D&D 5E I'm just sayin', the concentration mechanic makes it WAY easier to balance spells

[the Jester]

So I was doing some homebrewing, working up my Luck domain, and I realized how excellent the pieces of the spell system fit together in 5e.

The concentration mechanic eliminates almost all worries about game-breaking combinations. That alone is a huge improvement in ease of balancing homebrewed material. In addition, the "use a higher level slot for increased power" mechanic makes it really easy to make improved versions of a spell part of that same spell.

 

[Astrosicebear]

The concentration mechanic eliminates almost all worries about game-breaking combinations.

Until something breaks the concentration mechanic

 

[Mad Zagyg]

The disappearance of the "buff rounds" is a wonderful thing for Dungeons & Dragons.

 

[Henrix]

I can only agree.

I played the finale in a Pathfinder campaign this very saturday. We had five buff rounds, and all I could think of was that 5e does away with them.

 

[Wrathamon]

I loved that 4e got rid of the video game buff round and I am glad 5e kept them away!

 

[Thank Dog]

I played the finale in a Pathfinder campaign this very saturday. We had five buff rounds, and all I could think of was that 5e does away with them.

Whenever I've experienced this it has always made me think of the Dragonball Z cartoon battle between Roku and Frieza that went for numerous episodes with little more happening than them both "powering up"

 

[Ranes]

I loved that 4e got rid of the video game buff round and I am glad 5e kept them away!

The term 'buff round' is certainly borne of the video gamer but the mechanics to which you refer predate video games of the kind that gave rise to it by a good many years.

And I'm not entirely convinced it has entirely gone.

But the new concentration mechanic is indeed a very handy one for keeping magic in check. So far.

 

[Henrix]

The buff round will probably still be around.
But it will be more like a single round, not several.

Spellslingers will not need to prepare as many buff spells (good for the clerics), and many will probably want to go out with a concentration attack spell.

 

[wedgeski]

This approach to concentration certainly has the "so obvious why didn't we do it before" factor. It has worked very well so far in the games I've run. I also like its potential for controlling environmental effects in complex encounters. All in all, a tick in the box.

 

[Chocolategravy]

I can only agree. I played the finale in a Pathfinder campaign this very saturday. We had five buff rounds, and all I could think of was that 5e does away with them.

Instead every time anyone in the party gets hit they have to make a con save. EVERY TIME. Some combats would literally go twice as fast without this mechanic. I'd far rather have buff rounds because you can just say "this is what we do, done" in 5 seconds.