Skill Focus: Concentration vs Combat Casting

[Zathraas]

Skill Focus: Concentration gives a +3 bonus on all concentration checks. Combat Casting gives a +4 concentration check only when casting defensively. If your caster were only going to take one of these feats, and prereqs for prestige classes are not involved, wouldn’t Skill Focus be the better option because it is useful more often? The difference between them is only +1 and Skill Focus is going to help on any check for concentration, whereas Combat Casting is only useful for the one situation - choosing to cast defensively. Skill Focus will increase checks for Casting Defensively but also for damage taken through attacks of opportunity, for readied attacks against the caster, taking continuous damage, for tough conditions like casting on a moving ship’s deck, casting in high winds, or even just being distracted by a hot elven babe that walked into the room during casting.

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

As I see it there's no reason to ever take Combat Casting unless you're qualifying for a prestige class.

 

[Wolfwood2]

Combat Casting used to give double the bonus of Skill Focus: Concentration. +4 vs. +2.

Then in 3.5, Skill Focus was modified to give +3, but CC remained the same. In my mind, the thing to do is give Combat Casting +6 to the check. Then you might actually see some folks taking it, at least at low levels.

 

[Klaus]

Combat Casting used to give double the bonus of Skill Focus: Concentration. +4 vs. +2.

Then in 3.5, Skill Focus was modified to give +3, but CC remained the same. In my mind, the thing to do is give Combat Casting +6 to the check. Then you might actually see some folks taking it, at least at low levels.

What he said.

OR, you could give Combat Casting a new benefit, like being able to Take 10 on Concentration checks to cast defensively (but then add Skill Focus: Concentration or a few ranks in Concentration as a pre-requisite).

 

[drdevoid]

What he said.

OR, you could give Combat Casting a new benefit, like being able to Take 10 on Concentration checks to cast defensively (but then add Skill Focus: Concentration or a few ranks in Concentration as a pre-requisite).

They did add the bonus when pinned or grappled in 3.5, but there should be something else.

 

[Franky]

blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah ...... just being distracted by a hot elven babe that walked into the room during casting.

Hmmmm Hot Elven Babes ! .. sorry .. did you mention something else ? "Failed my concentration roll" need to take a feat at next level .. any ideas ???

 

[James McMurray]

Skill focus all the way, although with PrC requirements out of the way there's so many other choices better than either of them that I don't envision a situation where I'd be forced to make the choice.

 

[UltimaGabe]

In our campaigns, we've actually gotten rid of Combat Casting altogether, replacing it entirely with Skill Focus: Concentration. Any PrCs that require Combat Casting now require Skill focus instead. (We've also done away with Toughness, replacing it with Improved Toughness.)

 

[Nifft]

In our campaigns, we've actually gotten rid of Combat Casting altogether, replacing it entirely with Skill Focus: Concentration. Any PrCs that require Combat Casting now require Skill focus instead. (We've also done away with Toughness, replacing it with Improved Toughness.)

My campaign did the same thing. (Except it's a homebrewed Toughness variant which isn't quite as strong as Improved Toughness. But close.)

Cheers, -- N

 

[Stalker0]

Ah, combat casting. Still very weak, but still doesn't hold a candle to the meekness of 3.0's eagle claw attack!!