Locking garrote and polymorphing sorcerer

[TuDogz]

I'm a big half-orc with a locking garrote. If I can get it around a sorcerer's throat is it a continous source of damage? Will it increase his concentration check to cast poly self. The sorcerer has silent and still metamagics.

 

[kreynolds]

Any time you take damage while trying to cast a spell, you must make a concentration check.

EDIT: Further Info: If you are casting a one-action spell, the damage from a locking garrote will not interfere with your spellcasting (the damage takes place before or after your spellcasting, but not during), but it will interfere with a 1 round spell.

 

[TuDogz]

I thought I had read a post about melf's applying damage continously, even though it is tallied against the character's HP on the attacker's initiative, and therefore always jacking up the concentraion check. Is this accurate? And if so, how does being strangled by a wire locked around your neck differ?

 

[kreynolds]

I thought I had read a post about melf's applying damage continously, even though it is tallied against the character's HP on the attacker's initiative, and therefore always jacking up the concentraion check. Is this accurate?

Not exactly. Half the damage you take from a continuous damage dealing source is considered to take place while you are casting a spell. The DC is 10 + one half the damage that the continuous source last dealt + the level of the spell you're casting. The last round of damage, however, does not interfere. This is on page 151 of the PH.

And if so, how does being strangled by a wire locked around your neck differ?

Initially, I didn't consider it a source of continuous damage, much in the same way that damage suffered from a spiritual weapon is not considered continuous damage. I still haven't made up my mind, but I'm leaning a bit towards continuous now.

 

[Norfleet]

I would also think that being strangled precludes the use of a verbal component. Anyone who doubts this is welcome to strangle themselves and try to say something.

 

[Eldragon]

A locking garrot requires grapple checks (page 52 Song&Silence). Therefore, I would consider the sorc grappled. (Grappleing is always the best way to kill a spellcaster). So the sorc must satisfy all the requirements of casting a spell while grappled. Except the spell must have no verbal components instead of somatic components. Page 137 PHB.