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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ValhallaGH" data-source="post: 5056499" data-attributes="member: 41187">The base DC seems a bit high, especially since you don't mention and houserules to the actual caster level check.Lets look at two level 10 casters, one of whom is using his highest level spell (5th level) and the other is countering.DC: 15 + 10 (CL) + 5 (SL) = DC 30So, before modifiers, our equal level caster needs to make a DC 30 caster-level check (natural 20 required).Now, to acquire those modifiers: <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">First, he makes a Spellcraft Check: DC 15/18/20.  DC 15 (trivial at level 10) allows counterspell, DC 20 (easy, even for a non-specialist) grants a +3.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Now, he selects a spell to counter with.  Let's assume that the exact spell is unavailable, but he does have a spell from the same school ready to sacrifice (+1).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Now, we check for other bonuses.  Unfortunately for our example, this character is not a counter spell specialist and has no further bonuses.</li> </ul>So, now our equal level caster needs to roll a DC 30 caster level check, and has a +14 bonus.  This requires a natural 16 (25% success rate).  So, counterspell mage probably just wasted his ready action.New example, replacing Chump-o the Deceased with Cancel-o the Counter Mage: <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Cancel-o has Skill Focus (Spellcraft) and an 18 Intelligence; he identifies 5th level spells 90% of the time.  +3</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Cancel-o always has opposite spells prepared, as well as Dispell Magic (greater and lesser).  +6</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Cancel-o is an Improved, Reactive Countermage.  +4 and minimal action cost.</li> </ul>Cancel-o, the counterspell mage, has a total +23 to his counterspell check.  He still has to hit a DC 30, but he can do it on a natural 7 (70%).If there was no opposite spell, Cancel-o would default to either Dispel or the same spell, leaving him with a +20/+21, and needing a 10/9 (55%/60%).So, our generic mage dabbling in counter spelling is very likely to fail.  Our counter spell specialist is likely to succeed, but his odds are poor enough against an equal opponent that he'll probably realize that he's wasted his life and give up the adventuring shtick when this is all over.If you drop the base DC to 10 + Caster Level + Spell Level then you get something much more appealing.  Our dabbler has a solid 50% success rate, and our specialist is on a 95% (best possible), 85% (same spell), 80% (Dispel Magic), which is where a specialist counter-mage should be.Side note: There is mention of using a higher spell level mattering, but no description of how they matter is included.</blockquote>

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