Calculating Spot DC's [Archive] - Wizards Community

Calculating Spot DC's [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DMStue
05-16-05, 02:41 AM Hello Folks,

Ok .... I've found the Distances for the detecting creatures in the wilds and I know when to check ... http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=429046

Now I am struggling with whether to use a spot or listen check and how to set DC's.

I have found the DC for spoting an invisible creature and I think I can work out a listen check from the table in the skill section but the Spot description gives me very little clue.

Any advice or sample DC's would be most welcome.

Regards

DMStue
Colmarr
05-16-05, 03:14 AM In general, I would recommend allowing character to use either (and both) skills. Success on either roll indicates that the character has detected the enemy.

The only time use of the skills should be excluded is when the sense they are based on is useless, such as Spot in total darkness and Listen within the effect of a Silence spell.

Be careful with excluding spot checks though. Given that Listen is the only other detection skill, Spot by inference also covers touch ("Gee it's getting hot in here"), smell ("why does it suddenly smell like death in here?"), and potentially taste.

As for DCs, there are no hard and fast rules. I usually do the following:

If the target is not actively hiding or moving silently

Base DC of 0. Adjust Spot (but not listen) DCs by 2 (DM's best friend) for each category larger or smaller than medium. Increase Spot (but not Listen) DCs by 4 for intervening cover or concealment.

eg. At 50ft, the spot check to notice another human is 5.

eg. At 120 feet, the spot check to notice an ogre behind a wall is 14. (0 + 12 (distance) - 2 (size) + 4 (cover))

If the target is actively trying to avoid detection

The DC is their Hide/Move Silently roll, with appropriate modifiers as per the Spot or Listen skills.
Dhaerow
05-16-05, 04:08 AM The +1 to the spot DC for each 10 ft. is considering that the character has cover and is hiding. If the character hasn't got cover, it shouldn't be as much. More like +1 for each 30 ft.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DMStue 05-16-05, 02:41 AM	Hello Folks, Ok .... I've found the Distances for the detecting creatures in the wilds and I know when to check ... http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=429046 Now I am struggling with whether to use a spot or listen check and how to set DC's. I have found the DC for spoting an invisible creature and I think I can work out a listen check from the table in the skill section but the Spot description gives me very little clue. Any advice or sample DC's would be most welcome. Regards DMStue
Colmarr 05-16-05, 03:14 AM	In general, I would recommend allowing character to use either (and both) skills. Success on either roll indicates that the character has detected the enemy. The only time use of the skills should be excluded is when the sense they are based on is useless, such as Spot in total darkness and Listen within the effect of a Silence spell. Be careful with excluding spot checks though. Given that Listen is the only other detection skill, Spot by inference also covers touch ("Gee it's getting hot in here"), smell ("why does it suddenly smell like death in here?"), and potentially taste. As for DCs, there are no hard and fast rules. I usually do the following: If the target is not actively hiding or moving silently Base DC of 0. Adjust Spot (but not listen) DCs by 2 (DM's best friend) for each category larger or smaller than medium. Increase Spot (but not Listen) DCs by 4 for intervening cover or concealment. eg. At 50ft, the spot check to notice another human is 5. eg. At 120 feet, the spot check to notice an ogre behind a wall is 14. (0 + 12 (distance) - 2 (size) + 4 (cover)) If the target is actively trying to avoid detection The DC is their Hide/Move Silently roll, with appropriate modifiers as per the Spot or Listen skills.
Dhaerow 05-16-05, 04:08 AM	The +1 to the spot DC for each 10 ft. is considering that the character has cover and is hiding. If the character hasn't got cover, it shouldn't be as much. More like +1 for each 30 ft.