All ways to increase spell DC [Archive] - Wizards Community

All ways to increase spell DC [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
laotching
05-15-04, 10:03 AM I think we need a thread in which we compile a list all the feats or spells or other methods by which saving throw DCs can be increased. I am editing this post to include all valid suggestions. Also, let's focus on permanent DC bonus increases, not temporary increases to ability modifiers.

Method name (+number to DC; specifics)

FEATS
Spell Focus (+1; one school)
Greater Spell Focus (+1; one school)
Malign Spell Focus (+2; [Evil] only)
Circle Magic (special; Red Wizards only)
Tattoo Focus (+1; one school, requires specialization)
Shadow weave magic (+1; at the cost of -1 CL for Evo/Trans, never can case [Light] again, etc.)

PRESTIGE CLASSES
Fatespinner (+1, +2, or +3; 1-level dip with no +CL)
Elemental Savant (+1, +2, up to +3; one element)

OTHER
Spell Enhancer (+2, cast this first, next spell gets bonus)

(I'm willing to bet they're going to nerf the DC bonuses of the Tome and Blood prestige classes when Complete Arcane comes out. This wholesale reduction of DCs is pretty retarded, since they nerfed EVERYTHING. At least cut it down instead of chopping it all off. [/rant])
Caelic
05-15-04, 11:00 AM Shadow Weave Magic and the Shadow Adept still, I believe, increase the DC for necromancy, illusion, and enchantment spells.
Borin
05-15-04, 11:02 AM Shadow Adept was revised in Player's Guide to Faerun, and doesn't give a DC bonus now.
Caelic
05-15-04, 11:05 AM Are you quite sure of that? I don't have the book in front of me, but I thought that was the one case where they KEPT the old version of spell power. I recall an interview saying they were doing it because "Shadow magic has enough limitations already."

I could've misread, and I've only seen the revised class once, but I could've sworn it still worked the same.
SnarkHunter
05-15-04, 11:20 AM Divine Metamagic+Heighten spell. Not sure but you may only be able to heighten to a level you can actually cast...
Mirror-Image
05-15-04, 11:37 AM in 3.0 the fatespinner ( tome&blood) could add up to +3 DC to a spell
but i dont know if this is still legal in 3.5
ck2001wendt
05-15-04, 12:11 PM The Red Wizard's Tattoo Focus increases the DC in their specialized school, IIRC.
raistlin42
05-15-04, 12:31 PM Spell Focus (Good)

Aren't there feats like Bloodline of Fire that increase your dc on specific spells?

Polymorph Any Object (Increase your casting stat).
Previn
05-15-04, 01:19 PM Taint.
Battousai
05-15-04, 03:04 PM Since the PGtF revision, bloodline of fire grants a bonus to caster level only.

Elemental Savant can boost the DC of elemental spells.
Hot Rod
05-15-04, 03:47 PM For a cleric/sorcerer there's the Charm domain power. (+4 Cha for 1 rnd/Cleric level as a free action 1/day)
Mirror-Image
05-15-04, 05:38 PM alluring[feat] from Song and Silence
it adds +2 to the DC of all language-dependent mind influenincing spells

but has 2 feats as a prequisite
trustworthy,persuative

-------------

spell enhancer[spell] from PgtF i think
+2 DC for the next spell you cast
(the next spell can be cast as a quickened spell)

------------
sanctum spell
if you cast a spell in your sanctum the spell grade is treated as 1 higher -> +1 DC
laotching
05-15-04, 05:58 PM Alluring is almost certainly going to get 3.5-DC-nerfed (it already requires three feats!), and Sanctum Spell is almost useless unless the sanctum is somehow mobile or it's for an NPC, unfortunately.
Ramses III
05-15-04, 06:12 PM Elemental Savant will be nerfed. Its bonus was a version of Spell Power.
raistlin42
05-15-04, 10:31 PM Spell Enhancer got changed to caster level boost in PGtF
Bopple
05-15-04, 10:45 PM Shadow Adept has lost Spell Power.
PGtF version doesn't have the ability at all.

Spell Enhancer is also nerfed. It's now +2 to CL.

While Spell Power of Archmage and Red Wizard have been nerfed, it doesn't necessarily mean every ability named 'spell power' must do the same thing.
There are some abilities and feats with same name, which do different things.
And seeing that elemental spells are far from save-or-die spells, the highest allowable DC might be slightly better than others, imo.

But that's just my speculation, and it has to be seen.
Battousai
05-16-04, 03:07 AM Well here goes: there's a bunch of feats in Races of Fearune:

Duergar Mindshaper: +1DC for enchantement spells

Forest Gnoem phantasist: +1DC for Illusions (pattern, phantasm)

Genie Lore: +1DC for one type of elemental sorceror spells (may be taken multiple times)

Primitive Caster: by adding component to a spell, they gain +1 DC (+1 /component)

Shadow song: +1 DC for enchantement and sonic spells

Svirfneblin Figment: +1DC for illusions (figment)

Talfirian song: expend bardic music for DC.

