Character Creation Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Character Creation Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
etfjr
02-09-05, 08:23 AM I'm returning to D&D after several years absence. Needless to say, I'm having to learn the new 3.5 rules, etc.

There are 3 boxes on the Character Sheet that I don't understand/can't figure out...

Next to Base Attack Bonus:
Spell Resistance

Below the Spell list on the back:
Spell Save (DC Mod)
Arcane Spell Failure %

Where do I find the info that goes in these places? PHB? DMG? What pages?
I'm lost...

Taylor
q'afuu
02-09-05, 08:34 AM 1) Spell Resistance
2) Spell Save (DC Mod)
3) Arcane Spell Failure %1) SR: how resistant you are to spells - it's a value a caster has to overcome with a caster level check or the spell fails. PHB p. 177.
2) (Spell) Save DC: DC means difficulty class; saves are attempts you get to make it so you are unaffected by by something (in this case saves). The DC indicates the target number you need to roll with your save attempt. PHB p. 177 (for spell save DCs).
3) ASF: the chance a caster has of failing to cast a spell due to circumstances like being hindered by armour. Whenever you cast a spell while having a chance of ASF making you fail, you need to roll a percentile that exceeds the number of ASF you have. If not, the spell is lost. PHB p. 56.

The core rule books have a glossary and an index. It took me all but 2 minutes to find the references using those. ;)
MadApplejack
02-09-05, 08:45 AM Spell Resistance will probably not come into play, as far as your character goes. It applies to characters who gain that feature as a result of race (such as Drow), class (Monk), or magic item. The DMG explains what SR is.

The DC for spells refers to how difficult it is to resist your spell-casting; it's the number that a saving throw needs to beat (or at least equal). It's determined by adding 10 + the level of the spell + your modifier for the stat involved with spellcasting (Int for wizards, Wis for Clerics/Druids, Cha for Sorc/Bards). If a first level wizard with Int 17 that casts sleep, the DC is 14: 10 + 1 (spell level) + 3 (Int modifier). The feat "spell focus" increases that DC by 1 for all spells of a specific school. This should be in the PHB in the chapter on Magic.

Arcane spell failure is the chance that an arcane spellcaster has to fail if casting a spell while wearing armor. I think it's explained in the section that details armor. Bards are an exception in that they ignore arcane spell failure if wearing light armor.

Good Luck
etfjr
02-09-05, 09:38 AM 1) SR: how resistant you are to spells - it's a value a caster has to overcome with a caster level check or the spell fails. PHB p. 177.
2) (Spell) Save DC: DC means difficulty class; saves are attempts you get to make it so you are unaffected by by something (in this case saves). The DC indicates the target number you need to roll with your save attempt. PHB p. 177 (for spell save DCs).
3) ASF: the chance a caster has of failing to cast a spell due to circumstances like being hindered by armour. Whenever you cast a spell while having a chance of ASF making you fail, you need to roll a percentile that exceeds the number of ASF you have. If not, the spell is lost. PHB p. 56.

The core rule books have a glossary and an index. It took me all but 2 minutes to find the references using those. ;)

I know *what* they are and I found them in the glossary, but I can't find what values to put there... (except ASF...found it in the armor table)
etfjr
02-09-05, 09:43 AM The DC for spells refers to how difficult it is to resist your spell-casting; it's the number that a saving throw needs to beat (or at least equal). It's determined by adding 10 + the level of the spell + your modifier for the stat involved with spellcasting (Int for wizards, Wis for Clerics/Druids, Cha for Sorc/Bards). If a first level wizard with Int 17 that casts sleep, the DC is 14: 10 + 1 (spell level) + 3 (Int modifier). The feat "spell focus" increases that DC by 1 for all spells of a specific school. This should be in the PHB in the chapter on Magic.
Good Luck

Ok then, what is the difference in the two place on the char sheet to enter this value? There is a series of boxes next to the spell levels in the lower right back of the sheet and another above that just below the spells list...
Zherog
02-09-05, 09:57 AM The boxes you refer to (next to each spell level) are there to try and make things a little easier for you. Your spell DC goes up with each level spell. So to extend MadApplejack's example - if you have a wizard with a 17 intelligence, the save DC for his first level spells is 18; his save DC for his second level spells is 19; the save DC for his 3rd level spells is 20; and so on.

