Concentration

[Eltern]

In my efforts to make all skills potentially useful to anyone that might take them, I'm trying to think of different uses for concentration. Unless you're 1. a spellcaster or 2. in a campaign where you must pick locks while in a rowboat in a thunderstorm -often-, putting ranks in concentration is not for you. Something I thought of was to allow concentration checks to avoid AoOs, just like for spellcasters. These could only be AoOs that would be provoked by actions that do not involve movement (which tumble already covers) or physically attacking another (unarmed strikes, trips, etc.). Examples would be casting from a scroll, going through your backpack, drink a potion, load a crossbow, pick up an item, etc.

So, is this idea completely unbalancing? I'm thinking the base DCs would be as difficult as Use Magic Device, that is -starting- with 20. Thoughts?

Thanks!
Eltern

 

[chris7476]

I'm not sure I like the Conc check to avoid AoO's. That doesn't really make sense to me.

Anyway, I use Conc checks to allow characters to do more damage to objects. I even made a feat to go along with it:

Mind Over Matter [General]

You can harness your inner ki to shatter objects.

Prerequisites: Str 13, Improved Sunder, Improved Unarmed Strike, Power Attack, Concentration 8 ranks.

Benefit: You may use the Concentration skill to deal more damage when striking inanimate and immobile objects with an unarmed attack. Using this feat requires a full round action that provokes an attack of opportunity. You then make a Concentration check, using the table on page 59 of Oriental Adventures to determine how much extra damage is done. This damage is in addition to your normal damage.
When attempting to break an item with sudden force, you may make a Concentration check in place of the normal Strength check.

Special: For performing breaking stunts, such as breaking the bottom block in a stack, you may receive a penalty to your Concentration check at the DM's discretion.

 

[Li Shenron]

So, is this idea completely unbalancing? I'm thinking the base DCs would be as difficult as Use Magic Device, that is -starting- with 20. Thoughts?

I think this could be a good idea (note that you can already cast from a scroll defensively by using Concentration). Setting the DC could be difficult, what about letting the Concentration result become your AC? IOW, you'd roll Concentration and either use that or your normal AC - whichever higher - against the AoO.

Another completely different option for making Concentration more useful could be to allow a Concentration check while Disabled to take strenuous actions (such as attacking or casting a spell) without losing the hp and fall unconscious. DC could be fixed for an attack (DC 15?) and flexible for a spell (DC 15+spell level?).

 

[Eltern]

Ok, let's look at it as akin to Monte Cook's thoughts (here: http://www.montecook.com/arch_dmonly5.html), mayhaps?

Opponent's attack roll is base DC...

DC Distraction
+5 searching through backpack, pick up an item, stand up from prone
+10 drinking a potion, activating magic item
+15 reading a scroll, load a crossbow
+ spell level casting a spell

Thoughts? I tried to use just plain logic as to what would be more difficult, not necessarily what is most game balancing, so feel free to call me stupid

Or should all the DCs be raised by five?

Eltern

 

[Jondor_Battlehammer]

How about letting a PC take any non full round action, and turn it into a full round action. Then make a Concentration check at a DC, say 15 base, or variable. If sucessful, The PC gets a +1 bonus, +1 for every 5 he beats the DC.

This takes into account things like complex skill checks, aiming, called shots, (+1 to hit means one more point of Power Attack you could take), etc.

Give it a feat boost to add to other thing, such as a DC 20 to add 1 9and ONLY one) to a threatrange or critical modifier, chosen before roll of course.