Cranking up the DC on low level spells

[Barcode]

Problem: My characters are interacting with an 18th level Arch-Mage, and they are now at 2nd level. When the Arch-Mage casts Charm Person on them, I think they should pretty well be charmed. But since the DC is based on spell level, not caster level, the DC's are always in a make-able range, even with greater spell focus. This is undermining the menace of my super-powerful NPC.

For my own reasons, I don't really want to give the guy a superhuman intelligence, but that is the only way I can find of doing it within the rules.

One possible solution I have considered is ruling that a spellcaster can memorize a low-level spell in a high-level spell slot, thus raising its effective spell level and its corresponding DC.

What do you think?

-B-

 

[Wippit Guud]

Consider the following feats....

Spell Focus (+2 DC)
Greater Spell Focus (+4 DC, overrides Spell Focus)
Spellcasting Prodigy (spellcasting stat is considered to be 2 higher, so +1 to DC)

Combined with 18 in primary stat, that DC 19 on 1st level spell.

 

[Wippit Guud]

There's is also a feat which lets you memorize a spell at a higher spell level, but it's name escapes me.

 

[CRGreathouse]

By 18th level, the archmage should get +4 to his primary stat through leveling and +6 from an item, raising the DC to 24. With the archmage Spell Powers, this goes up to DC 30 for a first-level spell.

 

[Little_Buddha]

Or the Heighten Spell feat, which enables him to cast Charm Person as anything up to a 9th level spell, for the purpose of DC calculation at least.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

You can always prepare a first level spell in any higher level slot, but the DC does not change because it is still a first level spell. Heighten Spell lets you prepare it in a higher slot and it becomes the level at which you prepare it, increasing the DC.

Being an archmage, has he considered Mass Charm? With an 18 Int, the minimum DC is 22.

 

[AuraSeer]

Doesn't the FRCS have a cleric domain that increases the save DC of enchantment spells? IIRC it was the Tyranny domain, but I've lent the book to a friend so I can't check.

 

[hong]

Use Heighten Spell, or instead of charm person, use charm monster, suggestion, dominate person or eyebite. Don't forget to give the archmage a headband of intellect (+6 Int = +3 save DC) and Spell Focus (enchantment).

 

[The Furious Puffin]

Remember the Archmage is going to have items to boost his INT, read tomes of clear thought and cast wish to boost his INT

Indeed - if the Archmage has INT 18 at first and is now 18th level

He would have 18 (base) + 4 (level) +6 (Heaband of Int) + 5 (Inherent Bonus from wish and manuals) and possibly +2 for a sun elf for a total of 35.

His DC is then

18 (Base for mass charm) + 12 (Int bonus) +2 spell focus +2 greater spell focus, and if you have the FRCS have him take the archmage prestige class, for a further +3 = DC 37 (36 if he is human)

The DC for that one is so high that the PC's will require 20's

To futher boost the DC go to http://www.enworld.org/messageboards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5574 and read Jairami's excellent example of how to get VAST DC's

 

[Barcode]

Ah, Heighten Spell is just what the doctor ordered. Not sure why I missed that...

Thanks!

-B-