And for epic levels, here's an evil one: Incantatrix Instant metamagic + Improved Heighten spell.
Notice they once more forgot to write that you must be able to cast the metamagicked spell before you use Instant metamagic?
It means you may once or twice per day cast a spell at +300DC at the very least :D

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
laotching 05-15-04, 10:03 AM	I think we need a thread in which we compile a list all the feats or spells or other methods by which saving throw DCs can be increased. I am editing this post to include all valid suggestions. Also, let's focus on permanent DC bonus increases, not temporary increases to ability modifiers. Method name (+number to DC; specifics) FEATS Spell Focus (+1; one school) Greater Spell Focus (+1; one school) Malign Spell Focus (+2; [Evil] only) Circle Magic (special; Red Wizards only) Tattoo Focus (+1; one school, requires specialization) Shadow weave magic (+1; at the cost of -1 CL for Evo/Trans, never can case [Light] again, etc.) PRESTIGE CLASSES Fatespinner (+1, +2, or +3; 1-level dip with no +CL) Elemental Savant (+1, +2, up to +3; one element) OTHER Spell Enhancer (+2, cast this first, next spell gets bonus) (I'm willing to bet they're going to nerf the DC bonuses of the Tome and Blood prestige classes when Complete Arcane comes out. This wholesale reduction of DCs is pretty retarded, since they nerfed EVERYTHING. At least cut it down instead of chopping it all off. [/rant])
Caelic 05-15-04, 11:00 AM	Shadow Weave Magic and the Shadow Adept still, I believe, increase the DC for necromancy, illusion, and enchantment spells.
Borin 05-15-04, 11:02 AM	Shadow Adept was revised in Player's Guide to Faerun, and doesn't give a DC bonus now.
Caelic 05-15-04, 11:05 AM	Are you quite sure of that? I don't have the book in front of me, but I thought that was the one case where they KEPT the old version of spell power. I recall an interview saying they were doing it because "Shadow magic has enough limitations already." I could've misread, and I've only seen the revised class once, but I could've sworn it still worked the same.
SnarkHunter 05-15-04, 11:20 AM	Divine Metamagic+Heighten spell. Not sure but you may only be able to heighten to a level you can actually cast...
Mirror-Image 05-15-04, 11:37 AM	in 3.0 the fatespinner ( tome&blood) could add up to +3 DC to a spell but i dont know if this is still legal in 3.5
ck2001wendt 05-15-04, 12:11 PM	The Red Wizard's Tattoo Focus increases the DC in their specialized school, IIRC.
raistlin42 05-15-04, 12:31 PM	Spell Focus (Good) Aren't there feats like Bloodline of Fire that increase your dc on specific spells? Polymorph Any Object (Increase your casting stat).
Previn 05-15-04, 01:19 PM	Taint.
Battousai 05-15-04, 03:04 PM	Since the PGtF revision, bloodline of fire grants a bonus to caster level only. Elemental Savant can boost the DC of elemental spells.
Hot Rod 05-15-04, 03:47 PM	For a cleric/sorcerer there's the Charm domain power. (+4 Cha for 1 rnd/Cleric level as a free action 1/day)
Mirror-Image 05-15-04, 05:38 PM	alluring[feat] from Song and Silence it adds +2 to the DC of all language-dependent mind influenincing spells but has 2 feats as a prequisite trustworthy,persuative ------------- spell enhancer[spell] from PgtF i think +2 DC for the next spell you cast (the next spell can be cast as a quickened spell) ------------ sanctum spell if you cast a spell in your sanctum the spell grade is treated as 1 higher -> +1 DC
laotching 05-15-04, 05:58 PM	Alluring is almost certainly going to get 3.5-DC-nerfed (it already requires three feats!), and Sanctum Spell is almost useless unless the sanctum is somehow mobile or it's for an NPC, unfortunately.
Ramses III 05-15-04, 06:12 PM	Elemental Savant will be nerfed. Its bonus was a version of Spell Power.
raistlin42 05-15-04, 10:31 PM	Spell Enhancer got changed to caster level boost in PGtF
Bopple 05-15-04, 10:45 PM	Shadow Adept has lost Spell Power. PGtF version doesn't have the ability at all. Spell Enhancer is also nerfed. It's now +2 to CL. While Spell Power of Archmage and Red Wizard have been nerfed, it doesn't necessarily mean every ability named 'spell power' must do the same thing. There are some abilities and feats with same name, which do different things. And seeing that elemental spells are far from save-or-die spells, the highest allowable DC might be slightly better than others, imo. But that's just my speculation, and it has to be seen.
Battousai 05-16-04, 03:07 AM	Well here goes: there's a bunch of feats in Races of Fearune: Duergar Mindshaper: +1DC for enchantement spells Forest Gnoem phantasist: +1DC for Illusions (pattern, phantasm) Genie Lore: +1DC for one type of elemental sorceror spells (may be taken multiple times) Primitive Caster: by adding component to a spell, they gain +1 DC (+1 /component) Shadow song: +1 DC for enchantement and sonic spells Svirfneblin Figment: +1DC for illusions (figment) Talfirian song: expend bardic music for DC. And for epic levels, here's an evil one: Incantatrix Instant metamagic + Improved Heighten spell. Notice they once more forgot to write that you must be able to cast the metamagicked spell before you use Instant metamagic? It means you may once or twice per day cast a spell at +300DC at the very least :D