D&D 5E How well can your players and NPCs maintain concentration for spells?

[Quartz]

On the face of it, Concentration seems a great mechanic for balancing spellcasters. But does that translate to play? Does Concentration often get lost? Do the fighter-types break spellcasters' Concentrations sufficiently often?

 

[Boarstorm]

It's one of those rules that I frequently forget until 2 rounds later.

I'm still training myself to ask for checks.

 

[KarinsDad]

It hasn't happened in our game for the PCs. PC spell casters concentrating on a spell tend to not be fighting a lot of foes in melee and ranged NPCs tend to be less frequent.

We also haven't encountered NPC spell casters too often either.

 

[the Jester]

I have not yet seen anyone lose concentration, but the highest level pc in my game so far is 4th.

 

[Warmaster Horus]

As a sneaky rogue I make sure the DM doesn't forget when I slip a sneak attack into a spellcaster.

 

[Boarstorm]

As a sneaky rogue I make sure the DM doesn't forget when I slip a sneak attack into a spellcaster.

And how well does it work for disrupting their concentration?

 

[Joe Liker]

This is going to vary quite widely. It depends on ability scores, feats, and the ability (and willingness) of the spellcaster to avoid taking damage.

It seldom comes up in the campaigns I'm in. As a player, I'm extremely careful to take cover when I need to maintain concentration. As a DM, my players don't use a lot of concentration spells in the first place. My NPCs have only had to make the check a handful of times, and I think they succeed more often than not. (My players -- with one notable exception, a rogue -- tend to deal multiple small wounds rather than singular big ones. And the rogue is more likely to target the brute rather than the spellcaster for some reason -- I think he forgets about concentration.)

 

[Warmaster Horus]

And how well does it work for disrupting their concentration?

On sneak attacks, not too bad because the extra damage can boost the DC over 10. But the OP is right that it takes effort to remember to apply.

 

[Nebulous]

It hasn't even come up yet in our group. It's possible though that we just forget to ask for the check when a PC was injured.

 

[jodyjohnson]

In Encounters play it rarely comes up. And characters usually lose concentration because they are unconscious - not failing a check.