Concentration and casting...

[Phoenix8008]

Quick question about casting and getting damaged and when a caster needs to make a concentration check.

If a caster is attacked on initiative count 20 and takes 15 points of damage before attempting to cast a spell on initiative count 10, does this caster then need to make a DC 25 (10 + damage dealt) Concentration check in order for the spell to be cast? Does it make a difference if the spells casting time is 1 standard action vs. 1 full round? Basically, I think the question boils down to wether a caster begins casting a spell at the begining of the round or only when his/her initiative count starts. Because if he hasn't started casting yet when he gets damaged, then will it really interrupt the spell?

If it was a full round casting time then I could see it starting to be cast at the very start of any initiative count for the round. Wheras if it is a standard action casting time, then I could see the caster not starting to cast until during their initiative count since they could even move first before casting the spell.

If damage earlier in a round can really interfere that much in casting a spell I could easily see many spellcasters wasting a round to reset their initiative count to the top if the order to stop from getting hurt first and having their spells fizzle.

Any help on this issue would be helpful, so thanks in advance!

 

[Diirk]

If a caster is attacked on initiative count 20 and takes 15 points of damage before attempting to cast a spell on initiative count 10, does this caster then need to make a DC 25 (10 + damage dealt) Concentration check in order for the spell to be cast?

No.

Does it make a difference if the spells casting time is 1 standard action vs. 1 full round?

No.

A couple of points: If the caster is hit with continual damage before his initiative (ie. melfs acid arrow) then he will need to make a concentration check to cast his spell.. however the DC is lower for continual damage.. 10 + 1/2 damage instead of 10 + damage.

Also if a caster starts to cast a spell with a casting time of '1 round' (eg summon monster x, sleep) then any time he is hit between the start of casting and his initiative next round will force a concentration check. Spells with a casting time of a standard action, or a full action (ie. metamagiced spontaneous spells) are finished casting before the casters turn is up, so aren't faced with this problem.

 

[Phoenix8008]

So, the only time a caster would even need to make a Concentration check concerning non-continual damage would be: 1. If they drew an attack of opportunity for casting in a threatened square and got subsequently damaged? or 2. Because they started casting a '1 round' casting time spell and were injured after that but before their next init count when the spell would be completed? (Are both of these correct so far?)


Which begs the following question: if a caster is damaged from multiple sources, does he/she make multiple concentration checks (one for each damage source incurred) or one massive DC concentration check including all the damage together?

 

[Jdvn1]

I believe you make the Concentration check immediately, after each attack.

 

[Diirk]

You can also be forced to make a concentration check when you are damaged/distracted by a readied action while casting a full action or standard action spell.

 

[MichaelH]

So, the only time a caster would even need to make a Concentration check concerning non-continual damage would be: 1. If they drew an attack of opportunity for casting in a threatened square and got subsequently damaged? or 2. Because they started casting a '1 round' casting time spell and were injured after that but before their next init count when the spell would be completed? (Are both of these correct so far?)

Both are correct.

Which begs the following question: if a caster is damaged from multiple sources, does he/she make multiple concentration checks (one for each damage source incurred) or one massive DC concentration check including all the damage together?

The caster makes multiple Concentration checks, one each time he takes damage.

 

[-=Xar=-]

I don't want to hyjack the thread, but this came up during last session: the mage was threatened by an enemy fighter so he decided to move 30' and cast a spell. I believe he would take an AoO for this, but does this have a chance to ruin his spell? After all, he wasn't casting yet when he was hit...

 

[Staffan]

I don't want to hyjack the thread, but this came up during last session: the mage was threatened by an enemy fighter so he decided to move 30' and cast a spell. I believe he would take an AoO for this, but does this have a chance to ruin his spell? After all, he wasn't casting yet when he was hit...

By the RAW, I don't think he'd have to make a concentration check. If I was playing in a game where the DM said he would, I wouldn't object too strenously though.

 

[Xael]

I don't want to hyjack the thread, but this came up during last session: the mage was threatened by an enemy fighter so he decided to move 30' and cast a spell. I believe he would take an AoO for this, but does this have a chance to ruin his spell? After all, he wasn't casting yet when he was hit...

AoO yes, concentration check no.