| Nadalis |
So, we had a reunion of our yearly game last week, and converted to Pathfinder from 3.5. I found most all the changes to be imporvements, but I am a bit mized on the concentration idea. I love that is it tied to your primary casting stat, and no longer a skill. Melees don't need to max a skill swing their weapon so now casters don't need to a max a skill to cast etc etc.
But in playing I found concentration to be a bit underwhelming. I have played 3.5 for a while so I come from that background. Established storyline with some established characters. I missed the game last year, so I got to start with a 14th level character this year. I created my druid 3.5 style with modifications taking into account advice from the forums.
I've played long enough to know that you always have to have a backup plan, and or an escape plan. As a divine caster, always prepare freedom of movement. When I memorized my 6th level spells still, silent Freedom of Movement took up a slot thinking i'd use it as my get out of jail card should I need it in a jam. Boy was I wrong. We encountered a Purple Worm, and I just happen to be the first one swallowed. I tried my still silent FOM: Fail. I question the DM, (something I'm good at but shouldn't) and quickly learn the new rules for casting while grappled. There ain't no way in nine layers of hell, I ever make that concentration check 10+ CMB + spell level. I also quickly learn that It is almost pointless for me to memorize it silent, whatever.
The other party memebers that were not privy to this rules discussion learned later as we fought an ancient red dragon CMB of 43 which makes the concentration check 57 for dimension door or freedom of movement and 58 for teleport. None of the casters had concentration checks anywhere close to 37 or 38 making the normal caster escape methods impossible.
Are we missing something or does grapple trump concentration pretty bad now?