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

[Reynard]

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.

Yeah, I don't like having to drop concentration to ready a spell that isn't also a concentration spell. I would be open to some sort of potential interruption mechanic, though.

 

[Plaguescarred]

If you're already concentrating on Hex, you could just Ready to attack with the weapon and not loose the spell. If you insist to Ready a Spell regardless, then beware that:

You lose Concentration on an effect the moment you start casting a spell that requires Concentration or activate another effect that requires Concentration.

 

[bedir than]

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?

I love this combination for heists and ambushes. It's narratively fitting and empowers actions that feel cinematic.

 

[Li Shenron]

Player's unpoliteness notwithstanding, the Ready action with spellcasting has always been a really bad design, not just because of concentration but also because you can't technically hold on longer than a round without losing the slot. Even if you houserule that, you still lose the spell slot if the trigger doesn't happen, but you don't lose other limited resources such as special abilities if you ready them and end up not using them. It should have been more fair that if you ready a spell you don't start casting it until the trigger occurs.

 

[Tigris]

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.

Ok this just sounds like a really frustrating encounter for this player. So its more the combination of encounter + this ruling.

 

[Mecheon]

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.

Honestly that's kind of a BS encounter at what I'm guessing is a low level, based on only one Hex cast, so I really wouldn't blame him walking out, especially as that is not a promising sign for the rest of the game if you're starting at low levels with that type of nonsense. Pulling that once the party has more tools in their toolkit? Bit fairer, but at low level? What's he supposed to do? What's his intended answer to the fight?

You painted him into a bad position. He couldn't ready an attack because, why the hell would he, so effectively you made his only choice is to ready what he thought would have been the best option (a non concentration spell) and then screwed him over with the surprise 'oh that's concentration now due to this not as well known part of the rule'. Its not like he could just cast the spell there or then. Genuinely as written it'd be better for him to just not be paying attention and scrolling on his mobile phone.

Shouldn't have even had the fight. Should have had something more appropriate to the party that isn't screwing them over. I absolutely would have dropped as well as its clear its just going to be nonsense encounters.

 

[Mort]

Honestly that's kind of a BS encounter at what I'm guessing is a low level, based on only one Hex cast, so I really wouldn't blame him walking out, especially as that is not a promising sign for the rest of the game if you're starting at low levels with that type of nonsense. Pulling that once the party has more tools in their toolkit? Bit fairer, but at low level?

You painted him into a bad position. He couldn't ready an attack because, why the hell would he, so effectively you made his only choice is to ready what he thought would have been the best option (a non concentration spell) and then screwed him over with the surprise 'oh that's concentration now due to this not as well known part of the rule'. Its not like he could just cast the spell there or then. Genuinely as written it'd be better for him to just not be paying attention and scrolling on his mobile phone.

Shouldn't have even had the fight. Should have had something more appropriate to the party that isn't screwing them over. I absolutely would have dropped as well as its clear its just going to be nonsense encounters.

Wait, so the DM using phase spiders against a party is a BS encounter? Worthy of rage quitting?

I actually like monsters like these because they require the group to think tactically as opposed to just do the standard - wail on the monster until it's goo.

 

[Reynard]

Honestly that's kind of a BS encounter

How is this a BS encounter? Because it wasn't easy and won with no thought at all?

 

[Mecheon]

Wait, so the DM using phase spiders against a party is a BS encounter? Worthy of rage quitting?

I actually like monsters like these because they require the group to think tactically as opposed to just do the standard - wail on the monster until it's goo.

At between level 1 when you have exceedingly limited options? Yeah, yeah it is BS to use that

If he only has one cast of hex, he only has one cast of level 1 spells. So that tells us this is a level 1 character. Remember, its not 'he burnt his spell slots on other things', its 'he only has one cast of hex for the day'.

Would you throw a phase spider against a level 1 party?

How is this a BS encounter? Because it wasn't easy and won with no thought at all?

The player is clearly level 1, and he is basically given no option to contribute. The 'I phase away before you can hit me' fight has always been kind of BS, but at least at higher levels you have options. Here? They're clearly very low level characters facing the most annoying type of fight, without the tools to reliably deal with that. The warlock player tries something to contribute, is told 'actually that screws you over worse', and we're expecting him to just be fine with that?

When 'I pull down my pants and take a piss' is basically as effective as anything he can do in combat right now, how is it fair in any way? Genuinely, as written, this looks like the GM is targeting him

 

[Mort]

At between level 1 when you have exceedingly limited options? Yeah, yeah it is BS to use that

If he only has one cast of hex, he only has one cast of level 1 spells. So that tells us this is a level 1 character. Remember, its not 'he burnt his spell slots on other things', its 'he only has one cast of hex for the day'.

Would you throw a phase spider against a level 1 party?

Or he's a martial that took magic initiate warlock. I'll let @ECMO3 elaborate as I don't know.

Would I throw a CR 3 creature that has a bit of a gimmick against a level 1 party? Unless they're complete novices, yes absolutely. Especially if it's only 1 creature. Any remotely experienced group should be able to handle this easily.

The player is clearly level 1, and he is basically given no option to contribute. The 'I phase away before you can hit me' fight has always been kind of BS, but at least at higher levels you have options. Here? They're clearly very low level characters facing the most annoying type of fight, without the tools to reliably deal with that. The warlock player tries something to contribute, is told 'actually that screws you over worse', and we're expecting him to just be fine with that?

When 'I pull down my pants and take a piss' is basically as effective as anything he can do in combat right now, how is it fair in any way? Genuinely, as written, this looks like the GM is targeting him

The player can still have the PC hit it with a true striking crossbow and add their casting proficiency bonus, which is presumably good - the PC is far from useless here.