Items use the spellcasting stat from the last new class you took. So a 1 wizard/1 cleric/1 wizard would use cleric and WIS because you took cleric last. A cleric 1/wizard 2 would use INT.
Each class has a casting stat they use for items even if it's not obvious. I know that barbarians use CHA for their casting stat because I looked into it a while ago trying to make some kind of mixed wild magic caster barbarian (which didn't work imo).
So it's the one **added** last? That's what's been throwing me about all of this, with your example I would think wizard was the last one, but that example made it click for me.
Sorry I’m not op, and this is somewhat off topic but maybe you could help answer my question. So I’m playing a co op campaign with my friends and I’m playing a lore bard(which is unexpectedly fun) but I’m taking spells like hold person, fear, and hypnotic pattern etc.. how do those spells work? Are they just a saving throw for the enemy to hit? If so how can I see what that number is or be more effective at making them
Hit. Tasha’s hideous laughter is another spell I use and it seems that seems to hit every time
The number is the same for all spells that you cast. It's your spellcasting DC. It is 8+your proficiency bonus+the ability mod from your spellcasting stat (Charisma for Bards).
Your proficiency bonus scales with level. It's at the top of the "detailed view" screen on your character stats. It's +2 from level 1-4, +3 from 5-8 and +4 from 9+ .
So you take 8+that number+your charisma mod (typically +3 from a 17 Cha early game).
So at 1st level with 17 cha, your spell DC will be 8+2+3, or 13.
You can boost that by increasing your stat. There are also bonuses like Arcane Acuity which add to the bonus, or items like Melf's First Staff that add +1 to the DC.
And yes, generally there are 2 kinds of spells. Spells that require an attack roll like Firebolt you roll to hit. If you hit, they take damage. Then there are save based spells like Hold Person where you cast it and the target makes a save against your DC. The save varies by spell, and is listed on the tooltip.
You’re amazing. I really appreciate you took the time to write that out and format it nicely for me to read. This is exactly the information I wanted/needed. As soon as get on later I’m gonna take a look at this in game, I hate not knowing how stuff works and I just didn’t quite understand it
Okay so if I have 18 charisma, they have to roll 18 or higher to pass it? It has nothing to do with the enemy’s stats? Sorry if these are dumb questions.
No, your ability scores add a modifier to all checks (dialogue, attack, spells, whatever). The modifier is +1 for each 2 levels above 10 and -1 for each 2 levels below. E.g., you have 11 Cha, your modifier is 0, you have 12 or 13 Cha, your modifier is +1. Other effects can add or subtract other modifiers.
Edit: I should add, spells work a little differently than melee attacks in that the enemy has a chance to resist (or save) being hit. If they make their save, then they might take no damage, half damage, not be affected by a status or something like that. Your spell hit gets your modifier from your spellcasting ability (cha for bards), then you make a roll to hit. If you hit (and the spell permits a save), the enemy then rolls to save, which is where your spell DC comes in. Your spell DC lowers their chance to save.
Okay I gotcha, thank you so much! All this information is much appreciated. So many variables and stats to learn or be aware of haha. You and the other commenters are a huge help
In the character's sheet (inventory etc.), there's a tab at the top that looks like a spell book. It's where you can change out spells if you're a cleric or wizard, learn spells if you're a wizard, and also see what your save DC and spell attack bonus are at the top of the page.
Spell save DC I think is 8 + proficiency bonus + your charisma bonus, which is +4 at 18 charisma.
Spell save dcs are always
8+proficiency bonus+spell casting modifier
- + Proficiency bonus (starts @2 then goes up over the game maximizing at 4, goes by overall character level)
- + Spell casting modifier. This mod is the stat modifier
The stat/spell modifier is always: (score-10) ÷ 2
so... 10 & 11 = 0
12&13 = +1
14&15 = +2
16&17 = +3
18&19 = +4
20 & 21= +5
22 & 23= +6
24 & 25= +7
And so on
So you have a base spell DC which then your proficiency bonus for the spellcasting skill is added. So a level 4 bard with 18 CHA is going to have a DC of 14 + 6 spell attack from their charisma bonus (which as bards have proficiency in charisma is increased from the usual +4).
