Why I Hate the War Caster Feat in D&D 5e



Do you consider War Caster a tax on Gishes? Why/why not? Hereโ€™s a sneak peak at Episode 113 โ€“ Watch the full episode here! https://youtu.be/VietMDr_QuM

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29 thoughts on “Why I Hate the War Caster Feat in D&D 5e”

  1. Somatic/Verbal components are pretty much glossed over in the campaign I play in with my friends. Expensive material components however are not. Charm person is a decent spell, but when you have to very obviously wave your hands about like a dingaling and say magic words it kind of defeats the purpose of trying to charm someone when people can see you casting it.

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  2. Tbh I feel like the requirements to cast spells should simply be "you need to have a free hand" period, no shenanigans to use spell focus on shields and whatnot, that way the balance between spellcasters x martials wouldn't be so much in favor of casters as of right now, a feat requirement is nothing in the grand scheme of things that casters can already do, even in melee (I'm looking at you dual wielder bladesingers). That being said, I love gish characters, but I don't think they need buffs or that warcaster is inherently bad for the limitations it impose, think of it as a necessary evil haha.

    Regardless, I'm looking forward to this next build! Love your content man!

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  3. I think a sword and sorcery fighting style could be interesting,
    Though I would suggest it should have more benefits than just that
    Perhaps some sort of attack with weapon as part of a touch range spell
    Just spit balling here
    Another idea is in skulduggery pleasant, mages used to wield a weapon in one hand and instead of a shield, use a really thick Gauntlet to block incoming strikes while still having a hand free for spellcasting
    Maybe not as effective, like a +1 ac and it takes in game practice to use or something?

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  4. Gish ๐Ÿ‘ are ๐Ÿ‘ fun ๐Ÿ‘ but ๐Ÿ‘ usually ๐Ÿ‘ weaker ๐Ÿ‘ than ๐Ÿ‘ a ๐Ÿ‘ caster ๐Ÿ‘ with ๐Ÿ‘ a ๐Ÿ‘ shield.

    Therefore the warcaster tax is very dumb.

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  5. You know how wizards and other classes can get use a focus that can also be a staff, which could be a quarterstaff which could occupy both your hands but could still be a focus? I feel that gives all the spell-using classes license to use weapons in hand as a focus.

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  6. Round 1 you have two weapons attack. Free action sheath one.
    Round 2. Cast spell . Free action draw weapon.
    I dont see the problem or need for a tax.
    It works especially well for blade singers.

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  7. My Cleric has a decent Con and I'd rather take Resilient Constitution to round the score up and make low rolls not even matter with proficiency added. If she had a Devotee's Censer, she would effectively have War Caster out classed.

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  8. Further problem with warcaster is that no. Improved pack weapon or shield as focus do not negate the need for workouster because the hands holding your focus can only replace the sematic components of spells that have material components that are replaced by your focus.

    Sure every single paladin spell qualifies Except for detect magic and dispel magic. But basically no expanded spell list qualifies.

    This sucks when you're something like a redemption paladin but you feel like you have to get warcaster otherwise you can't cast counter spell, Which is a spell that was explicitly given to you by your class.

    Of course it's not a very big tax to pay because if you are a caster getting advantage on concentration checks is so much more powerful than increasing your primary ability score. But if you're a paladin it's really not, Since a Brazilian confeit might single handedly make you immune to the vast majority of those checks.

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  9. I usually handle it by using a free action to stow my weapon at the start of my turn, cast a spell, and then first thing on my next turn i draw my weapon and use it… Nothing lost except maybe an opportunity attack

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  10. You don't have to build for "having hold person prepared" lol take sentinel and polar Master with a glaive wielding Eldritch fighter, when an enemy moves into combat range, you get an attack of opportunity which is hold person. On your turn, attack attack bonus action attack action surge attack attack all crits

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