D&D 5E Using COMMAND to break a caster's concentration?

[R_J_K75]

The spell is extremely effective.

It doesn't have to be effective at stopping concentration.

True. I was thinking along the lines of using it as stated in the OP but just slipped my mind to put it in my last post.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

To add to this, one thing alot of people have said in this thread is that they'd give the target a concentration check on a failed save. Isnt this making the spell pretty ineffective, would the Wis save trump the Con Save?

It makes it similar to a damage spell.

 

[R_J_K75]

It makes it similar to a damage spell.

I see your point. In the end it comes down to the table and the specific situation I suppose.

 

[auburn2]

In my session yesterday, the party bard/wizard went to his go-to spell against armored foes, Heat Metal, which can be a devastating spell, esp. at lower levels. The target was a cleric and in one of the few rounds left to her before the heat damage killed her (her minions were firing multiple arrows at the PC, but he was passing concentration checks like nothing!) I had her cast command at the PC in an attempt to break his concentration on the spell.

He made his save, so didn't have to "grovel" as commanded, but I was wondering if causing someone to "grovel" or "surrender" would break their concentration on the spell (I assume the second definitely would because surrendering assumes not continuing to attempt harm on opponents) but was wondering what others thought and if there is an even more direct and clear one-word command that could disrupt the spell in that way? I think commands like "dismiss!" or "dispel!" would be too ambiguous and it has to be one word, so "Distracted!" doesn't make sense.

IMO "grovel" no, "sleep" yes, "surrender" I don't know I am on the fence.

One I like for this case though is "chill"

 

[R_J_K75]

One I like for this case though is "chill

 

[Gravenhurst48]

Run, drop, yell, sing, howl, turn, twist, jump, laugh, shake... and a few more I have used against a player, since I mainly DM. Run/flee has always worked well and drop. "I command you too.... ", is the preface intent of the spell. The spell says one word to cast, but I have used the preface so the players understand the meaning of the command "word".

 

[tommybahama]

I think it's preposterous to say that someone can sleep on command.

I agree with @Ruin Explorer on this one. People can't go to sleep on command.

I would also rule that command under normal circumstances cannot disrupt concentration. After all you can fight, cast spells, have a conversation all while concentrating.

The target could pretend to go unconscious or sleep for a round, they can't actually do it.

I searched for a post on this topic because of an excellent video by the YouTuber Pack Tactics. I will link to his video below, but before that I wanted to link to one of the hundreds of videos on YouTube showing people going to sleep on command.

 

[jayoungr]

Hmm, what about "Meditate"?

 

[akr71]

Knowing my group, they'd try "Urinate!" or "Defecate!" hoping that the embarrassment from soiling oneself would break concentration. I would roll with it too.

There are a lot of great suggestions in this thread, but I'm wondering if the OP meant that a failed save for command would break concentration, or would a second concentration save be required?

 

[tommybahama]

Knowing my group, they'd try "Urinate!" or "Defecate!" hoping that the embarrassment from soiling oneself would break concentration. I would roll with it too.

Heck, I do my best thinking on the toilet. I think the caster should get a spell buff if told to drop trou.

I think a good compromise is that the spell's effect temporarily ends on the caster's turn while it takes a potty break (or whatever) and resumes at the start of it's next turn if it fails a save against the Command spell.