Damage and Spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Damage and Spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Aomis
03-01-05, 03:27 PM Lets say a mage gets hit by a ogre and takes 15 points of damage, then on his turn he moves 30 ft and casts a spell. Does he now need to take a concentration check? This happens in the same round.

--Aomis
Sinon
03-01-05, 03:36 PM No.
I think he would only need to make a concentration check if he were trying to cast defensively (i.e. if he were still threatened) or if the damage was the result of a readied action to disrupt his spell.
In your scenario, neither of these seem to be the case.
tarkin
03-01-05, 03:46 PM But the mage DOES have to take an AoO - as he moved 30ft without taking a Withdraw action.

The only way he could avoid the AoO is to:

1) Cast defensively where he is. (He could also move 5ft then cast defensively).

2) Move 5ft then cast. (Possibly Defensively)

3) Do a withdraw action instead of casting.
Aomis
03-01-05, 04:06 PM Gah!! My DM is right again, and we all hate it when he is right. He will now say "i told you so" and whistle old western tunes while being all smug and puffy..............
Christaldo
03-01-05, 05:00 PM DM's are always right.

A wizard is unfortunatly in melee with an orc. The orc is using an axe (normal - no reach). The wizard is not so smart in melee combat, he moves 30 ft and the orc hit him with his AoO and deals 5 hp damage. Now it's time for his Magic Missile! One opinion in my group was is that the wizard need to make a concentration check DC16 or loose the spell, but I don't agree. The rules says "during" spellcasting. And nothing happend during his spellcasting, but during his move.

Please correct me if I'm wrong here!

There are other rules for continuous damage, where the spellcaster must make concentration checks as long as he take damage from it.
Yobgod Ababua
03-01-05, 09:40 PM You are correct in that there is no concentration check required in that situation.

The only ways to force a mage to make a concentration check while spellcasting that I'm aware of are:

1) Ready an action to hit them if they cast, then do so.

2) Hit them when they provoke an AoO by casting a spell in your threatened area.

3) Hit them while they are casting a spell with a casting time of one full round.

4) Hit them with something that deals "ongoing damage", like the Acid Arrow spell.
WunderGoat
03-01-05, 09:49 PM I used to make spellcasters make concentraton checks from all damage in the last round, with clerics and other 'melee' casters getting bonuses. However, that was a holdover from 3.0, where haste+mage=dead baddies. Currently such a rule is a big nerf to mages, one they probably don't need right now. However, if they keep coming out with new feats and spells, the balance might change again, warranting the check.
Vatras
03-02-05, 01:37 AM You forgot about the small passage on PHB 170, which states you can be interrupted by AoOs provoked by your spellcasting or an readied action (10th line from below, left column).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Aomis 03-01-05, 03:27 PM	Lets say a mage gets hit by a ogre and takes 15 points of damage, then on his turn he moves 30 ft and casts a spell. Does he now need to take a concentration check? This happens in the same round. --Aomis
Sinon 03-01-05, 03:36 PM	No. I think he would only need to make a concentration check if he were trying to cast defensively (i.e. if he were still threatened) or if the damage was the result of a readied action to disrupt his spell. In your scenario, neither of these seem to be the case.
tarkin 03-01-05, 03:46 PM	But the mage DOES have to take an AoO - as he moved 30ft without taking a Withdraw action. The only way he could avoid the AoO is to: 1) Cast defensively where he is. (He could also move 5ft then cast defensively). 2) Move 5ft then cast. (Possibly Defensively) 3) Do a withdraw action instead of casting.
Aomis 03-01-05, 04:06 PM	Gah!! My DM is right again, and we all hate it when he is right. He will now say "i told you so" and whistle old western tunes while being all smug and puffy..............
Christaldo 03-01-05, 05:00 PM	DM's are always right. A wizard is unfortunatly in melee with an orc. The orc is using an axe (normal - no reach). The wizard is not so smart in melee combat, he moves 30 ft and the orc hit him with his AoO and deals 5 hp damage. Now it's time for his Magic Missile! One opinion in my group was is that the wizard need to make a concentration check DC16 or loose the spell, but I don't agree. The rules says "during" spellcasting. And nothing happend during his spellcasting, but during his move. Please correct me if I'm wrong here! There are other rules for continuous damage, where the spellcaster must make concentration checks as long as he take damage from it.
Yobgod Ababua 03-01-05, 09:40 PM	You are correct in that there is no concentration check required in that situation. The only ways to force a mage to make a concentration check while spellcasting that I'm aware of are: 1) Ready an action to hit them if they cast, then do so. 2) Hit them when they provoke an AoO by casting a spell in your threatened area. 3) Hit them while they are casting a spell with a casting time of one full round. 4) Hit them with something that deals "ongoing damage", like the Acid Arrow spell.
WunderGoat 03-01-05, 09:49 PM	I used to make spellcasters make concentraton checks from all damage in the last round, with clerics and other 'melee' casters getting bonuses. However, that was a holdover from 3.0, where haste+mage=dead baddies. Currently such a rule is a big nerf to mages, one they probably don't need right now. However, if they keep coming out with new feats and spells, the balance might change again, warranting the check.
Vatras 03-02-05, 01:37 AM	You forgot about the small passage on PHB 170, which states you can be interrupted by AoOs provoked by your spellcasting or an readied action (10th line from below, left column).