail let alone Plate.....

those chain mittens really suck for anything

[Steerpike]

Wulfgarn wrote:
Ummm- Clericical somantic movement is thrusting forth thier Holy symbol or beeseeching thier god with upraised armsetc

That doesn't work for me. Seems to me most any cleric spell is going to involve clutching the holy symbol and beseeching the god for power. That's how clerics get their power, after all. But some cleric spells are listed as having a somatic requirement, while others aren't. So there must be something more to those.

For example, I wouldn't let a cleric who is tied up cast a spell that has a somatic component, even if his holy symbol is in his hand. He need more freedom of movement than that. I think the PHB says at least one hand free.
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"There are two kinds of people in the world: those with guns, and those who dig." - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

[Wulfgarn]

yes but armor would not effect or is it affect it

[Go0gleplex]

A somantic component is a gesture or motion...clasping and praying ARE motion. So the arguement that they require somantic components is sort of empty in that respect. Who knows...they may actually do some sort of sign, such as the cross-their-self motions of the roman-catholics...

and having worn chainmail on more than one occassion...you're motion is not all THAT restricted. Just don't try to swim in it. lol
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Baron Grignak Hammerhand of the Pacifica Provinces-

High Warden of the Castles & Crusades Society

[Fiffergrund]

In my opinion, armor doesn't affect a cleric, but they need one hand free if there's a somatic component.
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[Stainless]

As an aside, when I first read "somatic" in the PHB I thought it was a misprint for "somantic", as I thought no-one could seriously use the term in relation to magic, but now I see the somantic is in fact the misprint in the book (page 23, first column, first paragraph, line 4, 4th printing). Being a biologist, it cracks me up as I can't help imagining what the gametic components of spells might be!
As an aside to my aside, I'm somehwat despondent by the number of typos in the 4th printing of the PHB. About one typo per page so far (duplicated words, extra letters, extra spaces, etc.). Man, what is it with RPG publishers, they must all be long-sighted.

Please Trolls, can I help you proof-read your next publication!
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[gideon_thorne]

Stainless wrote:
As an aside to my aside, I'm somehwat despondent by the number of typos in the 4th printing of the PHB. About one typo per page so far (duplicated words, extra letters, extra spaces, etc.). Man, what is it with RPG publishers, they must all be long-sighted.

Is that all? Oh good, if there are only 284 typo's out of a 150,000 + word document, I think its an improvement.
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Peter Bradley

[serleran]

If a class can use armor, and none of the abilities specifically state that doing such interferes with the ability, then it is assumed that armor does not prohibit or penalize. Since the text is very precise to mention wizards and illusionists, that leaves druids and clerics out of the running -- the next thing to do is to look at what armors are allowed for further restriction, where one soon discovers druids aren't wearing Polish hussar, but no such limitation is applied to a cleric. Therefore, it would seem most logical that clerics can wear armor and use any class ability without hindrance and that includes the act of spellcasting. Whether additional situations might modify this, such as being tied up and gagged, is irrelevant to the "armor restriction rule" and should not be considered the same thing -- situations are exceptions, not the rule.
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[CharlieRock]

Clerics never have an armor restriction on spell somantic components in my games. Roleplaying reasons could be the divine spells require less complex somantic movements. Maybe just a clenched fist or a quick glance skyward. Maybe that is part of the divine influence on the spell, the deity just knows.
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The Rock says ...

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[anonymous]

It's all really for reasons of fitting into the archetypes anyway and too much rationalisation is a dead end. If you choose to play a Cleric, it means you are going to be a member of an armoured fighting order with a mace. If you choose to play a Wizard, it means you are going to a man with a beard wearing robes and a conical hat with moons and stars on, or else a raven-haired beauty in a cloak with a very high collar.

[Ogre]

My take on spellcasting

Arcane spell casting

Arcane casters are conduits to form magic from the nether into this world, metal armor can hinder their quality as a conduit.

Divine spell casting

Divine casters call on powers from the heavens and are not themselves conduits, no magic "passes through" their bodies but instead is called by them, no penalties for armor.

I know that's not really in the vain of official dndeyness cnceyness, but it's just how I have always thought of it.