Do you tell player's what the DC is for a check?

[Oryan77]

If a player needs to roll a save vs a spell, do you tell them what DC they need to roll in order to save vs that spell? Or do you keep it secret and just tell them if they fail or not?

I'm just wondering how often players think a DM is cheating when the DM knows he's not. So I was wondering if DM's tell players what a DC needs to be in order to earn trust.

 

[smootrk]

I might say that this looks like a slim chance, or 'you are attempting a really difficult maneuver', but I seldom say the actual number. Saying the DC leads to Players who judge whether they will attempt things based upon results from others at the table.

 

[Grymar]

It depends.

For something like a rope climb check, breaking down a standard door...something like that then yeah.

If it is a save then almost never do I tell them. That, like AC, is something that they have to estimate.

 

[pawsplay]

Generally I tell. However, if they cannot be sure of the task difficulty, I do not tell them. for instance, I don't tell them a spot DC, because they can't be sure what's hidden or how well it is hidden. But I would tell them a Jump DC, at least, incorporating every factor they are aware of.

 

[RFisher]

I think I should tell them the DC more often than I do. Old habits, you know.

 

[kolikeos]

I think I should tell them the DC more often than I do. Old habits, you know.

I think exactly the opposite

 

[Crothian]

Never. We use action points and I don't want the PCs to know the target number so they can always know the best times to use the action points.

 

[Klaus]

I tell them anything that is in the PHB, including DCs.

 

[the Jester]

I will tell them the DC sometimes, when it doesn't matter whether they know it, but generally I keep DCs secret- especially things like save DCs.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

I usually tell them DCs for things that they specifically ask for. In other words, say they want to jump across a bar to avoid getting stuck in the middle of a brawl. I tell them stuff like that. Stuff that begins from DM initiative (like many spot/listen checks or saves, etc) I never tell.