[RPG] How long does it take to equip a shield

According to lead rules designer Jeremy Crawford:

The intent is that the shield hand can be used for a somatic component if the holy shield is used to cast the spell.

In a tweet exchange on 21-23 November 2014, @Sword_of_Spirit asked:

@JeremyECrawford Holy symbol engraved shield counts as material component, but does holding the shield replace somatic component also?

Crawford replied:

@Sword_of_Spirit The intent is that the shield hand can be used for a somatic component if the holy shield is used to cast the spell.

And further clarified that the shield arm cannot be restrained:

@Sword_of_Spirit You still need use of the shield arm to move it while performing the somatic component.

You're right, you're kind of stuck.

Thankfully, the action economy of 5e works in your favor here.

Here's what you need to do:

• Select a crystal as your Arcane focus
• Wear the crystal on your body (necklace, pendant, whatever). Components pouch also works here as there is no action economy on drawing stowing one of those.
• When you want to cast a spell, drop your weapon and touch your crystal
• When you're done casting, pick up your weapon.

This takes no additional actions, is perfectly legal (nothing specifies how big a crystal must be, just that you have a hand free to use it. (dropping a weapon costs you nothing, picking it up is your interact with object that's free with an attack or move).

The only real risk here is that if you do this a great deal, an enemy might begin to ready actions to attack you, or even move away from you while your weapon is stowed. This is something you'll have to live with for this to actually work.

Last thing that I'll say is that you should talk to your Adv League GM, or even seek out an answer from their twitter feed on this. GMs for Adv League are supposed to be lenient and use common sense in their rulings as the ruleset is flexible by design.