D&D 5E (2024) Does your table use concentration with Ready a Spell?

[Mannahnin]

Of course we use the rule.

I agree with some folks that it's a little clunky, but it's a solid rule and I think it's another reasonable limitation on Concentration spells.

(I do think that 5E still went a little overboard on how many spells require Concentration, but that's a separate issue).

 

[Reynard]

Of course we use the rule.

I agree with some folks that it's a little clunky, but it's a solid rule and I think it's another reasonable limitation on Concentration spells.

(I do think that 5E still went a little overboard on how many spells require Concentration, but that's a separate issue).

And which ones don't. Like, Hex is concentration, but spiritual weapon isn't?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

And which ones don't. Like, Hex is concentration, but spiritual weapon isn't?

Spiritual weapon is.

 

[Tigris]

Spiritual weapon is.

in 2014 not.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

in 2014 not.

Clearly they corrected that mistake.

So in this context, spiritual weapons should, like hex, have concentration.

 

[Silam]

Clearly they corrected that mistake.

So in this context, spiritual weapons should, like hex, have concentration.

The fact that it requires the Bonus Action every round is already a fairly big check on its power…

BTW, they could have simply replaced concentration by Bonus Action on all spells and it could have been a fine design too.

 

[Reynard]

The fact that it requires the Bonus Action every round is already a fairly big check on its power…

BTW, they could have simply replaced concentration by Bonus Action on all spells and it could have been a fine design too.

As I understand it, the goal of concentration was to avoid stacking buffs. There are a bunch of potential solutions to that problem.

 

[Silam]

As I understand it, the goal of concentration was to avoid stacking buffs. There are a bunch of potential solutions to that problem.

Yep I get it. That’s why I suggested that: there is only 1 BA / round. Though depending on the design details, it might have allowed a caster to bring up several "concentration spells" and then decide on a round-by-round basis which one they would benefit from (until the start of their next round) based on how they use their BA. Or else it could be designed such that the moment you fail to use your BA on that spell it effectively breaks concentration. Many possibilities… but it’s off-topic so whatever

 

[Reynard]

I think the easiest solution might* be to simply increase the number of spells casters can concentrate on as they level up.

*"might" because I have never tested such a thing and don't know if it breaks things in actual play.

 

[Silam]

I think the easiest solution might* be to simply increase the number of spells casters can concentrate on as they level up.

*"might" because I have never tested such a thing and don't know if it breaks things in actual play.

Been discussing such an idea here, to the great dismay of some folks …

D&D General Thread 'Passive Power Budget: Balancing Magic Item Attunement, Concentration and Everything Else Properly (or Die Trying)'

May 17, 2026

The other two threads on magic items made me write a long response which made me think it ought to be its own thread… so here goes:

It’d be nice if magic items were a built-in part of the power balance.

As an example (tweak it however you want, this is just a rough draft)…

You have one "concentration point" per level (so 1 at level 1, 20 at level 20). (Or make them scale like proficiency bonuses if you prefer, it doesn’t matter what the actual number is, as long as it starts low and gets higher)

When you concentrate on a spell, it takes up some of your concentration points (the more...

• Silam
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• Forum: *Dungeons & Dragons

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