Difficulty Class

Difficulty Class (DC) is a number that determines how hard a particular action is. When a character's action has a DC, that action will only be successful if the character rolls a d20 (20-sided die), adds all relevant modifiers, and ends up with a number that is greater than or equal to the DC. If the result is less than the DC, then the action fails. (So the higher the DC, the harder the action.)

Skills
One action associated with a DC is the use of a skill. The DC's for these skill checks are determined using various methods, as indicated in each skill's description. Two common methods are opposed checks and explicit formulas. For most other skills, the DC is set (or left as the default) by the module designer.

Saving Throws
Another action associated with a DC is an attempt to avoid a harmful effect (e.g. a spell, trap, or aura). This attempt is called a saving throw.

When a spell allows a saving throw, the DC is determined by the spell level, the caster's primary ability modifier, and the caster's feats, as follows:

DC = 10 + spell level + ability modifier + feat modifier.
The feat modifier is +2 for Spell Focus, +4 for Greater Spell Focus and +6 for Epic Spell Focus. The feat modifiers are not cumulative.

  • The DC for the Implosion spell is the above formula plus 3.

When a trap or aura allows a saving throw, the DC is set (or left as the default) by the module designer.

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