Extraordinary Concentration - Too high or good? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Extraordinary Concentration - Too high or good? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
FrostHammer
03-18-07, 02:40 PM I've been looking at the Extraordinary Concentration feat from Complete Adventurer, and it looks useful, being able to concentrate on one spell while casting another. However, the DC you need to beat to gain the benefits is 25+spell level, which is a pretty darned high concentration check.

So, do you think the feat is worth it? One *can* take Skill Focus (Concentration) to help out, but that's burning 2 feats to be able to do this.
MerlintheTuna
03-18-07, 10:20 PM It's not bad if you can swing it, and it might not be that difficult once you can take the feat. It's a 12th level feat, I think? That means 15 ranks in Concentration, a decent Con score -- say, 14 for a +2. The Tunic of Steady Spellcasting wouldn't be a bad idea, for +5 competence bonus. You're already at +22 there; if you're willing to burn another feat, Steady Concentration from Races of Stone will let you take 10 on all your checks, and you're home free.
Chimaera2000
03-19-07, 03:09 AM There's also the Vitality Belt soulmeld from Magic of Incarnum that gives you +4 on all Constitution-related checks including Concentration checks. You can get it with a single feat then take another one (Extra Essentia) to increase that bonus by another +4 (IIRC).
FrostHammer
03-19-07, 03:56 AM It's ok...i think the +5 to Concentration check shirt will be enough. It's cheap too at only 2500 gold!
Hallana
03-19-07, 09:38 AM There is also a skill trick in Complete Scoundrel that makes taking this feat largely pointless. The requirements aren't bad either so don't waste two feats.

That is, of course, if skill tricks are allowed in the campaign. Personally, I hate the idea of achieving more with 2 skill points than a feat, which is the case with a number of skill tricks.
Mystyc
03-19-07, 12:13 PM There is also a skill trick in Complete Scoundrel that makes taking this feat largely pointless. The requirements aren't bad either so don't waste two feats.

That is, of course, if skill tricks are allowed in the campaign. Personally, I hate the idea of achieving more with 2 skill points than a feat, which is the case with a number of skill tricks.

Skill tricks are usable once per encounter unless otherwise specified. Feats are usable every round forever and ever.

Also, would that trick even let you cast another spell? I mean, it lets you concentrated swiftly, but can you cast another spell while concentrating without an ability that explicitly tells you you can, like the feat mentioned here?
Moribund
03-19-07, 04:13 PM You can't cast a spell while concentrating on another one.

Concentration: The spell lasts as long as you concentrate on it. Concentrating to maintain a spell is a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Anything that could break your concentration when casting a spell can also break your concentration while you’re maintaining one, causing the spell to end. You can’t cast a spell while concentrating on another one. Sometimes a spell lasts for a short time after you cease concentrating.

Extraordinary Concentration says you can cast another spell in the flavor text. I hate that. But you still can't concentrate on multiple spell simultaneously.
Gnarl
03-19-07, 05:08 PM Extraordinary Concentration says you can cast another spell in the flavor text. I hate that. But you still can't concentrate on multiple spell simultaneously.

It explicitly says you can't in the feat description.

Anyway, back to the topic. The feat is decent if you exploit it. I like Telekinesis and Sonic Rumble. My favourite is of course Summon Elemental Monolith.

Sonorous Hum kind of makes the feat obsolete though.
FrostHammer
03-19-07, 05:30 PM It's very fun to be invisible and directing a Major Image of yourself all the while casting offensive spells.
hangman1
03-26-07, 08:03 PM [QUOTE=Gnarl;11824976

Sonorous Hum kind of makes the feat obsolete though.[/QUOTE]

You have to cast sonorous hum before you cast the spells you want to concentrate on, which means it doesn't work well for dire situations.

Thanks for pointing out that you can cast while concentrating in the flavor description. As I read it you can cast instantaneous effect spells (those that don't require concentration) but not, say, two major images at the same time. For that you would have to plan ahead and use Sonorous Hum.

The feat is totally worth it: for illusionists in particular, less so for other spellcasting classes. I also think skill focus (concentration) is a must have for most spellcasters. It is much more useful than Combat Casting and you only lose one point of bonus.
Taureus_Drakken
03-27-07, 02:27 AM The Tunic of Steady Spellcasting wouldn't be a bad idea, for +5 competence bonus.

