D&D 5E Concentration on Psionic Discipline and Magic Spell

[bitjunkie]

The new Psionics rules use Concentration to activate and maintain disciplines. The PDF says they use the same rules as spellcasting, and that you can only concentrate on one discipline at a time. However it does not specify whether you can concentrate on both a single discipline and a single spell at the same time. IMO this is left up to the DM to decide.

Does a character have a single "concentration slot" which can be used for either a spell or a discipline? Or can a character concentrate on both a single discipline and a single spell at the same time?

My answer as DM is to allow the "double concentration" as disciplines are distinct from spells. What are your thoughts?

 

[MerricB]

Although I think the final rules will be that you can only concentrate on one thing at a time, I don't think they're written that way at present.

 

[CapnZapp]

Of course concentration in the psionics document refers to the one and only concentration mechanic in 5E.

Arguing you can concentrate both on a psionic discipline and a spell at the same time is silly.

 

[Klaus]

One Concentration "slot", period. That is the balancing mechanic to avoid "stacking effects", be they from two spells or from a spell and a discipline.

 

[Ashkelon]

You can only concentrate on 1 thing period. There are no concentration slots. You cannot concentrate on both a spell and a psionic discipline.

If the designers wanted to allow this stacking, they could have used a different term than concentration, such as psionic focus from 3e.

 

[jgsugden]

RAW: Unclear.
RAI: You can concentrate on one thing at a time, whether that is a discipline, a spell or something else.
RAF: You can concentrate on one thing at a time to avoid stacking things not intended to be stacked.

 

[Kobold Stew]

First, welcome to the boards. Hope you like it here.

As for your question: I don't believe thinking in terms of "slots" is helpful: a character can concentrate on one thing at a time, period.

 

[EvanNave55]

I agree you can only concentrate on one thing at a time be it a spell, or discipline

RAW: Unclear.
RAI: You can concentrate on one thing at a time, whether that is a discipline, a spell or something else.
RAF: You can concentrate on one thing at a time to avoid stacking things not intended to be stacked.

What does RAF stand for?

 

[Hussar]

Rules as Fun?

 

[EvanNave55]

Ah, thank you.