D&D 5E Potions and concentration

[brehobit]

I was told at a convention that there was some ruling about potions and concentration (on twitter?) Anyone see this?

 

[Rya.Reisender]

Potions don't require concentration. Mike Mearls said on Twitter that (by default) potions of spells that require concentration still require concentration, however, every single potion that this would affect overrides that rule by stating that no concentration is required.

 

[brehobit]

Potions don't require concentration. Mike Mearls said on Twitter that (by default) potions of spells that require concentration still require concentration, however, every single potion that this would affect overrides that rule by stating that no concentration is required.

Ah, that helps. Could you point me to the thread? And I was wondering how heroism worked wrt the bless... I don't _think_ it has such a statement...

 

[Voort]

I was wondering how heroism worked wrt the bless... I don't _think_ it has such a statement...

It does. Potion of Heroism DMG p. 188 "For the same duration, you are under the effect of the bless spell (no concentration required).

 

[Athinar]

Don't follow "Mike Mearls", follow the river, The DMG overrules Mike Mearls (Daikini)

 

[jodyjohnson]

As a DM I follow myself and the group.

When MMearls and the DMG (or the Sage, Jeremy Crawford) differ it just reinforces the quote from Sage Advice, "We expect DMs to depart from the rules when running a particular campaign or when seeking the greatest happiness for a certain group of players." (Sage Advice Compendium, The Role of Rules, p1).
http://media.wizards.com/2015/downloads/dnd/SA_Compendium.pdf

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

Because it really can't be said often enough, and Mike forgets to periodically repeat it himself: Mike Mearls doesn't give "rules as intended" answers when you ask him rules questions (even when he says "I think the intent was...", that's still not him giving any kind of "official" answer), you have to ask Jeremy Crawford the question to get those because that's his to decide. Mike just tells you what he'd do at his own table as a DM, or what he thinks would work out well enough if you were to do it at your table.

 

[CapnZapp]

Potions don't require concentration. Mike Mearls said on Twitter that (by default) potions of spells that require concentration still require concentration, however, every single potion that this would affect overrides that rule by stating that no concentration is required.

To clarify:

Potions* DO require concentration, unless they specifically tell you otherwise.

The fact that every such potion does tell you otherwise, doesn't mean the "potions don't require concentration" statement is generally true. Otherwise the potion descriptions would not have to repeat the "no concentration" statement every time.

*) Potions replicating the effects of spells that normally requires concentration, that is.

 

[BoldItalic]

This gives me an idea ...

Potion of Concentration (Uncommonly Rare)
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

Drinking this thick, milky liquid allows one half of your brain to sustain concentration spells without the other half having to think about it. The effect of this potion ends if you take damage (no saving throw applies), or are incapacitated or killed.

Okay, it's not a very good idea, but some players might fall for it. If their PC fails a Wisdom(Insight) save