Topic: Multiple Concentration spells ?

[Dalewarrior]

Is it possible to cast several spells, one after the other and keep concentration for all of them? For example, cast a Shield; a Cancel Essence; a Cancel Mentalism; and a Cancel Channeling to have them prepared for what may come.

Thanks,
DW

[Marrethiel]

Is it possible to cast several spells, one after the other and keep concentration for all of them? For example, cast a Shield; a Cancel Essence; a Cancel Mentalism; and a Cancel Channeling to have them prepared for what may come.

An interesting question, my original thought was to point out that RMC Arms Law on page 28 under the title Concentration states that "..while a combatant is Concentrating, all other actions will require double their normal percentages." This indicates yes, but the spell will be a 150% action, however I found in SL on page 50 under the Duration heading, "The caster cannot cast any other spells while concentrating."

I guess as a GM I could have my elbow bent to allow for a Meditation skill check which would be seriously difficult in combat. The best way would probably be to Spell Master a change in duration from Concentration to Rounds/Level. RMFRP has this as a -20 difficulty or -50 for minute/level.

[Dalewarrior]

Thanks, Marrethiel, I'll have to take a look at RMFRP to see what you meant. I came across p. 84 of RMC Spell Law where the author implies that spell combination of different spells is allowed.

[Marrethiel]

Thanks, Marrethiel, I'll have to take a look at RMFRP to see what you meant. I came across p. 84 of RMC Spell Law where the author implies that spell combination of different spells is allowed.

This section is talking about the idea of allowing as a Shield Spell and a Blur spell. Both spells give a bonus to DB but in a different way.

[OLF, i.e. Olf Le Fol]

(From the old Rolemaster Rulings, p11)
Concentration

• Concentration takes 50% activity,
• You may cast a spell whilst concentrating on another spell.

Only applies to RM2 but according to this, you can concentrate on at most two spells at the same time.

[Dalewarrior]

[/quote]
This section is talking about the idea of allowing as a Shield Spell and a Blur spell. Both spells give a bonus to DB but in a different way.
[/quote]

Yes, but not only; in the same page there's also 'OPTION 16: LIMITING SPELL
COMBINATIONS BY SPELL CLASS: ... Characters may have any number of spells
or spell like effects active at one time, but only effects of different spell types stack.'

[Cory Magel]

From an RMSS perspective the problem comes in having enough activity to concentrate on more than two spells (as they took 50% each to concentrate on).  Yes, you could chain cast a few spells that have a duration THEN change over to concentration, but if you want more than two to stay active after the normal duration period you need 150%+ activity.  There's not much in RM that gives you multiple rounds of haste-like effects.  I guess you could chain cast haste and concentrate on three and re-cast haste to keep the whole loop going... not sure if the cost vs. benefit is there though considering the PP you'd be expending on haste spells vs just recasting the others and starting the base duration.

[jdale]

Shield and Blur don't require concentration, so that's moot.

You shouldn't be able to maintain Cancel Essence, Cancel Mentalism, AND Cancel Channeling all at once. That would achieve at 3rd level and 6 PP an effect that otherwise you would need the 13th level (and 13 PP) Cancel True for. (At least on the Closed Essence Dispelling Ways list. BTW the footnote on this list refers to Shield where it should refer to Sphere.) At low levels, you have to choose. But, since they are instant spells, you should be able to change your mind pretty quickly if needed.

[Cory Magel]

You'd have to cast all three cancel spells (1st, 2nd, and 3rd spells).  This spell list there is no duration on them, it's only concentration.  So you cast the first one and need to have some kind of Haste effect in use.  Then every round after than you'd have to cast the next one on the list and continue to be Hasted somehow.  Since you can't cast two spells in the same round you must have Haste cast on you (6th level spell) or use Adrenal Speed.  You are not going to be able to keep Adrenal Speed going long-term, so if you want any length on them you really need to keep the Haste going.

So, would I allow it? Sure, no reason it's not possible... but is it worth it?  I really doubt it.  You're going to spend 6pp on the spells themselves and 6pp per round on Haste afterwards (so you can concentrate at 50% or 100% and cast at 75%) assuming you can get Haste cast on you or use Adrenal Speed to get them all up and running.  So that's 7pp+8pp+9pp getting them all going and 6 per round maintaining them (150% concentrating and 10% casting Haste) without Adrenal Speed.  I think achieving a 13th level effect at that point is fine.  But I suspect the only situations you would be in that would have you wanting to expend this much effort to do so are probably situations you don't want to be in.

[OLF, i.e. Olf Le Fol]

...not to mention you'd have three opportunities to fumble and need three rounds to cast all the spells. In a combat situation, being able to protect from all three Realms in an instant and taking three rounds to do so, thus adding to the problem having to choose from which realm to protect first, second and third may easily be the difference between life and death.

[Old Man]

Y'know, given the old thing of pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time, I'd either disallow it (one could say concentration is "casting" so 2 spells per round is triggered) or make a Hard SD roll to cast a 2nd spell while maintaining the first ...

[Cory Magel]

Hmmm. You could require adrenal concentration as a skill...

[yammahoper]

Concentration is covered in detail in Mentalism Companion.

RMSS rocked just like RM2 did. 

I hope RMU can have lots of books too, even if just additional excellent options over adventures.  Far easier to make the adventure then the rule set.