I'm not familiar with the character sheet you're using (I haven't even looked at the PHB character sheet in about 4 years), so I can't tell you if there's any difference between the different areas for the Save DC.
q'afuu
02-09-05, 11:56 AM ... - if you have a wizard with a 17 intelligence, the save DC for his first level spells is 18; his save DC for his second level spells is 19; the save DC for his 3rd level spells is 20; and so on.
Want to try that again, Z? :P It's 10 + spell level + caster attribute bonus, remember? In this case, the save DCs would be 14, 15 and 16. Don't confuse the newbies. ;)

Ok then, what is the difference in the two place on the char sheet to enter this value? There is a series of boxes next to the spell levels in the lower right back of the sheet and another above that just below the spells list... The column is supposed to hold the actual DCs per spell level. The other box, with 'DC mod' below it, is supposed to hold your total DC modifier (caster stat bonus + any of a number of possible other bonuses).

I wouldn't put too much stock in the official sheets though, exactly because of things like this: it's well possible that you have different DC mods depending on which spell you use (Gnomes have a bonus when casting Illusions, for instance, and there are feats like Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus which give you a bonus to DCs for spells of one particular school). In that case, you'd need as many boxes as you have save DCs. The sheet isn't terrible, but it's certainly not great either.
Zherog
02-09-05, 12:02 PM :blush: Um, right. :blush:

I'm going to claim temporary stupidity brought on by a combination of lack of sleep (a sick toddler in our house) and a lack of caffeine. ;)
q'afuu
02-09-05, 12:07 PM Perfectly good reasons. Case dismissed. ;)
Escef
02-09-05, 12:32 PM I know *what* they are and I found them in the glossary, but I can't find what values to put there... (except ASF...found it in the armor table)

