Concentration

[Bootlebat]

Does concentration take any action on the caster's part or no?

 

[abirdcall]

Nope.

It's one of the few things that exists as a game term and doesn't really make sense with common language use.

The details are just before the spell lists in the PHB.

 

[Charlaquin]

Does concentration take any action on the caster's part or no?

Nope. It just keeps you from having multiple concentration spells active at once, and gives concentration spells a risk of ending when you take damage.

 

[Azzy]

Nope. It just keeps you from having multiple concentration spells active at once, and gives concentration spells a risk of ending when you take damage.

What Charlaquin said.

 

[Satyrn]

What Charlaquin said.

What Azzy said.

 

[Shiroiken]

Does concentration take any action on the caster's part or no?

Yes and no.

Mechanically, not at all. They simply have to avoid losing it, either by casting another spell with Concentration, taking damage, or becoming incapacitated (including paralyzed, petrified, stunned, and unconscious). In addition, some DMs may require a Constitution Save under certain conditions that might shake your concentration (such as being on a rocking ship during a hurricane).

Story-wise, I would say yes, but that is likely going to vary from game to game (and DM to DM). To me, a character who is concentrating on a spell has a small part of his focus spent on holding the magic in place. Normally this isn't enough to be noticeable except to most gifted of observers, but the strain might show when they have to make a Constitution Save to avoid losing it.

 

[Rya.Reisender]

As the other said, no.

The only thing which is a little bit like this is when you ready a spell. If the trigger condition is not met, you can keep the spell readied, so you don't waste the spell slot, and this costs an action.