Post/Author/DateTime	Post
thrinidel 03-10-08, 10:59 AM	How does one determine the spell save DC for saves against beholder eye rays? I threw a Death Tyrant against my party, only realizing in the first round that I did not know the DC they needed for eye ray saves... I guess the question is more general: for monsters' spell-like abilities that allow a save, how does not determine the save DC? Assume a caster level equivalent to the number of hit dice of the monster? As usual, I'm not only interested in answers, I'm also interested in knowing rationale and references to rule citations, so I can learn how to research and answer these questions for myself, rather than always asking others. Thanks in advance; I'm sure I should know this...
Merestil Haye 03-10-08, 11:18 AM	How does one determine the spell save DC for saves against beholder eye rays? I threw a Death Tyrant against my party, only realizing in the first round that I did not know the DC they needed for eye ray saves... I guess the question is more general: for monsters' spell-like abilities that allow a save, how does not determine the save DC? Assume a caster level equivalent to the number of hit dice of the monster? As usual, I'm not only interested in answers, I'm also interested in knowing rationale and references to rule citations, so I can learn how to research and answer these questions for myself, rather than always asking others. Thanks in advance; I'm sure I should know this...The principles. The rules on special abilities are found here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#specialAbilities). From those rules, the saving throw of an SLA is 10 + the level of the spell the SLA duplicates + the creature's Cha modifier while the saving throw of a supernatural ability is 10 + ½ the creature's racial HD + a relevant ability modifier. This is usually Cha, but can differ. For an effect produced by a creature's body (eg poisons, dragon breath) the modifier is the creature's Con modifier. Other ability modifiers are rare but not unknown (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/nightshade.htm#nightwalker). The beholder's eye-rays are Supernatural abilities not spell-like, therefore you use the latter formula (see MM page 25).