Questions about ability checks and multiclassing with spells.

[ThePolarBear]

I suppose in a strict reading of the rules as given, even a hand holding a spellcasting focus isn't free, so you'd also need a free hand in addition to the one holding the focus. I don't know of anyone that interprets the rules that way.

Though reading it this way means you only need a free hand to access the focus, like a material component, so you don't actually need to hold the focus to use it this way.

That part has been subject of a text change. It now reads " -- or to hold a spellcasting focus --" in addition to what was quoted.