I do not have the PHB yet so I'm referring to the starter set and the basic rules.
In the magic items sections of the basic rules, it is written that :
"Casting the identify spell on the item then reveals its properties. Alternatively, a character can concentrate
on the item during a short rest, while being in physical contact with the item. At the end of the rest, the character learns the item’s properties."
The Short Rest entry in the basic rules states : "A short rest is a period of downtime, at least 1 hour long,during which a character does nothing more strenuous than eating, drinking, reading, and tending to wounds."
Does that mean that a character concentrating to identify a magic item during a short rest doesn't benefit from the short rest?
No i don't think concentrating on the item you hold count as an activity strenuous enought to not grant the benefit of a short rest..
I think this is a case of specific beats general.
If it specifies that you CAN do it during a short rest, than I don't see why it would nullify the short rest.
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Plaguescarred wrote:
I think of it as such: It was to streneous, it would not be named as something you could do during a short rest, and would rather say "concentrate upon item for an hour"
alienux wrote:
But for a wizard, I would ssay that will you concentrate, you cannot study your spell book (so cannot use your arcane recovery ability)
Sorxores wrote:
But could you maintain concentration on a spell while studying a magic item? 
That's funny. I almost included a comment about concentration and then said to myself " Eh, maybe noone will bring it up." Haha. I don't see why it wouldn't work though. Concentration to keep up a spell, and concentrating on something else are two different things. ( I'm sure you know this, just explaining my reasoning on it for anyone else who reads this. )
is there a wizard in the party? if so identify is a ritual spell, so he could just cast it without using a spell slot as a ritual and be done, then after that 10 minutes take a short rest :-p
but yeah otherwise i would suspect it just mans while your eating and reading while resting for the hour, you have enough time to solve a rubiks cube or identify an item.
silentdante wrote:
reddaemon wrote:
reddaemon wrote:
NN1 wrote:
I intrepeted this as working with using IDENTIFY or DETECT MAGIC as a ritual instad of casting the spell.... for all intents and purposes, it would work the same. To simply identify something during a short rest, do you have to have the spell, as you would with a ritual?
thewoozle wrote: