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

[Blue]

I am 100% with you. I'd be open to discussing it, but not in the middle of combat. The rules are a shared understanding of how the world works.

The fact that they decided they would rather go for drama that will impact everyone around the table was unfortunate, but much better to find out now then later in the campaign when everything was further along.

 

[Blue]

As I think more on the actual rule, I don't think I'd use it - at least for cantrips or non-concentration spells (readying a Fireball, for example). If the spell being readied is a concentration spell, I'd likely have it take up concentration as part of readying.

My reasoning is if a fighter wouldn't have to "maintain concentration" to ready a sword attack, I don't think it makes sense to have the spellcaster have to do so.

Are you making this from a "truthiness" gut feel? Do you know the actual full rule?

If I told you that the full rule is that you have to cast it, use the slot (even if your trigger never goes off) and component, would then it make sense? That you are NOT readying it like a sword strike, you are fully and 100% casting it just not releasing it (and it's wasted if your trigger doesn't go off).

 

[Mort]

I had a player quit over this today.

RAW if you use ready action to cast a spell you need to hold concentration until the trigger event:

When you Ready a spell, you cast it as normal (expending any resources used to cast it) but hold its energy, which you release with your Reaction when the trigger occurs. To be readied, a spell must have a casting time of an action, and holding on to the spell’s magic requires Concentration, which you can maintain up to the start of your next turn. If your Concentration is broken, the spell dissipates without taking effect.

The player in question wanted to ready Truestrike while concentrating on Hex. I told him he had to drop concentration. The PC said that is unreasonable and I should houserule it. I would have been open to that discussion on making it a houserule during session 0, but not in the middle of a combat. He said no one plays that way and actually left the game over it.

What do you think?

1. I do use the rule, I think it makes sense.

2. Even if it were up for discussion, that's between games. I would never tolerate a player making a scene during the game. Good riddance!

 

[Zardnaar]

Session 0 I tell them RAW unless its in the players guide.

 

[Seramus]

I use concentration with Ready A Spell, however I do allow the spell to be held longer than a single round. I like the idea of being able to hold a spell for a minute or so, to enable more interesting tactics. I absolutely enforce losing a spell slot when you do this with anything greater than a cantrip.

So my players can Ready a Fireball (taking their concentration), hold it for up to a minute, and the slot is consumed whether they use it or not.

 

[Plaguescarred]

I use Concentration rules whenever the rules say something requires it, including to Ready a Spell.

Asking to houserule it this way wouldn't have work at my table too, i expect players to respect DM call and discuss it after the session as explained during Session 0.

A player that quit for this is fine with me.

 

[aco175]

I cannot recall anyone at my table readying a spell. We would likely need to look up the rule and see that it needs concentration or that we would assume that it is like a weapon attack and only later find out for the next session.

 

[Blue]

I use concentration with Ready A Spell, however I do allow the spell to be held longer than a single round. I like the idea of being able to hold a spell for a minute or so, to enable more interesting tactics. I absolutely enforce losing a spell slot when you do this with anything greater than a cantrip.

So my players can Ready a Fireball (taking their concentration), hold it for up to a minute, and the slot is consumed whether they use it or not.

Just curious, not judging: do you allow characters to Ready outside of combat?

 

[Shiroiken]

While this particular instance might not be a problem, it could create issues with more powerful spells and combinations. A houserule would open the door for potentially much bigger problems. What was the scenario that they felt readying Truestrike was necessary, rather than using the spell on their turn?

 

[ECMO3]

While this particular instance might not be a problem, it could create issues with more powerful spells and combinations. A houserule would open the door for potentially much bigger problems. What was the scenario that they felt readying Truestrike was necessary, rather than using the spell on their turn?

They were fighting a monster that can go from ethereal or prime plane with a bonus aciton. So the monster would phase it attack and then the next turn attack and phase out. He was going to wait for it to phase in and truestrike it with a crossbow. Readying an attack with the crossbow was not a good option because he has an 8 dexterity. Readying a melee attack was likewise not a good option because it was unlikely the enemy was going to phase in next to him.

The is complicated by the fact he can only cast Hex once a day so losing it is kind of a big deal for the PC.