Spot checks

[AuraSeer]

I need the base number so I can get a DC for 100 feet away, 500 feet away, etc.

You should probably use the rules for Encounter Distance. Here's the relevant SRD page.

 

[Kraedin]

But then spells with ranges greater than 420 feet have all of that precious, precious range wasted.

 

[VorpalBunny]

Yeah, but if you can't see the target to begin with you can't use a spell...

 

[Magic Rub]

Please don't say that...

"you're going to make casters with ranged spells that don't require an attack roll (eg: Fireball), to roll a spot check in order to see if thier spells are on target."

I hope you're not going to say that's why you're asking.

 

[Kraedin]

But there's a problem here. The rules are set up so that you can never, never, see someone (or a group of someones, such as an army) greater than 720 feet away, ever. But long range spells get up to 1200 feet at 20th level. What's the point?

Bows can get up to 1,650 feet. That's 930 wasted feet of range.

 

[Janos Antero]

Well, two things I can see, theoretically certain creatures are going to have longer range/better vision than others. And you should be able to target your fireball at 1200 feet in a straight line, even if you can't see what you're fireballing.

Although that doesn't specifically answer your question.

 

[Magic Rub]

...Or

a) just house rule it.
b) Make a "see more gooder" feat
c) You're talking about 20th level casters, have them make a spell to improve vision, or use existing spells like scry to aid them (or whatever I don't have the time too look up an apt. spell right now)

 

[melkoriii]

The way I see it the -1 per 10' is for indoors/Dungen type places.

There really should have it different for the types of encounters.

Outdoor/Flat/Day = -1 every 100'
Outdoor/flat/Night = -1 every 10'
Outdoor/Wooded/day = -1 every 30'

That kind of thing.

I can see quit far in dayl light and flat land.

Of cource it may be that if they are not hidding or have somthing that would make then hard to see, no roll is needed at any distance. That you only roll when someone is hidding or has something that makes then hard to see and then use the -1 per 10' rule.

 

[dcollins]

When I back-calculate from the encounter distance rules, I get the following numbers that I use:

Heavy fog -- +1 Spot DC per 1 ft.
Jungle -- +1 Spot DC per 2.5 ft.
Light forest -- +1 Spot DC per 5 ft.
Brush -- +1 Spot DC per 10 ft.
Grassland -- +1 Spot DC per 20 ft.

 

[Renaissance Man]

How thin is the subject? And what is he wearing? (It could be relevant.)

Naw. Five feet away? Auto-success.