Concentration and Battlefield Control

[Kaiwen]

How can a caster specialize in battlefield control in 5e, considering that most/almost all BFC spells take concentration so you can only ever have one out at a time? Is the 3.5 model of a controller caster dead, or is there a way to make it work?

[Man_Over_Game]

How can a caster specialize in battlefield control in 5e, considering that most/almost all BFC spells take concentration so you can only ever have one out at a time? Is the 3.5 model of a controller caster dead, or is there a way to make it work?

Take a look at Sorcerer. One of the best strategies they can implement is Twinning a Concentration spell, which is completely valid, or by increasing the duration or range the spell can be cast at. Just keep in mind, for a spell to be technically eligible for Twinned Spell, it can only possibly, magically, affect a single creature. So while it can't copy Fog Cloud (which doesn't target a creature), Haste and Hold Person are completely valid.

Notably, vision is a big deal in 5E, so things like Fog Cloud or Darkness can completely cripple a back line, forcing them either to engage where the effect ends (where melee combat starts) or be behind the effect and being unable to contribute to combat.

There's also other spells that can influence the battlefield without Concentration, like these:

Spiritual Weapon, Guardian of Faith, Earth Tremor, Ice Knife, Erupting Earth, Sleep, Tidal Wave (as it knocks everything Prone), Ice Storm.

And, of course, two mages can also choose to work together to combine Concentration effects.

[clash]

Adding to what was said, after casting your concentration control spell you can compliment the spell with cantrips that have control effects:

Thorn Whip or Lightning Lure to pull an enemy into a dangerous area
Gust to push an enemy
Mold earth to create pits or barricades or cover
Green Flame blade to keep an enemy in place
Ray of Frost to slow an enemy down so he cant escape difficult terrain

[willdaBEAST]

There are some exceptions, like Grease is a battlefield control spell without the concentration requirement.

With Sleet Storm, I don't know what more battlefield control you'd need. 40' radius obscured area that turns into difficult terrain, dex save or fall prone and any casters concentrating need a con save.