Impaired Concentration

The successful casting of a spell requires intense, uninterrupted concentration from the caster. If the caster's concentration is interrupted by an attack, a sudden noise, or any other distraction, the spell is lost.

In certain situations, the caster may have trouble focusing or sustaining his concentration. He may be suffering from an extreme headache or other illness. He may be dizzy, fatigued, or otherwise disoriented. Or he may have had a little too much wine and is feeling the after-effects. In such cases, the DM can rule that the wizard is unable to cast spells as effectively as he normally would. In extreme cases-- for instance, if the wizard's headache is so severe that he is unable to stand or open his eyes-- the DM might rule that the wizard is completely unable to cast spells until his condition improves.

In less extreme cases, the DM can require the wizard to make a successful Intelligence Check before attempting to cast any spell to see if he can muster the necessary degree of concentration. After the wizard announces which spell he will attempt to cast, the player rolls 1d20. If the result is less than or equal to the wizard's Intelligence, the spell is cast normally. If the result is greater than the wizard's Intelligence, the spell is lost.

The DM might wish to add a penalty or bonus to these Intelligence Checks. For instance, if the wizard is disoriented as a result of falling out of a tree and landing on his head, the DM might require a -2 modifier to his Intelligence Checks prior to casting his spells.

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