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A '''difficulty class''', or DC, is the number that a player must meet or beat after rolling a [[d20]] and adding modifiers to succeed in a [[check]] or [[saving throw]]. Difficulty classes are generally given in [[spell]] or [[item]] descriptions.

==DC in spells==
The DC for making a [[saving throw]] against a [[spell]] is:
*DC = 10 + (spell level) + (spellcaster's [[Ability modifier|ability modifier]]) + (spellcaster's feat bonuses) + (epic bonus)

The spellcaster's [[Ability modifier|ability modifier]] is the modifier for the spellcaster's spellcasting ability: [[intelligence]] for [[wizard]]s; [[charisma]] for [[sorcerer]]s, [[bard]]s, [[spirit shaman]]s, and [[warlock]]s; and [[wisdom]] for [[cleric]]s, [[druid]]s, [[favored soul]]s, [[ranger]]s, and [[paladin]]s.

The spellcaster's feat bonuses include [[Spell Focus]] (+1), [[Greater Spell Focus]] (+2), and [[Epic Spell Focus]] (+3). Spell Focus feats do not stack with each other; only the highest one applies. The [[Red Wizard of Thay|Red Wizard]]'s Enhanced Specialization is treated as a feat bonus. It, however, ''does'' stack with Spell Focus feats.

Epic Bonus: All spellcasters receive a +1 bonus to their DC's for every 3 caster levels over 20 (i.e. +1 at level 23, +2 at level 26, etc.). The source of these caster levels does not matter. Caster levels obtained from a Prestige Class or from [[Practiced Spellcaster]] both contribute to the ''total'' caster level used for the Epic Bonus.

Note: Epic Spells do not apply the spellcaster's feat bonuses. However, they do all come with an inherent +5 bonus.
The DC for making a [[saving throw]] against an Epic Spell is:
*DC = 25 + (spellcaster's [[Ability modifier|ability modifier]]).

A roll of 1 always fails a saving throw and a roll of 20 always succeeds, so saving throws always have at least a 5% chance of failure and a 5% chance of success.

[[Saving_throw#Automatic_Failure_and_Success|Note on Automatic Failure and Success]]: Automatic Failure for a [[Reflex|reflex save]] or a [[Will|will save]] actually succeeds although the message to the player states *failure*.

Simple Example: Suppose a wizard with 18 intelligence and [[Spell focus|Spell Focus (Evocation)]] cast a [[Fireball]] against a goblin. To take half damage, the goblin needs to make a reflex save against a DC of 18: 10 from the base DC + 3 from Fireball's level + 4 from the intelligence modifier + 1 from the spell focus feat. If the goblin has a reflex save of 3, he has to roll at least 15 on his d20 to make the saving throw.

==DC in skill checks==
The DC depends on the skill. For example, the DC for [[tumble|tumbling]] is 15, the DC for casting a spell in [[defensive casting]] mode is 15 + the level of the spell, and the DC for disarming a trap depends on the trap.

In the [[official campaign]], the DC's for dialogue skills like [[bluff]] and [[diplomacy]] are ''set''. These values are roughly as if the user had taken 10 on the skill check, so a DC of 1 (you'd need 1 point in the skill to pass) roughly equals a normal skill check of DC11. Medium DCs range from 6-8, while hard ones exceed 15. Other modules use different systems.

In contrast to saving throws, skill checks never fail or succeed automatically. A roll of 1 may succeed if the skill is high enough and a roll of 20 may fail if the skill is too low. This means characters with enough skill will always make some skill checks, such as the concentration check for casting a spell in [[defensive casting]] mode or the [[tumble]] check for avoiding attacks of opportunity when moving past or away from enemies.
[[Category:Glossary]]
[[Category:Magical_concepts]]

Difficulty class - Revision history

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