Concentration (sage ability)

A practice in which the mind is ordered or cleared, enabling greater performance of a single task to be accomplished over a period of no more than one combat round. Note that the ability has no useful effect in tasks that require a longer period than one round to perform.

If the character has five full, undisturbed rounds to prepare, the character may improve the physical or mental performance of that task by 10%, effectively operating at 110% of capacity. The character would be able to leap further or higher, improve their chances at lifting a heavy object, turn an undead, catch an object thrown to them, walk a short ledge or tightrope, start a race or any other similar action.

Note that the ability also gives a +2 chance to hit an oncoming opponent or in hitting a target with a loaded missile weapon. Conversely, the character can ready themselves so as to improve their armour class by 2 points.

All effects, remember, last only a round; but the character can spend the time to improve performance - five rounds - whenever the potential occurs.

Note that many actions, such as surprising others, finding traps or picking locks, climbing, running the rapids in a kayak and so on, require more time to perform than the ability of concentration is able to improve.

See Empowerment