New trick for Concentration -- Aid Another Skill [Archive] - Wizards Community

New trick for Concentration -- Aid Another Skill [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Thelon Fairblade
09-05-06, 09:25 AM So I was pondering Xeviat-DM's "let's make Concentration a WIS skill" premise. And then I watched some TV where the good guy was trying to pick a lock while being shot at. And I got to thinking -- wouldn't a good Concentration check have helped him maintain his focus?

So here was the simple idea I had...

Concentration
- Maintain Focus: As a free action, make a Concentration check equal to the DC of the other skill you intend to employ. If you succeed, you gain a +2 (unamed) bonus to the task this round.

I also thought about some other angles -- like "you may Take 10 on this task, even if distracted or stressed". Or "you may Take 20 on this task, avoiding the normal penalty for failure".

Reality Check: Who gets concentration? spellcasters and monks. (Oh, and warblades and spellsages, for use with Diamond Mind maneuvers.) who benefits from the new rule? Rogues, mostly, but perhaps the rare assorted other classes.

Thoughts? Comments?
Xeviat-DM
09-05-06, 01:08 PM Excellent! I noticed that you have to make Concentration checks if hit with an attack while you're performing any action which provokes an attack of opportunity (like picking a lock). While I don't like your nameless +2 bonus idea ....

... I really like your "take 10" idea. With an adiquate concentration check, you should be able to take 10 when you normally wouldn't be allowed to. This means a monk could take 10 on attack rolls, a rogue could take 10 on an open lock check in the middle of combat (or possibly a feint) ... all sorts of things. The DC should be high, and possibly based on the distracting circumstances, but it's a great idea.
KmartKommando
09-14-06, 09:43 PM You can also make a concentration check to not take the AoO from using a skill that provokes one.
Fargren
09-14-06, 10:02 PM I also thought about some other angles -- like "you may Take 10 on this task, even if distracted or stressed".
Thoughts? Comments?
This means that you can replace any skill in wich you could succed with a 10 or more with concentration. You still need to be good at the other skill, but it just doesn't seem right.
Xeviat-DM
09-16-06, 03:28 AM This means that you can replace any skill in wich you could succed with a 10 or more with concentration. You still need to be good at the other skill, but it just doesn't seem right.

Skill check DCs tend to increase with level. Yes, many DCs are set, but those aren't adiquate challenges for characters above certain levels.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Thelon Fairblade 09-05-06, 09:25 AM	So I was pondering Xeviat-DM's "let's make Concentration a WIS skill" premise. And then I watched some TV where the good guy was trying to pick a lock while being shot at. And I got to thinking -- wouldn't a good Concentration check have helped him maintain his focus? So here was the simple idea I had... Concentration - Maintain Focus: As a free action, make a Concentration check equal to the DC of the other skill you intend to employ. If you succeed, you gain a +2 (unamed) bonus to the task this round. I also thought about some other angles -- like "you may Take 10 on this task, even if distracted or stressed". Or "you may Take 20 on this task, avoiding the normal penalty for failure". Reality Check: Who gets concentration? spellcasters and monks. (Oh, and warblades and spellsages, for use with Diamond Mind maneuvers.) who benefits from the new rule? Rogues, mostly, but perhaps the rare assorted other classes. Thoughts? Comments?
Xeviat-DM 09-05-06, 01:08 PM	Excellent! I noticed that you have to make Concentration checks if hit with an attack while you're performing any action which provokes an attack of opportunity (like picking a lock). While I don't like your nameless +2 bonus idea .... ... I really like your "take 10" idea. With an adiquate concentration check, you should be able to take 10 when you normally wouldn't be allowed to. This means a monk could take 10 on attack rolls, a rogue could take 10 on an open lock check in the middle of combat (or possibly a feint) ... all sorts of things. The DC should be high, and possibly based on the distracting circumstances, but it's a great idea.
KmartKommando 09-14-06, 09:43 PM	You can also make a concentration check to not take the AoO from using a skill that provokes one.
Fargren 09-14-06, 10:02 PM	I also thought about some other angles -- like "you may Take 10 on this task, even if distracted or stressed". Thoughts? Comments? This means that you can replace any skill in wich you could succed with a 10 or more with concentration. You still need to be good at the other skill, but it just doesn't seem right.
Xeviat-DM 09-16-06, 03:28 AM	This means that you can replace any skill in wich you could succed with a 10 or more with concentration. You still need to be good at the other skill, but it just doesn't seem right. Skill check DCs tend to increase with level. Yes, many DCs are set, but those aren't adiquate challenges for characters above certain levels.