Do hands holding a spell casting Focus count as "free" hands for Somatic Components?
I am new to playing D&D 2024, and was confused by the wording for Somatic Component:
"Somatic (S): A Somatic component is a forceful gesticulation or an intricate set of gestures. A spellcaster must use at least one of their hands to perform these movements."
To me this is not quite clear as it doesn't state that the hand needs to be empty, but It's not really clear.
Then we have this specific benefit from the War Casters feat, which suggests to me that the hand must indeed be empty, prior to acquiring War Caster:
*"*Somatic Components. You can perform the Somatic components of spells even when you have weapons or a Shield in one or both hands."
Also, here is the ruling on Material components, as they might be relevant as well:
"Material (M): A Material component is a particular material used in a spell’s casting, as specified in parentheses in the Components entry. These materials aren’t consumed by the spell unless the spell’s description states otherwise. The spellcaster must have a hand free to access them, but it can be the same hand used to perform Somatic components, if any.
If a spell doesn’t consume its materials and doesn’t specify a cost for them, a spellcaster can use a Component Pouch instead of providing the materials specified in the spell, or the spellcaster can substitute a Spellcasting Focus if the caster has a feature that allows that substitution. To use a Component Pouch, you must have a hand free to reach into it, and to use a Spellcasting Focus, you must hold it unless its description says otherwise (see chapter 6 for descriptions)."
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How would do you guys interpret this wording, and how would/do you rule it at your own table?
EDIT: The sage advice compendium gives a definitive answer to this: "For example, a Cleric uses an Emblem on a Shield as their Holy Symbol. When in combat, this Cleric likes to wield a Mace in one hand and the emblazoned Shield in the other. This Cleric must have the Shield in hand when casting a Cleric spell that requires a Material component. If the spell, such as Aid, also requires a Somatic component, the Cleric can perform the Somatic component with the hand holding the Shield, allowing the Cleric to keep wielding the Mace. However, if this same Cleric were to later cast Cure Wounds—which has Somatic components but no Material components—they would need to unequip either their Shield or Mace to free a hand for the Somatic components." (https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/sae/sage-advice-compendium#Spellcasting)