Somatic/Material Components & War Caster

Rules As Written

• Spells that require a somatic component require a free hand to cast.
• Spells that require a material component require either that you are holding a spellcasting focus, or have a free hand to access your spell component pouch. The free hand that accesses the pouch can be used for the material components. A divine spellcaster can have their symbol painted onto a shield, using it as their focus.
• The War Caster feat allows you to cast spells with somatic components with both hands full. It does not have any effect on material components. Both arcane & divine casters would effectively require a free hand to cast spells with material components.

House Rule

Somatic components can be cast even if you hand is occupied with a weapon. Material components still require either a focus or a free hand to access a spell component pouch. The War Caster feat negates the material component requirement for spells (unless that component has a gold value, in which case you must still access it as normal).

Rationalization/Reason for the Rule

The rule is stupid and we don't like it. Suck it, Crawford, you're not the boss of us.