Post/Author/DateTime	Post
RedSox1979 04-21-05, 04:41 AM	I have question, regarding concentration checks. If Wizards A & B are attacking Wizard C. Wizard A & B both ready an action to cast magic missile if Wizard C starts casting. Wizard C then starts to cast a fireball at them. Wizard A & B react and both cast their magic missiles. Wizard A deals 8 points of damage while wizard B does 6 points of damage. The question is: Wizard C now needs to make a concentration check. Does Wizard C make two concentration checks one with a DC of 18 (10+8) and one of a DC of 16 (10+6) Or just one conentration check of with a DC of 24 (10+8+6)? Thanks in advance for comments and answers.
Kheldren 04-21-05, 05:28 AM	hmm, it gets worse, both of those magic missiles are multi-hits... To cast a spell, you must concentrate. If something interrupts your concentration while you’re casting, you must make a Concentration check or lose the spell. The more distracting the interruption and the higher the level of the spell you are trying to cast, the higher the DC is. If you fail the check, you lose the spell just as if you had cast it to no effect. Injury: If while trying to cast a spell you take damage, you must make a Concentration check (DC 10 + points of damage taken + the level of the spell you’re casting). If you fail the check, you lose the spell without effect. The interrupting event strikes during spellcasting if it comes between when you start and when you complete a spell (for a spell with a casting time of 1 full round or more) or if it comes in response to your casting the spell (such as an attack of opportunity provoked by the spell or a contingent attack, such as a readied action). If you are taking continuous damage half the damage is considered to take place while you are casting a spell. You must make a Concentration check (DC 10 + 1/2 the damage that the continuous source last dealt + the level of the spell you’re casting). If the last damage dealt was the last damage that the effect could deal then the damage is over, and it does not distract you. Repeated damage does not count as continuous damage. Spell: If you are affected by a spell while attempting to cast a spell of your own, you must make a Concentration check or lose the spell you are casting. If the spell affecting you deals damage, the DC is 10 + points of damage + the level of the spell you’re casting. If the spell interferes with you or distracts you in some other way, the DC is the spell’s saving throw DC + the level of the spell you’re casting. For a spell with no saving throw, it’s the DC that the spell’s saving throw would have if a save were allowed. OK - although the magic missiles must both be at least 2 missiles (unless empowered) I take back my comment and go with the SRD - obviously they are simultaneous hits. I would still rule seperate concentration checks per interrupting effect, but the DCs are 21 and 19 as the level of the fireball needs to be added in.
Phrennzy 04-21-05, 09:35 AM	Two seperate checks.
Odin_666 04-21-05, 11:21 AM	remember A&B can't cast simultaneously so the damages comes one after another and so the checks.... (and I would think you make the check for each missile, because they also strike C one after another, but I'm not sure about this)
Kaboth 04-21-05, 12:07 PM	You must realize that even though there is no Simultaneous casting the concentration check is not made until the wizard actually finishes casting the spell. You check to see if you successfully cast it, if you did two separate checks that means the wizards spell would go off inbetween the readied actions and defeat the purpose of a readied action. SO you have one of two scenarios depending on how you run it. Scenario 1 (my way, lets say level 1 and max damage for Magic missle) Wizard A - blasts Wizard C with 5 points Wizard B - blasts Wizard C with 5 points Wizard C - tally's the damage and adds it to his concentration check and determines his target DC is 20. Scenario 2 (other way) Wizard A - blasts Wizard C with 5 points Wizard C then has to make a DC 15 with concentration Wizard B - blasts Wizard C with 5 points Wizard C - loses spell because they already used their concentration check for the round. You are makng one check for one spell at the end of the spells completion to see if you CAST the spell.
Odin_666 04-21-05, 01:58 PM	You must realize that even though there is no Simultaneous casting the concentration check is not made until the wizard actually finishes casting the spell. You check to see if you successfully cast it, if you did two separate checks that means the wizards spell would go off inbetween the readied actions and defeat the purpose of a readied action. SO you have one of two scenarios depending on how you run it. Scenario 1 (my way, lets say level 1 and max damage for Magic missle) Wizard A - blasts Wizard C with 5 points Wizard B - blasts Wizard C with 5 points Wizard C - tally's the damage and adds it to his concentration check and determines his target DC is 20. Scenario 2 (other way) Wizard A - blasts Wizard C with 5 points Wizard C then has to make a DC 15 with concentration Wizard B - blasts Wizard C with 5 points Wizard C - loses spell because they already used their concentration check for the round. You are makng one check for one spell at the end of the spells completion to see if you CAST the spell. Where do you read the things you use to rule this problem? Where is mentioned, that you do only one check during your casting? Where is mentioned, that you wait for the check until you the spell completition? (It is said, that you make the check if you take damage, which means, if you take damage, then you make the check, and not one round later, not 8 hours later and not when you finish the spell.)
Kaboth 04-21-05, 02:26 PM	Where do you read the things you use to rule this problem? Where is mentioned, that you do only one check during your casting? Where is mentioned, that you wait for the check until you the spell completition? (It is said, that you make the check if you take damage, which means, if you take damage, then you make the check, and not one round later, not 8 hours later and not when you finish the spell.) I didnt say it was cumlative through out the round. I said it was for that action sequence at the same time that all of this taking place. However it does state this is one check. If you read concentration, especially under the table, it specifically states this Concentration = 10 + Damage Dealt BUT, after that it states in the next column... Distraction = Damage DURING the action The casters action is casting the spell, its one and only ONE action. PHB page 70, middle of the page, the very first item on the table. PS - FYI, did you know the concentration skill is not in the SRD?
Odin_666 04-21-05, 04:28 PM	hmm, ok. Seems to me that I misread the sentence above the table :D :D But you still have to add the Spell level to the DC as noted in the text above...
Kaboth 04-21-05, 04:59 PM	hmm, ok. Seems to me that I misread the sentence above the table :D :D But you still have to add the Spell level to the DC as noted in the text above... Not for concentration checks dealing with damage alone. It 10+damage dealt by itself (with exception to magic), but yes, I forgot to add the level of the spell to the equation. Just add what ever spell level to my equation... But my main point is that its one check, not 2.
Odin_666 04-22-05, 09:59 AM	Not for concentration checks dealing with damage alone. It 10+damage dealt by itself (with exception to magic), but yes, I forgot to add the level of the spell to the equation. Just add what ever spell level to my equation... But my main point is that its one check, not 2. Yeah you are totally right. I meant that in my first readings, I misread this sentence...