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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Elder-Basilisk" data-source="post: 1269443" data-attributes="member: 3146">You hit the nail on the head. The reason that you don't always cast defensively is that you might fail. A character with a skill check high enough not to fail might as well cast Scry of Rary's Mnemonic Enhancer while concentrating to keep his eyes on his surroundings. However, most wouldn't bother.As to why it's a skill, there are a few things I noticed when playing some of the 1e abandonware gold box computer games. If damaged while casting a spell you always lost the spell. Whenever a foe began casting a spell it was always a good idea to hit him once--even if you had to use a multi-attack weapon like darts to do it. On the other hand, if you beat them in initiative (1e didn't have cyclical initiative) that round, you could cast a spell while surrounded by 9 orcs with falchions (or whisper spiders) and none of them would have a chance of messing you up.In 3e, the concentration skill and casting defensively helps solve both of those problems from prior editions. Concentration provides a way to have a chance at keeping your spell if you're damaged while casting. It also (combined with AoOs) gives the 9 orcs a way to keep you from casting your spell (especially since the cyclical initiative means that the 1e "if you've already been damaged this round, you can't cast a spell" can't work). I think it serves both of those functions quite well.As to the rest, I think it's good that it's a skill just like it's good that spell focus is a feat. Nearly every spellcaster will want concentration but every spellcaster won't. A wizard (or more likely a sorceror--let's fac it, wizards usually have enough skill points to spend them on concentration) who counts on staying out of combat and has another use for the skill points might not max concentration. Most wizards will. As will most clerics. On the other hand, multiclassed clerics and wizards who don't view spellcasting as their primary combat contribution might not bother to put any points in concentration. I don't spend many points in it when I play a paladin. Nor does my halfling fighter/cleric have any ranks in concentration. If she can't cast spells, that's no big deal; she won't have second level spells till 12th level anyway so they're not a really big part of her contribution to the party. She tries to cast her spells either before combat or after it. It hurts when she tries to cast CLW while her riding dog is double moving but she'd still rather have the knowledge religion ranks that will let her into the Templar class.</blockquote>

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