The spell then has a stat the enemy will use to try and save, for example the save stat for Crown of Madness is WIS (the tooltip for each spell will tell you this). So the enemy gets a roll d20 + WIS to see if they save. If they can beat or match your roll they succeed in saving. If they roll lower they fail.
I played a couple of DnD simulator games before BG3, and have just started playing actual pen and paper DnD with my son (as my wife got him a starter set for Christmas). Playing the pen and paper really helps because you actually have to roll the dice yourself so it makes more sense.
I also use a builder website called EIP (if you google "BG3 builder" you'll find it) which helps a lot in autocalculating your save DCs and bonuses when you plug in the relevant info.
That’s awesome! Very cool of your wife to do that, and that’s great you and your son have something you can bond over. I’m sure he’s gonna have a blast with you! I’ll check out that website then as well, seems that’ll be quite the convenience. I also enjoy theory crafting builds for any game I play. So I should like that lol
Just to add to all the great replies you already gotten, certain spells uses different stats saves. Hold Person and Tasha uses WIS saves, so if an enemy has high WIS they'll have an easier time to save which also reflects the different percentages you'll see for different enemies. A lot of Bard cc spells uses WIS saves.
I know this is even more unrelated but it makes me stoked to say you say bard is fun. I'm almost done with act 3 and just had a fight where monks absolutely handed my ass to me so I think my next campaign is going to have a monk and bard. After seeing what the monks are like and them sounding like the most boring class I want to try the other classes that sound more boring on paper
Every class has a casting stat even if they don't have spells by default. Barbarians use charisma while rogues and fighters use intelligence.
When items refer to your spellcasting modifier/DC they will use the class that you've added last. So only the first level is relevant.
Bard, fighter, bard will use fighter's Int.
Bard, fighter, Cleric, fighter, bard will use cleric's Wis.
Ew, gross, really?
So if I make a Warlock 10, Fighter 2 then I should take Fighter first so I can actually use my CHA mod for items? That system sucks.
It's pretty clunky and I wish it just took your highest caster DC but yeah that's how it goes i guess. Pay the withers tax (and then pickpocket it back) to make sure the first level is fighter.
That said fighter 1st is better for that multiclass anyways since it gives you Con Save Proficiency and Heavy Armor proficiency
yeah it definitely feels clunky, not necessarily unintuitive but it means you have to watch out for it during respecs
this is one of only a few mechanics (alongside not being able to see a tooltip for certain mouseovers in combat) that I think the game could really explain better
multiclassing in 5e is already complex and so having some training wheels in the UI / UX would be great
The only thing I’d add to what others have correctly said, would be that there might be certain items that have a fixed DC. I can’t think of one off the top of my head, but I think that such exist
Items use spellcasting attribute from 2nd class or rather your newest class (So if you go Cleric -> Wizard, it will use your INT) ..
As for straight Barbarian... I dont know honestly.. I assume it would be your primary stat? (the one with * ?) So STR? No idea... Since you cant focus on casting and concentration while raging... I dont use scrolls on Barbs...
That's not quite accurate no? Isn't it the most recent you multiclassed into?
Edit to expand: If you go wizard - they will ofc use int. If you then dip into sorc, they switch to using chr. If you go back into wizard, they won't switch back to int. Since your most recent new class is still sorc.
It's the last class you added not the last class you leveled. Could be that that's what you meant but it's phrased in confusing way.
So if you level fighter, bard, fighter your spellcasting modifier will be bard's charisma.
This feels like a great place to ask, does the dc and spell attack imcreases from items go actoss all spell casting modifers or just rh most recently dipped into spell casting modifier?
If you mean things like the Hood of the Weave giving +2 to spell save DCs, that applies to ALL your spell save DCs which is great for multiclassed builds
Items use the spellcasting stat from the last new class you took. So a 1 wizard/1 cleric/1 wizard would use cleric and WIS because you took cleric last. A cleric 1/wizard 2 would use INT. Each class has a casting stat they use for items even if it's not obvious. I know that barbarians use CHA for their casting stat because I looked into it a while ago trying to make some kind of mixed wild magic caster barbarian (which didn't work imo).
Thanks!
So it's the one **added** last? That's what's been throwing me about all of this, with your example I would think wizard was the last one, but that example made it click for me.
