D&D 3E/3.5 Does a 3.5 Bard need Concentration greatly?

[cthulhu_duck]

We seldom see Bards played, and when a killer-scenario achieved a TPK, I decided to make a Bard for a change (and to see how they play from a player's point of view).

In assigning skill points however, I'm wondering if I need to worry about Concentration or not?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

If you ever anticipate casting a spell in combat, you'll want to consider it.

 

[moritheil]

If you ever anticipate casting a spell in combat, you'll want to consider it.

"He must have an abysmal Will saving throw. Use your bard magic, Elan!"

"Huh? Oh, I forgot I could do that."

 

[two]

On a slightly more serious note:

No.

Honestly, it's nice... but pretty rarely a necessity, because part of the Bard's schtick is staying out of harm's way but still being useful to the party (spells, inspiration, ranged attacks).

If you are in melee, take a 5' step back and cast a spell, or better yet tumble away and then cast a spell.

Tumble is used FAR more often than concentrate. Tumble is a very powerful skill. Use and abuse it.

Concentration also isn't that necessary because often foes won't do goofy things like attempt to interrupt the bard's spellcasting (with readied actions) or even go out of their way to grapple. I mean. It's just a bard. Are you gonna ready a bow shot against the singing bard-guy or the dude with the pointy hat throwing fireballs? Thought so.

All that said, it's nice to have maybe 5-6 ranks of concentration by level 10, just to give yourself a fighting chance should a concentration check arise -- however unlikely this may be (and a constitution of 18 by then, for sure).

 

[Deset Gled]

The amount of use you'll get out of the Concentration skill probably depends on what type of build you plan on using. If you plan on focusing on casting, you'll definetally want it. If you plan on going melee and using all your spell slots for Arcane Strike, its not such a big deal. If you plan on doing ranged work, it's in between.

Either way, bards aren't huring for skill points. Getting a good number of ranks in concentration wouldn't hurt anything, so why take the risk?

 

[Whimsical]

I'm playing a 12th level 16 INT human bard and I'm STARVING for skill points. I have K:Local, Sense Motive, Tumble, Use Magic Device, & a campaign-specific skill maxed out. I have Perform(Oratory) maxed out only on the levels that I get a bardic music benefit. I have five ranks in Bluff, Decipher Script, Gather Information, K(History), and K(Nobility), & Spellcraft; four ranks in Diplomacy, two languages, and one rank in the rest of the Knowledge skills and Sleight of Hand.

I use the following skills constantly: K(local), Gather Information, Diplomacy, Sense Motive, and of course Spot.

I use the following occasionally: Bluff, Disguise (zero ranks), Intimidate, K(Geography), K(Nobility), K(religion), K(the planes), Perform(Oratory), Sleight of Hand, Spellcraft

Interestinly enough, I don't use Tumble or Use Magic Device much. But when I need them, I want them to work right now! We haven't been running across many wands or staves or scrolls to use. And buying magic item opportunities occur far in between each other.

I have zero ranks in Concentration. I either use my eight PC party as a buffer between me and the baddies, or I Tumble away.

I NEED MORE SKILL POINTS! I need my Gather Info and Diplomacy to be higher and also my Disguise. I need more languages. I want to be a lot more knowledgable. And, it would be nice to be able to do a Concentration check or an Escape Artist check if I need to. And when I need to, I really need to. How about some physical skills like Balance, Climb, & Jump? I could use those too. And wouldn't it be cool if I could Hide and Move Silently? I could back up the stealthy types when they do their thing.

 

[The Souljourner]

Definitely don't need concentration. You're not going to be casting spells every round like a wizard or cleric.. it's rare to cast more than two a fight, in my experience, and at least the first of these is before you're in melee.

I played a bard for quite a while in a combat-heavy campaign, and I have to say - don't get stuck in the trap of trying to make your bard good at one thing to the detriment of others. Deset Gled said it matters depending on what you focus on... well, you're a bard, you shouldn't be focusing on any one thing. Try to spread out your abilities so you're pretty good at everything - you can be decent in melee if you use a longsword & buckler with alter self to get some natural armor bonus to go with your chain shirt. You can be decent ranged by having a decent dexterity (also helps with ac in light armor) and a longbow (and maybe PBS & rapid shot). And you can be decent with magic by taking spells that don't duplicate other party members (or your own) abilities. Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Charm Person, Alter Self, Detect Thoughts, Hold Person, Invisibility, Blink, Glibness, Haste... these are some of the greatest spells... and most are things you'll cast either before combat or in the very first round.

-The Souljourner