Skill Focus (concentration) vs Combat Casting
- Thread starter EPRock
- Start date
Rashak Mani
First Post
I thought the 3.0 Skill focus was better too ! It was only +2 back then...
This is a non-brainer poll... though I think wasting feats on concentration is a bad move.
This is a non-brainer poll... though I think wasting feats on concentration is a bad move.
DarkMaster
First Post
Since most of the time the casters know that they will get an AoO I go with combat casting.
Voadam
Legend
Skill focus applies to when wounded when casting spells in addition to casting defensively or when being grappled or pinned.
Neither are really worth it for high level characters.
Combat casting is a prereq for some feats and prestige classes.
I didn't take it for my eldritch knight.
Neither are really worth it for high level characters.
Combat casting is a prereq for some feats and prestige classes.
I didn't take it for my eldritch knight.
Our clerics typically take Skill Focus (concentration) as they are more likely than the arcane casters to take an AOO (usually for casting a cure spell during melee to stabilise a fallen companion). Then again, we have a house rule that a successful cast defensively does not negate AOO, but instead adds dodge bonus to AC by (approximately) the amount of the Concentration skill modifier.
Even so, I still believe it is better than Combat Casting (which is very narrow).
Even so, I still believe it is better than Combat Casting (which is very narrow).
James McMurray
First Post
I voted for "get something else." If I had to choose I'd go with Skill Focus, but there are usualy much better options available.
Given the choice I would usually go with something else, failing that I would take skill focus, falling that I would go with something else 
The only time I would ever take combat casting was if it was desperately needed for something else, and for some reason I couldnt convince my dm that skill focus was just as good or some other feat as a replacement for it.
The only time I would ever take combat casting was if it was desperately needed for something else, and for some reason I couldnt convince my dm that skill focus was just as good or some other feat as a replacement for it.
Li Shenron
Legend
I don't think SF is "much" better than Combat Casting, but admittedly the +1 difference is a small advantage compared to being able to benefit from the bonus in other situations.
Generally, I think either feats are worth for a spellcaster who really plans to cast a lot of spells in the middle of melee, which is much more typical for divine casters than arcane casters.
If you just want Concentration for those times when someone interrupts your casting, or grapples you, or the environment is hazardous etc, I would be content enough of maxing the skill (which feels on the average somehow less expensive than a feat), and that is something I would however suggest to every spellcaster unless it has very few skill points; also once your rank is high enough those feats become less useful than at lower levels.
However those feats could be useful exactly if you can't afford a high rank, for example because you are multiclassed with a non-spellcaster type.
There could still be some time when Combat Casting is preferable. Perhaps if you have already a high rank, and you just want to be sure to cast your healing spells in melee...
Generally, I think either feats are worth for a spellcaster who really plans to cast a lot of spells in the middle of melee, which is much more typical for divine casters than arcane casters.
If you just want Concentration for those times when someone interrupts your casting, or grapples you, or the environment is hazardous etc, I would be content enough of maxing the skill (which feels on the average somehow less expensive than a feat), and that is something I would however suggest to every spellcaster unless it has very few skill points; also once your rank is high enough those feats become less useful than at lower levels.
However those feats could be useful exactly if you can't afford a high rank, for example because you are multiclassed with a non-spellcaster type.
There could still be some time when Combat Casting is preferable. Perhaps if you have already a high rank, and you just want to be sure to cast your healing spells in melee...
