Concentration duration spells and paralysis.


Rules Questions


I've been having a discussion with a caster buddy of mine, and it's born some interesting thoughts. We've debated for some time this situation and I am curious as to your opinions:

A wizard casts Telekinetic Maneuver. A few turns later, he is still concentrating on the spell. An enemy uses Hold Person on the wizard, paralyzing him.
Before the wizard's turn arrives, an ally removes the Hold Person.
The wizard's turn comes up; has he lost the Telekinetic Maneuver spell he was concentrating on?

Person one's opinion:
The caster needs to only use the action required for concentration on his turn (typically a standard action). Since he still has his action to concentrate on the spell, the spell is maintained. Concentration is a purely mental action.

Person two's opinion:
It is treated similarly to as if you were mid-cast of a spell. Anything that would prevent you from casting the spell disrupts it. You cannot finish a spell while paralyzed since you would need to make such checks when damaged or in situations like vigorous motion. Telekinetic maneuver has verbal and somatic components.

Any thoughts?


Actually I think he could keep concentrating on it even while paralyzed on his turn. Concentration is an action, but it's a purely mental action. Movement is not required.

If the caster was knocked unconscious, confused, or otherwise denied the ability to take purely mental actions, that would be different.

Of course this opens another entirely unrelated can of worms; spell-like abilities can be used while paralyzed, since they have no somatic or verbal components. But let's leave that alone and stick to the topic at hand.

Scarab Sages

Under Spell Duration,
"Concentration
The spell lasts as long as you concentrate on it. Concentrating to maintain a spell is a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Anything that could break your concentration when casting a spell can also break your concentration while you’re maintaining one, causing the spell to end. See concentration.

You can’t cast a spell while concentrating on another one. Some spells last for a short time after you cease concentrating."

Begin subjected to as spell could break concentration and requires caster check.
"Spell
If you are affected by a spell while attempting to cast a spell of your own, you must make a concentration check or lose the spell you are casting. If the spell affecting you deals damage, the DC is 10 + the damage taken + the level of the spell you’re casting.

If the spell interferes with you or distracts you in some other way, the DC is the spell’s saving throw DC + the level of the spell you’re casting. For a spell with no saving throw, it’s the DC that the spell’s saving throw would have if a save were allowed (10 + spell level + caster’s ability score)."

If you make the check the spell is still active while held, if not it fails.


As long as you can concentrate you can maintain the spell. So paralysis, which does not effect the brain/mind, you can maintain concentration - but line of site is another issue. You can't turn your head, and one could argue there is a chance you were paralyzed mid blink and have your eyes closed. But, you have to step up to something that shuts down your mind/brain, like petrification or Temporal Stasis to cause the spell to stop from lack of concentration.


Yuri Sarreth is correct. The wizard would need to make a concentration check against a DC of X (Hold Person DC) + 4 (Telekinetic Maneuver spell level), as soon as the Hold Person takes effect. If successful, he can maintain as normal on his turn. If he fails the concentration check, then he drops the spell.

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Rules Questions / Concentration duration spells and paralysis. All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.