Get the Third Eye: Concentrate from XPH. It's a +10 competence bonus in a fairly, less-useful item slot. Save the vest slot for something else.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
FrostHammer 03-18-07, 02:40 PM	I've been looking at the Extraordinary Concentration feat from Complete Adventurer, and it looks useful, being able to concentrate on one spell while casting another. However, the DC you need to beat to gain the benefits is 25+spell level, which is a pretty darned high concentration check. So, do you think the feat is worth it? One can take Skill Focus (Concentration) to help out, but that's burning 2 feats to be able to do this.
MerlintheTuna 03-18-07, 10:20 PM	It's not bad if you can swing it, and it might not be that difficult once you can take the feat. It's a 12th level feat, I think? That means 15 ranks in Concentration, a decent Con score -- say, 14 for a +2. The Tunic of Steady Spellcasting wouldn't be a bad idea, for +5 competence bonus. You're already at +22 there; if you're willing to burn another feat, Steady Concentration from Races of Stone will let you take 10 on all your checks, and you're home free.
Chimaera2000 03-19-07, 03:09 AM	There's also the Vitality Belt soulmeld from Magic of Incarnum that gives you +4 on all Constitution-related checks including Concentration checks. You can get it with a single feat then take another one (Extra Essentia) to increase that bonus by another +4 (IIRC).
FrostHammer 03-19-07, 03:56 AM	It's ok...i think the +5 to Concentration check shirt will be enough. It's cheap too at only 2500 gold!
Hallana 03-19-07, 09:38 AM	There is also a skill trick in Complete Scoundrel that makes taking this feat largely pointless. The requirements aren't bad either so don't waste two feats. That is, of course, if skill tricks are allowed in the campaign. Personally, I hate the idea of achieving more with 2 skill points than a feat, which is the case with a number of skill tricks.
Mystyc 03-19-07, 12:13 PM	There is also a skill trick in Complete Scoundrel that makes taking this feat largely pointless. The requirements aren't bad either so don't waste two feats. That is, of course, if skill tricks are allowed in the campaign. Personally, I hate the idea of achieving more with 2 skill points than a feat, which is the case with a number of skill tricks. Skill tricks are usable once per encounter unless otherwise specified. Feats are usable every round forever and ever. Also, would that trick even let you cast another spell? I mean, it lets you concentrated swiftly, but can you cast another spell while concentrating without an ability that explicitly tells you you can, like the feat mentioned here?
Moribund 03-19-07, 04:13 PM	You can't cast a spell while concentrating on another one. Concentration: The spell lasts as long as you concentrate on it. Concentrating to maintain a spell is a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Anything that could break your concentration when casting a spell can also break your concentration while you’re maintaining one, causing the spell to end. You can’t cast a spell while concentrating on another one. Sometimes a spell lasts for a short time after you cease concentrating. Extraordinary Concentration says you can cast another spell in the flavor text. I hate that. But you still can't concentrate on multiple spell simultaneously.
Gnarl 03-19-07, 05:08 PM	Extraordinary Concentration says you can cast another spell in the flavor text. I hate that. But you still can't concentrate on multiple spell simultaneously. It explicitly says you can't in the feat description. Anyway, back to the topic. The feat is decent if you exploit it. I like Telekinesis and Sonic Rumble. My favourite is of course Summon Elemental Monolith. Sonorous Hum kind of makes the feat obsolete though.
FrostHammer 03-19-07, 05:30 PM	It's very fun to be invisible and directing a Major Image of yourself all the while casting offensive spells.
hangman1 03-26-07, 08:03 PM	[QUOTE=Gnarl;11824976 Sonorous Hum kind of makes the feat obsolete though.[/QUOTE] You have to cast sonorous hum before you cast the spells you want to concentrate on, which means it doesn't work well for dire situations. Thanks for pointing out that you can cast while concentrating in the flavor description. As I read it you can cast instantaneous effect spells (those that don't require concentration) but not, say, two major images at the same time. For that you would have to plan ahead and use Sonorous Hum. The feat is totally worth it: for illusionists in particular, less so for other spellcasting classes. I also think skill focus (concentration) is a must have for most spellcasters. It is much more useful than Combat Casting and you only lose one point of bonus.
Taureus_Drakken 03-27-07, 02:27 AM	The Tunic of Steady Spellcasting wouldn't be a bad idea, for +5 competence bonus. Get the Third Eye: Concentrate from XPH. It's a +10 competence bonus in a fairly, less-useful item slot. Save the vest slot for something else.