D&D 5E Can you concentrate on a spell while resting?

[Astrosicebear]

Hex for the warlock lasts up to 24 hours and having it up is really important.

Mearls actually put this one to bed...

• Astoxastos @astoxastos
  
  Clarification:can u use the same hex spell after an encounter at the next encounter with concentration all day? @mikemearls
  
  ​

Mike Mearls @mikemearls
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@astoxastos you'd need to find a new target for it between encounters, otherwise it ends.

​

12:28 PM - 16 Sep 2014

 

[I'm A Banana]

Now that that's out of the way...


Yeah, there's nothing to stop concentration while you rest -- arguably, sleep makes you unconscious, so maybe not while you sleep, but races that don't sleep might not have that problem. Concentration also isn't limited by range, which means that, interestingly, you can buff an army and send it out of your home city, while keeping your mages at home concentrating on the spells that buff them (at least, until they sleep).

 

[Eejit]

That's easy, hex your pet awakened turnip between fights.

 

[brehobit]

Mearls actually put this one to bed...

That's a very odd ruling and I suspect won't stay. The spell says you can use a bonus action to move it in a later round. It doesn't require a time frame. And with a 1 hour duration, I don't expect that was the intent either. We'll see...

 

[brehobit]

That's easy, hex your pet awakened turnip between fights.

You'd have to drop it to 0 hps to move it again...

 

[Eejit]

You'd have to drop it to 0 hps to move it again...

Alas, alack. Gone so soon, sweet Turnip.

A bucket of worms if you prefer.

 

[Astrosicebear]

Pretty moot points anyways, the short rest clearly 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."

Its clear that, even with a longer duration than 1 hour on the spell or ability, you cannot maintain concentration and gain the benefits of a short rest.

I challenge anyone to calculate a Fibonacci sequence for 1 hour, and at the end of the hour, if you can even maintain it that long, see how rested you feel.

 

[Eejit]

Pretty moot points anyways, the short rest clearly 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."

Its clear that, even with a longer duration than 1 hour on the spell or ability, you cannot maintain concentration and gain the benefits of a short rest.

I challenge anyone to calculate a Fibonacci sequence for 1 hour, and at the end of the hour, if you can even maintain it that long, see how rested you feel.

Concentration can't be that demanding, you can continue it while attacking, performing acrobatics, negotiating, disarming taps and so on. It's so easy only damage can break your concentration, or outright unconsciousness.

 

[brehobit]

I challenge anyone to calculate a Fibonacci sequence for 1 hour, and at the end of the hour, if you can even maintain it that long, see how rested you feel.

Well, concentration on a spell can be done by a first level caster for an hour with no chance of failure unless something pretty bad happens (take damage, etc.) I say an hour, because I think that's the longest duration 1st level spell. So it's clearly a lot less work than the Fibonacci sequence. Heck, it has exactly no effect on you other than you can't concentrate on another spell. Perhaps similar to running through a chant or a song in your head? Probably less than that actually, as you can cast other spells (that don't need concentration) freely and I doubt I could keep the song going and talk at the same time.

I think it could go either way. It is probably best if we get a clarification, as it really shouldn't be a "depends on the table" kind of thing as it could matter a lot for Warlocks in organized play.

 

[CapnZapp]

I believe the spellcaster does not get the benefits of a short rest while Concentrating.

The rest of the party can still short rest. The wizard or whatever is sitting there too, but isn't focussed on the small talk.

This way I am sure you can keep up Concentration during an entire short rest, provided the spell duration allows it of course (the Duration can't be 1 hour or shorter - it must be greater than 1 hour, obviously)