Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Argis Aug 19, 2015 15:46:41	I am having trouble understanding the Arcane Lock spell. In the first paragraph, it says that you can cast it on a door, and it becomes impassable unless it is broken,  or the spell supressed or dispelled. In the next paragtaph, it adds 10 to the DC to pick the lock or to force it open. This seems contradictory.    What if there was no lock? There was no DC to "force open" the door, so then what? Was the DC zero, so now it is DC 10 to force open? That sounds pretty easy. Hardly "impassable unless broken" as the first paragraph suggests. Maybe the "force open" means "breaking it," ... unless you pick the lock?    If the lock is picked with the higher difficulty, does the door open normally, or does it still have to be forced? It seems if the lock is picked, then it is in the same state it would be if it had no lock at all, so it shouldn't just open up, but heck if I know.   It can be cast on an "other entryway." That sounds like it can be cast on a doorway even without a door there! I don't think it really means that, but what is an "other entryway" then? Maybe that is to cover things like pouches, boxes, books, stones rolled into place over a passageway?
#2 jaelis Aug 19, 2015 18:34:34	The spell keeps the door closed until it is dispelled or suppressed.   In addition, any existing locks on the door become harder to pick. Not sure how often that would come up, but say you knew the password, but the door was also locked mundanely. Then it would be harder to get through than otherwise.   The spell can only be cast on a closed door, ..., entryway. So the entryway must have a means of closure.
#3 WorBlade Aug 21, 2015 14:57:00	An interesting Rules as Written question. It clearly says "unpassible until broken" or supressed. yet it bothers to note that lock picking DC is +10. Why bother to note that if the only way in is password or braking the portal? I personally run it that the caster can choose to seal the object/door (meaning it must be broken open) or seal the lock (making it harder to pick). I didn't find any standard DCs for bustng down doors or prying open chests. Just the suggested Difficulty Class info on page 238 of the DMG. Easy is 10, Moderate is 15, Hard 30 etc. Breaking iron manacles is a DC 20 STR check (PHB info) if that helps.
#4 El_Condoro Aug 24, 2015 3:49:56	As WorBlade said.   A normal door when closed can be opened by turning the doorknob or smashing it down (Knock spell aside). When Arcane Lock is cast on it, it can't be opened with the door knob and, since there is no lock, can only be opened by smashing it down. To do so normally might be DC 10 (Easy) but with Arcane Lock it becomes 20.    A door/chest etc with a lock can only be opened by picking the lock or smashing the door down/breaking open the chest. The DC that was set for doing either is now adjusted up by 10 when Arcane Lock is cast on it.   Even if a door is easy to smash down, the act of doing so will likely cause a lot of noise, which might be the reason for the Arcane Lock - a means of egress for anyone with the password but a kind of alarm for when intruders call.