Open handed casting

[Durgrimst]

Do bards receive a bonus for open handed casting when using the bard circle?

I do not think so, and I have asked a few of the GS mechanics smart people I know and they seem to agree with me, but has anyone actually done the testing?

I do not think so since you are SINGING the spell and not using your hand to cast it, but I would love some confirmation.

Thanks

[phantasm]

I'm pretty sure they moved all the open hand casting checks to the CHANNEL verb.

[AMUSED1]

Bards do not receive any direct benefit for open handed casting. Also, I'm almost positive you don't have to CHANNEL a spell to receive open-handed casting benefits for other professions; mainly pures.

[caelric]

I'm actually almost 100% sure that you do need to channel to receive the open hand bonus, and you obviously need to be in guarded or less. This is true at least for the 700 series, which is the primary ones I use.