My understanding of these items is that they tend to be large and rather bulky gloves of sorts and that fine motor skills, like writing with a quill, removing something from a pocket or pouch, or somatic spell casting, would be either completely impossible, or very difficult. The exception to this statement are a pair of Gauntlets of Dexterity (read entry from DMG).
Am I in error? Nowhere in the descriptions of these items does it state thusly, but the basic designs of gauntlets implies it.
How do each of you rule this outcome? Do you permit clerics donning Gauntlets of Ogre Power, for instance, to cast spells requiring somatic movements? Or do you permit it, with perhaps a modified (?) Dexterity roll, or an initiative penalty?
In any edition of the game, I do not penalize casters of divine magic for wearing any kind of armor (and it's accoutrements). Though your point seems valid from a realistic standpoint, I think it would pose game-balance problems if enforced.
As a DM, I think that you should feel free to rule as you think appropriate for each and every pair of magical gauntlets separately. Those that provide To Hit, damage, or AC bonuses from Strength are likely to be bulky while those providing such bonuses via increases to Dexterity would likely be made of finer material and much less bulky. Gloves/gauntlets improving Charisma, mental saving throws, and the other mental ability scores would likely be of fine material while those influencing physical saves and Constitution would likely be more bulky.
Thus, Gauntlets of Oger Power and Claws of the Chakyik are likely quite bulky while Gauntlets of Dexterity and Guantlets of Archery are likely of more pliable material.
SX, I agree with your assessment about the type of gauntlet determining its bulkiness. I have not, in all my readings and studies, come across anything definitive, one way or another, about the 'limitations' of various gauntlets. Maybe somebody has...a Sage Advice or article?
Only armor, or having one's hands/fingers bound in some way, impedes spellcasting for the purposes of somatic gestures, at lest so far as game rules are concerned. Also, remember that magical gauntlets re-size to the fit the wearer perfectly, which is more than can be said of others (no matter how well-tailored they are). _________________ - Moderator/Admin (in some areas)/Member -
Good points there, Cebrion. True that magical gauntlets resize themselves to fit the wearer's hands, but I just question that something like Gauntlets of Ogre Power (aren't they even described as heavy handwear?) wouldn't be more cumbersome, even if magically enchanted, than something more slender and supple like Gloves of Thievery or Missile Snaring.
These are not like padded welding gloves, or made of rawhide (though the cuff could be). They are just gloves made of something thicker than split deerskin. For game purposes, they do not impede spellcasting. Physical armor that also gives an AC bonus, which armored gauntlets do not do on their own (sorry, no +1 AC for having your hands protected ), impedes spellcasting. _________________ - Moderator/Admin (in some areas)/Member -
In my mind, I always thought of Gauntlets of Ogre Power being what you described they are not (though not quite to that bulkiness): large, thick leather handwear, perhaps with metal studded in them. Kinda like the picture of "The Gauntlet" in the module of the same name.
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), impedes spellcasting.