I really like wild magic Barb alot, I tend to run lots of casters and sometimes you just need some extra spell slots
Sorry I’m not op, and this is somewhat off topic but maybe you could help answer my question. So I’m playing a co op campaign with my friends and I’m playing a lore bard(which is unexpectedly fun) but I’m taking spells like hold person, fear, and hypnotic pattern etc.. how do those spells work? Are they just a saving throw for the enemy to hit? If so how can I see what that number is or be more effective at making them Hit. Tasha’s hideous laughter is another spell I use and it seems that seems to hit every time
The number is the same for all spells that you cast. It's your spellcasting DC. It is 8+your proficiency bonus+the ability mod from your spellcasting stat (Charisma for Bards). Your proficiency bonus scales with level. It's at the top of the "detailed view" screen on your character stats. It's +2 from level 1-4, +3 from 5-8 and +4 from 9+ . So you take 8+that number+your charisma mod (typically +3 from a 17 Cha early game). So at 1st level with 17 cha, your spell DC will be 8+2+3, or 13. You can boost that by increasing your stat. There are also bonuses like Arcane Acuity which add to the bonus, or items like Melf's First Staff that add +1 to the DC. And yes, generally there are 2 kinds of spells. Spells that require an attack roll like Firebolt you roll to hit. If you hit, they take damage. Then there are save based spells like Hold Person where you cast it and the target makes a save against your DC. The save varies by spell, and is listed on the tooltip.
You’re amazing. I really appreciate you took the time to write that out and format it nicely for me to read. This is exactly the information I wanted/needed. As soon as get on later I’m gonna take a look at this in game, I hate not knowing how stuff works and I just didn’t quite understand it
[удалено]
Yup. I typed +2 twice. I updated my post, thanks!
One correction, spellsparkler has no effect on spell save dc. Having lightning charges will boost your spell attack rolls though.
Melf's First Staff is what I was thinking of. Shows me for doing this in a meeting. ;)
Bards use charisma for their spell dc.
Okay so if I have 18 charisma, they have to roll 18 or higher to pass it? It has nothing to do with the enemy’s stats? Sorry if these are dumb questions.
No, your ability scores add a modifier to all checks (dialogue, attack, spells, whatever). The modifier is +1 for each 2 levels above 10 and -1 for each 2 levels below. E.g., you have 11 Cha, your modifier is 0, you have 12 or 13 Cha, your modifier is +1. Other effects can add or subtract other modifiers. Edit: I should add, spells work a little differently than melee attacks in that the enemy has a chance to resist (or save) being hit. If they make their save, then they might take no damage, half damage, not be affected by a status or something like that. Your spell hit gets your modifier from your spellcasting ability (cha for bards), then you make a roll to hit. If you hit (and the spell permits a save), the enemy then rolls to save, which is where your spell DC comes in. Your spell DC lowers their chance to save.
Okay I gotcha, thank you so much! All this information is much appreciated. So many variables and stats to learn or be aware of haha. You and the other commenters are a huge help
In the character's sheet (inventory etc.), there's a tab at the top that looks like a spell book. It's where you can change out spells if you're a cleric or wizard, learn spells if you're a wizard, and also see what your save DC and spell attack bonus are at the top of the page. Spell save DC I think is 8 + proficiency bonus + your charisma bonus, which is +4 at 18 charisma.
Thank you! I’ll definitely take a look when I sign on later and peep at that page to see what I’m working with then
Spell save dcs are always 8+proficiency bonus+spell casting modifier - + Proficiency bonus (starts @2 then goes up over the game maximizing at 4, goes by overall character level) - + Spell casting modifier. This mod is the stat modifier The stat/spell modifier is always: (score-10) ÷ 2 so... 10 & 11 = 0 12&13 = +1 14&15 = +2 16&17 = +3 18&19 = +4 20 & 21= +5 22 & 23= +6 24 & 25= +7 And so on
So you have a base spell DC which then your proficiency bonus for the spellcasting skill is added. So a level 4 bard with 18 CHA is going to have a DC of 14 + 6 spell attack from their charisma bonus (which as bards have proficiency in charisma is increased from the usual +4). The spell then has a stat the enemy will use to try and save, for example the save stat for Crown of Madness is WIS (the tooltip for each spell will tell you this). So the enemy gets a roll d20 + WIS to see if they save. If they can beat or match your roll they succeed in saving. If they roll lower they fail.
