>>5045
lets agree it was a misunderstanding as Cat said and now its even more absurd. I was assuming Yulya was wearing her pack and the shield is strapped to her pack. theyre in combat so handing the shield back and forth while arguing is pretty insensitive to that goblin ready to kill/rape them. he must feel ignored and left out lol

whatever it doesnt matter.
but i dont get your casting+shield interpretations. i spent hours brooding over this and the d&d community seems to agree that it all boils down to a free hand for somatic casting.

from phb
>A holy symbol is a representation of a god or pantheon. A cleric or paladin can use a holy symbol as a spellcasting focus, as described in the Spellcasting section. To use the symbol in this way, the caster must hold it in hand, wear it visibly, or bear it on a shield.

cleric needs a free hand to somatic casting. worn holy symbol can replace material and is enough to be worn visibly. but you need a free hand to make somatic gestures. whats in the other hand doesnt matter. and as said Yulya has no weapon in hand. never had. the mace is strapped to her pack. she doesnt need it. so one hand is always free even if shes using her shield which she always does in combat.

a focus embedded on shield only makes sense when wielding a weapon. Yulyas focus is around her neck not on the shield. we might buy another for the shield later but i see no priority. why? bc Yulya's a peace cleric who doesnt wield a weapon outside of emergencies. never assume she has a weapon in hand unless explicitly stated! her role is casting not hitting things with a mace.

>"Strapping on or unstrapping the shield is a move action."
ok thats new to me but youre right!
in any case the shield confusion must have cost a move action this turn. Yulya will cast sacred flame but cant gtfo.