Well, if you don't have something either put zero or leave it blank. If you don't cast spells (fighter, barbarian, rogue) the whole spells and save DC section is meaningless to you. If you don't have spell resisitence (SR) either leave it blank or put zero. Simple, yes?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
etfjr 02-09-05, 08:23 AM	I'm returning to D&D after several years absence. Needless to say, I'm having to learn the new 3.5 rules, etc. There are 3 boxes on the Character Sheet that I don't understand/can't figure out... Next to Base Attack Bonus: Spell Resistance Below the Spell list on the back: Spell Save (DC Mod) Arcane Spell Failure % Where do I find the info that goes in these places? PHB? DMG? What pages? I'm lost... Taylor
q'afuu 02-09-05, 08:34 AM	1) Spell Resistance 2) Spell Save (DC Mod) 3) Arcane Spell Failure %1) SR: how resistant you are to spells - it's a value a caster has to overcome with a caster level check or the spell fails. PHB p. 177. 2) (Spell) Save DC: DC means difficulty class; saves are attempts you get to make it so you are unaffected by by something (in this case saves). The DC indicates the target number you need to roll with your save attempt. PHB p. 177 (for spell save DCs). 3) ASF: the chance a caster has of failing to cast a spell due to circumstances like being hindered by armour. Whenever you cast a spell while having a chance of ASF making you fail, you need to roll a percentile that exceeds the number of ASF you have. If not, the spell is lost. PHB p. 56. The core rule books have a glossary and an index. It took me all but 2 minutes to find the references using those. ;)
MadApplejack 02-09-05, 08:45 AM	Spell Resistance will probably not come into play, as far as your character goes. It applies to characters who gain that feature as a result of race (such as Drow), class (Monk), or magic item. The DMG explains what SR is. The DC for spells refers to how difficult it is to resist your spell-casting; it's the number that a saving throw needs to beat (or at least equal). It's determined by adding 10 + the level of the spell + your modifier for the stat involved with spellcasting (Int for wizards, Wis for Clerics/Druids, Cha for Sorc/Bards). If a first level wizard with Int 17 that casts sleep, the DC is 14: 10 + 1 (spell level) + 3 (Int modifier). The feat "spell focus" increases that DC by 1 for all spells of a specific school. This should be in the PHB in the chapter on Magic. Arcane spell failure is the chance that an arcane spellcaster has to fail if casting a spell while wearing armor. I think it's explained in the section that details armor. Bards are an exception in that they ignore arcane spell failure if wearing light armor. Good Luck
etfjr 02-09-05, 09:38 AM	1) SR: how resistant you are to spells - it's a value a caster has to overcome with a caster level check or the spell fails. PHB p. 177. 2) (Spell) Save DC: DC means difficulty class; saves are attempts you get to make it so you are unaffected by by something (in this case saves). The DC indicates the target number you need to roll with your save attempt. PHB p. 177 (for spell save DCs). 3) ASF: the chance a caster has of failing to cast a spell due to circumstances like being hindered by armour. Whenever you cast a spell while having a chance of ASF making you fail, you need to roll a percentile that exceeds the number of ASF you have. If not, the spell is lost. PHB p. 56. The core rule books have a glossary and an index. It took me all but 2 minutes to find the references using those. ;) I know what they are and I found them in the glossary, but I can't find what values to put there... (except ASF...found it in the armor table)
etfjr 02-09-05, 09:43 AM	The DC for spells refers to how difficult it is to resist your spell-casting; it's the number that a saving throw needs to beat (or at least equal). It's determined by adding 10 + the level of the spell + your modifier for the stat involved with spellcasting (Int for wizards, Wis for Clerics/Druids, Cha for Sorc/Bards). If a first level wizard with Int 17 that casts sleep, the DC is 14: 10 + 1 (spell level) + 3 (Int modifier). The feat "spell focus" increases that DC by 1 for all spells of a specific school. This should be in the PHB in the chapter on Magic. Good Luck Ok then, what is the difference in the two place on the char sheet to enter this value? There is a series of boxes next to the spell levels in the lower right back of the sheet and another above that just below the spells list...
Zherog 02-09-05, 09:57 AM	The boxes you refer to (next to each spell level) are there to try and make things a little easier for you. Your spell DC goes up with each level spell. So to extend MadApplejack's example - if you have a wizard with a 17 intelligence, the save DC for his first level spells is 18; his save DC for his second level spells is 19; the save DC for his 3rd level spells is 20; and so on. I'm not familiar with the character sheet you're using (I haven't even looked at the PHB character sheet in about 4 years), so I can't tell you if there's any difference between the different areas for the Save DC.
q'afuu 02-09-05, 11:56 AM	... - if you have a wizard with a 17 intelligence, the save DC for his first level spells is 18; his save DC for his second level spells is 19; the save DC for his 3rd level spells is 20; and so on. Want to try that again, Z? :P It's 10 + spell level + caster attribute bonus, remember? In this case, the save DCs would be 14, 15 and 16. Don't confuse the newbies. ;) Ok then, what is the difference in the two place on the char sheet to enter this value? There is a series of boxes next to the spell levels in the lower right back of the sheet and another above that just below the spells list... The column is supposed to hold the actual DCs per spell level. The other box, with 'DC mod' below it, is supposed to hold your total DC modifier (caster stat bonus + any of a number of possible other bonuses). I wouldn't put too much stock in the official sheets though, exactly because of things like this: it's well possible that you have different DC mods depending on which spell you use (Gnomes have a bonus when casting Illusions, for instance, and there are feats like Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus which give you a bonus to DCs for spells of one particular school). In that case, you'd need as many boxes as you have save DCs. The sheet isn't terrible, but it's certainly not great either.
Zherog 02-09-05, 12:02 PM	:blush: Um, right. :blush: I'm going to claim temporary stupidity brought on by a combination of lack of sleep (a sick toddler in our house) and a lack of caffeine. ;)
q'afuu 02-09-05, 12:07 PM	Perfectly good reasons. Case dismissed. ;)
Escef 02-09-05, 12:32 PM	I know what they are and I found them in the glossary, but I can't find what values to put there... (except ASF...found it in the armor table) Well, if you don't have something either put zero or leave it blank. If you don't cast spells (fighter, barbarian, rogue) the whole spells and save DC section is meaningless to you. If you don't have spell resisitence (SR) either leave it blank or put zero. Simple, yes?