An important mistake to point out that I see often is that *level-based DCs do NOT automatically scale with the player level.* I've seen far too many people who assume the level-based DC chart is supposed to scale as you got up in levels during the campaign, but the point isn't you just scale things to keep them challenging or difficult for your character, the point is you consider how difficult the specific challenge should logically be, and set the DC based on that. For example, say you have a common household lock that's equivalent of a level 1 challenge - so DC15. You break into the house by lock picking that lock. Then you come back to that same house five levels later. The lock doesn't magically raise to and equivalent level 5 check (DC20), it's still a DC15 unless the owners have done something to increase it since, like changing it to a more secure lock because a thief broke into the house recently. This shouldn't need to be outlined, but you'd be surprised how many people say they don't just hate the DC by Level chart, but the whole game system because they get the impression the world is supposed to magically scale with the party's level. But that shouldn't happen for two primary reasons. First, it's just unrealistic. Second, it means increasing your levels and proficiency will never have a point because the world just magically rises to meet everything you do.
I didn't know about the simple DCs chart! That'll be really useful for helping my players feel like their characters are advancing in skill in comparison to the world, rather than the world leveling with them. Thanks!
Hey -- thanks for your patience! This one was on my To-Do List for a while. I think I might follow it up with another video that talks more about how to modify the DCs.
Hey, I recognize that "Angel" DVD collection! Though I do see that you somehow managed to have 5 seasons of it, when there is only 4. You must somehow have a duplicate. And, weirdly enough, the seasons are labeled 1, 2, 3, and 5. I don't know why, but that's how it is. 4 seasons only. Yep.
Does using the simple DC also require the player to have their skill trained to that level in the same way hazards require a particular minimum level to be detected or disarmed?
An important mistake to point out that I see often is that *level-based DCs do NOT automatically scale with the player level.* I've seen far too many people who assume the level-based DC chart is supposed to scale as you got up in levels during the campaign, but the point isn't you just scale things to keep them challenging or difficult for your character, the point is you consider how difficult the specific challenge should logically be, and set the DC based on that.
For example, say you have a common household lock that's equivalent of a level 1 challenge - so DC15. You break into the house by lock picking that lock. Then you come back to that same house five levels later. The lock doesn't magically raise to and equivalent level 5 check (DC20), it's still a DC15 unless the owners have done something to increase it since, like changing it to a more secure lock because a thief broke into the house recently.
This shouldn't need to be outlined, but you'd be surprised how many people say they don't just hate the DC by Level chart, but the whole game system because they get the impression the world is supposed to magically scale with the party's level. But that shouldn't happen for two primary reasons. First, it's just unrealistic. Second, it means increasing your levels and proficiency will never have a point because the world just magically rises to meet everything you do.
I didn't know about the simple DCs chart! That'll be really useful for helping my players feel like their characters are advancing in skill in comparison to the world, rather than the world leveling with them. Thanks!
Thanks Dave! I asked for this video and it’s really helpful.
Hey -- thanks for your patience! This one was on my To-Do List for a while. I think I might follow it up with another video that talks more about how to modify the DCs.
@@HowItsPlayed that would be amazing! I’m starting my homebrew soon based on Night’s Dark Terror (1st Ed DnD) and this will help me a lot.
Hey, I recognize that "Angel" DVD collection!
Though I do see that you somehow managed to have 5 seasons of it, when there is only 4. You must somehow have a duplicate. And, weirdly enough, the seasons are labeled 1, 2, 3, and 5. I don't know why, but that's how it is. 4 seasons only. Yep.
Whoa! Harsh! :)
For those who like formulas: DC = 14 + Level + floor(Level / 3). This translates to 14 + level + 1 more for every 3 levels.
GREAT topic.
Comment for the algorithm
thanks Dave, love u buddy ;-)
Great video! Converting The Iron Gods to 2e and my party has their first game on Friday. This video could not have been better timed!
Awesome! And good luck with the game!
Thanks! Game went really well if a tad slow due to all the rules we gotta remember! Your channel has been very helpful!
Does using the simple DC also require the player to have their skill trained to that level in the same way hazards require a particular minimum level to be detected or disarmed?
Typically not. The simple DC table is more of a generalization, but the GM has the final say if you'd need to be a master or not.
Thanks for your guides! You are my online GM teacher hahaha
Happy to help!
Really helpful tip.
I knew I could Like this video even. Before watching it.
Thank you for this video, you are helping a lot of people with your work.
Thank you for that!
Excellent video!