D&D 5E Using Magical Devices for Concentration

[Esker]

Messing with concentration is risky because of the potential combination abuse effect that comes with it and inability to break concentration from the item.

@dnd4vr said he would still have the wielder make concentration saves to maintain the spell. In light of that, I think this change is safer than a feature that allows concentration on two effects generally, since this way the DM can regulate which specific spells can be stacked.

 

[Ashrym]

@dnd4vr said he would still have the wielder make concentration saves to maintain the spell. In light of that, I think this change is safer than a feature that allows concentration on two effects generally, since this way the DM can regulate which specific spells can be stacked.

That's a lesser-of-two-evils approach. It's still risky to allow stacking more effects. That doesn't change just because another approach could could be even less safe.

Concentration was implemented for a reason.

My recommendation to changes because of magic items would be start small, see how it goes, and add more. Adding more later based on how it goes is better than taking away later based on how it goes as a matter of perspective.

 

[Esker]

That's a lesser-of-two-evils approach. It's still risky to allow stacking more effects. That doesn't change just because another approach could could be even less safe.

Concentration was implemented for a reason.

My recommendation to changes because of magic items would be start small, see how it goes, and add more. Adding more later based on how it goes is better than taking away later based on how it goes as a matter of perspective.

Yeah, what I said above is that if you do this you have to think real hard about what items you hand out (which you should regardless, but even moreso now). You could even have it be a property attached to individual items instead of a blanket one.

 

[DND_Reborn]

After taking the time to review all the items in the DMG, there are only a few that doing this rule with would make them that much more powerful (namely, Instruments of the Bards, the Staff of Power, and the Staff of the Magi). Many of other items would see more use, but not game breaking or anything IMO.

So, I think we will playtest it and if it turns out I am wrong, we can always remove it.

 

[Bupp]

I would try it, but with the warning to the players that it was a playtest, and subject to change.

 

[DND_Reborn]

I certainly wouldn't want to do it in our current game. We already know the BBEG of the whole thing is an uber-arch-mage-type (probably around CR 25 I would guess), and I certainly don't want HIM able to do this!