Concentration Skill?

[Wolffenjugend]

Do you use the Concentration skill for anything other than spell casting? I've had several players comment that it's near-useless for non-spellcasters, yet it's a class skill for monks.

Any comments? Creative ways to use Concentration?

 

[TuDogz]

Rogues trying to open locks or disable traps while being subject to damage.

PC's were trapped in a room and gave the rogue cover and protection while he worked but he still got hurt. He didn't have any concentration skill and was unable to succeed. Since then he has picked up a little skill.

 

[MerakSpielman]

I think monks have it to reflect a certain "meditative" ability or quality. It's a flavor skill for them, unless they're multiclassed with caster levels.

 

[just__al]

Monks have spell like abilities. Don't you want concentration ranks so you can abundant step without getting attacked?

 

[AuraSeer]

Monks have spell like abilities. Don't you want concentration ranks so you can abundant step without getting attacked?

I was going to post exactly the same thing. But I just checked the monk description, and all abilities are listed as either Supernatural or Extraordinary. They don't draw AoO, and don't require Concentration checks.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Look under the rules for activating a potion (DMG p. 229). If you are hit while drinking a potion from the AoO or for some other reason, it forces a Concentration check to complete the action.

 

[just__al]

I was going to post exactly the same thing. But I just checked the monk description, and all abilities are listed as either Supernatural or Extraordinary. They don't draw AoO, and don't require Concentration checks.

Wow, right you are. Can't believe I missed that. Must be just for flavor, which is funny because I see all those apparently spell like abilities being supernatural or extrodinary also as a matter of flavor.

 

[Staffan]

I'm pretty sure Abundant Step and possibly Wholeness of Body were spell-like in 3.0, though.

 

[swrushing]

I'm pretty sure Abundant Step and possibly Wholeness of Body were spell-like in 3.0, though.

from the 3.5 SRD on the concentration skill...

"You must make a Concentration check whenever you might potentially be distracted (by taking damage, by harsh weather, and so on) while engaged in some action that requires your full attention. Such actions include casting a spell, concentrating on an active spell, directing a spell, using a spell-like ability, or using a skill that would provoke an attack of opportunity. In general, if an action wouldn't normally provoke an attack of opportunity, you need not make a Concentration check to avoid being distracted."

That last sentence pretty much covers when you wont need to make a concentration check.

From that a Gm can infer you will need to make one for interruptions fromAoOs for those other things. Its clear that it applies to skills but what other things?


For instance...
Get up from prone draws an AoO. if it hits you, you need to check to see if you get up.

heck, if taken even a little further, rushing a guy with reach provokes an AoO. if you are hit, you need to make a check to see if you continue.

 

[Victim]

Trials by ordeal, not crying out when injured (oops, the rogue set off the trap while sneaking).

And then there's other common spellcaster tricks that would probably best fit under concentration. Falling asleep on demand and waking up when desired (sorry, you woke up a bit early and only sleep for 7:45, so you can't refresh spells) seem to things that wizards and sorcerers do. Maybe internal time sense in general would fall under concentration.