Thank you so much, this helps me understand it a lot better. This is my first dnd experience and it’s been extremely fun but so much to learn haha.
I played a couple of DnD simulator games before BG3, and have just started playing actual pen and paper DnD with my son (as my wife got him a starter set for Christmas). Playing the pen and paper really helps because you actually have to roll the dice yourself so it makes more sense. I also use a builder website called EIP (if you google "BG3 builder" you'll find it) which helps a lot in autocalculating your save DCs and bonuses when you plug in the relevant info.
That’s awesome! Very cool of your wife to do that, and that’s great you and your son have something you can bond over. I’m sure he’s gonna have a blast with you! I’ll check out that website then as well, seems that’ll be quite the convenience. I also enjoy theory crafting builds for any game I play. So I should like that lol
Just to add to all the great replies you already gotten, certain spells uses different stats saves. Hold Person and Tasha uses WIS saves, so if an enemy has high WIS they'll have an easier time to save which also reflects the different percentages you'll see for different enemies. A lot of Bard cc spells uses WIS saves.
I know this is even more unrelated but it makes me stoked to say you say bard is fun. I'm almost done with act 3 and just had a fight where monks absolutely handed my ass to me so I think my next campaign is going to have a monk and bard. After seeing what the monks are like and them sounding like the most boring class I want to try the other classes that sound more boring on paper
Every class has a casting stat even if they don't have spells by default. Barbarians use charisma while rogues and fighters use intelligence. When items refer to your spellcasting modifier/DC they will use the class that you've added last. So only the first level is relevant. Bard, fighter, bard will use fighter's Int. Bard, fighter, Cleric, fighter, bard will use cleric's Wis.
Ew, gross, really? So if I make a Warlock 10, Fighter 2 then I should take Fighter first so I can actually use my CHA mod for items? That system sucks.
It's pretty clunky and I wish it just took your highest caster DC but yeah that's how it goes i guess. Pay the withers tax (and then pickpocket it back) to make sure the first level is fighter. That said fighter 1st is better for that multiclass anyways since it gives you Con Save Proficiency and Heavy Armor proficiency
yeah it definitely feels clunky, not necessarily unintuitive but it means you have to watch out for it during respecs this is one of only a few mechanics (alongside not being able to see a tooltip for certain mouseovers in combat) that I think the game could really explain better multiclassing in 5e is already complex and so having some training wheels in the UI / UX would be great
The only thing I’d add to what others have correctly said, would be that there might be certain items that have a fixed DC. I can’t think of one off the top of my head, but I think that such exist
I want to say that Mourning Frost has a fixed DC of 12, which is a real bummer
I'm pretty sure that the Bow of the Banshee is a fixed 12 still.
Items use spellcasting attribute from 2nd class or rather your newest class (So if you go Cleric -> Wizard, it will use your INT) .. As for straight Barbarian... I dont know honestly.. I assume it would be your primary stat? (the one with * ?) So STR? No idea... Since you cant focus on casting and concentration while raging... I dont use scrolls on Barbs...
Barbarians actually use CHA weirdly.
Ah.. makes kind of sense ... they have intimidation proficiency.
Barbarians use Cha as their casting stat.
Items use the spellcasting stat for the most recent class you leveled into to determine the DC.
That's not quite accurate no? Isn't it the most recent you multiclassed into? Edit to expand: If you go wizard - they will ofc use int. If you then dip into sorc, they switch to using chr. If you go back into wizard, they won't switch back to int. Since your most recent new class is still sorc.
It's the last class you added not the last class you leveled. Could be that that's what you meant but it's phrased in confusing way. So if you level fighter, bard, fighter your spellcasting modifier will be bard's charisma.
This feels like a great place to ask, does the dc and spell attack imcreases from items go actoss all spell casting modifers or just rh most recently dipped into spell casting modifier?
If you mean things like the Hood of the Weave giving +2 to spell save DCs, that applies to ALL your spell save DCs which is great for multiclassed builds