Casting on the Defensive?

[Shadeus]

You know that casting defensively doesn't do squat against readied actions, right?

I was just about to say the same thing. A +30 concentration check doesn't do anything against a barbarian readying a greataxe at your skull if you cast a spell. So you take 50 points of damage; good luck with the DC 60 save.

Of course, a level 28 cleric is likely to have an AC through the roof too, so it's not as easy as it sounds. But +30 to a skill isn't good but not great, especially by level 28.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

I was just about to say the same thing. A +30 concentration check doesn't do anything against a barbarian readying a greataxe at your skull if you cast a spell. So you take 50 points of damage; good luck with the DC 60 save.

In my experience, it's a lot rarer for the barbarian to ready an action to disrupt a spell, than it is for him to get an AoO. Simply put, you're not going to see the barbarian rush up to the spellcaster and then ready an action, instead of simply Power Attacking the mage then and there.

Where the mage is likely to face those readied actions is from enemy archers, who might ready actions to disrupt while their barbarian buddies charge up to squash them. And in the case of a single shot from an archer, a +30 to concentration is quite respectable.

At least, in my experience. YMMV.

 

[shilsen]

Where the mage is likely to face those readied actions is from enemy archers, who might ready actions to disrupt while their barbarian buddies charge up to squash them. And in the case of a single shot from an archer, a +30 to concentration is quite respectable.

At least, in my experience. YMMV.

Considering that he's talking about a 28th level character, a single arrow from an appropriately powerful enemy might actually require something like that +30 to concentration. Then again, if you're still getting shot at 28th level, you're probably not doing something right