Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="machineelf" data-source="post: 6287980" data-attributes="member: 6774924">I've figured out, after pouring over all the rules, that the way spells work is that the caster sets the DC, and it's up to the creature being hit to roll a saving throw to resist. If they are successful on a saving throw they usually take half damage instead of full damage. So you can think of it like the caster always hits, but the creature being hit has a chance to resist half of the damage. The proficiency bonus is the same proficiency number used for skills. It's just that the caster only applies the proficiency when he/she is wielding their particular focus weapon (holy symbol for clerics, wooden staff for druids, musical instrument for bards, etc.)So the rules I have specify all of that, it's just that it's not always in the same convenient place in the rules. Hopefully they will organize it a bit better in the final books. I have to admit I do like the idea behind the way they've done magical casting, with the caster setting the DC and the half damage on a creature's saving throw. It creates a situation where low level casters are more often than not having their spells resisted and only doing half damage, but once they get to the mid levels and above they are more often than not hitting for full damage. It also creates this nice, easy to remember set DC for a caster that only goes up when their proficiency modifier goes up (or they increase their attributes). The only thing you have to make sure to check is which attribute needs to be used for a creature's saving throw.For example: A mage's magic ability is intelligence. Let's say that a level 1 mage has a +2 intelligence modifier. That means the mage has the base score of 8 and then adds 2 to that, to make a DC of 10. But then you also add the +1 proficiency modifier when the mage is casting using his wand or whatever magical implement he is using. So it bumps the DC to 11. So that's still a low DC, but he's still doing half damage when a creature is successful on a saving throw. But when the mage gets up to, say level 10 with a +3 (or is it +4?) proficiency bonus, now all of a sudden the DC is 13. And when you factor in that a around level 5 or so he gets to select an ability score and add 2 to it (so let's say he boosts up his intelligence), giving him an extra +1 to the modifier, now the DC is 14. So you can see how by the mid levels they are setting a moderate spell DC, and by the higher levels like 15+, they should be setting a DC around 17 or 18 or higher. The math seems to work out and I like it.</blockquote>

Verification