How do spells that require an ability check vs. the caster's spell save DC work?





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Some spells for a wizard state that they need an ability check vs. spell save DC (SSDC). I'm not understanding how this is supposed to work.



If the spell says a creature can see through the effect if it passes an Int vs. the SSDC, how does that work? A d20 is rolled by the DM and the Int mod (if any) of the creature is added and it has to beat (be greater than [or equal to?]) my wizard's SSDC (8 + Wis mod + proficiency bonus)?



Note that this is not about how to calculate this SSDC; I already know how to do that.










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    Related: Calculating Wizard spell casting ability and spell attack bonus and How and when do I use my spell save DC and spell attack modifier?
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    Mar 28 at 16:57








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Welcome! You can take the tour as an introduction to the site and check out the help center for further guidance. Your question was edited in an attempt to make it clearer. Feel free to revert the changes or edit it again if you don't like any of the changes. Good luck and happy gaming!
    $endgroup$
    – Sdjz
    Mar 28 at 17:03






  • 7




    $begingroup$
    @enkryptor There is absolutely no call for sarcasm and rudeness here. If you want to help the user, put an answer down below. If you want to mock them, keep it to yourself. Either way, this comment is not appropriate.
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    Mar 28 at 17:12








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Sorry to roll back your question edit, but an answer addresses the wis/int issue and your edit would invalidate their answer.
    $endgroup$
    – NautArch
    Mar 28 at 18:03






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @NautArch I thought invalidating answers was a perfectly alright thing to do, as long as you didn't completely change the meat of the question.
    $endgroup$
    – J. A. Streich
    Mar 28 at 19:18


















6












$begingroup$


Some spells for a wizard state that they need an ability check vs. spell save DC (SSDC). I'm not understanding how this is supposed to work.



If the spell says a creature can see through the effect if it passes an Int vs. the SSDC, how does that work? A d20 is rolled by the DM and the Int mod (if any) of the creature is added and it has to beat (be greater than [or equal to?]) my wizard's SSDC (8 + Wis mod + proficiency bonus)?



Note that this is not about how to calculate this SSDC; I already know how to do that.










share|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Related: Calculating Wizard spell casting ability and spell attack bonus and How and when do I use my spell save DC and spell attack modifier?
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    Mar 28 at 16:57








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Welcome! You can take the tour as an introduction to the site and check out the help center for further guidance. Your question was edited in an attempt to make it clearer. Feel free to revert the changes or edit it again if you don't like any of the changes. Good luck and happy gaming!
    $endgroup$
    – Sdjz
    Mar 28 at 17:03






  • 7




    $begingroup$
    @enkryptor There is absolutely no call for sarcasm and rudeness here. If you want to help the user, put an answer down below. If you want to mock them, keep it to yourself. Either way, this comment is not appropriate.
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    Mar 28 at 17:12








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Sorry to roll back your question edit, but an answer addresses the wis/int issue and your edit would invalidate their answer.
    $endgroup$
    – NautArch
    Mar 28 at 18:03






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @NautArch I thought invalidating answers was a perfectly alright thing to do, as long as you didn't completely change the meat of the question.
    $endgroup$
    – J. A. Streich
    Mar 28 at 19:18














6












6








6





$begingroup$


Some spells for a wizard state that they need an ability check vs. spell save DC (SSDC). I'm not understanding how this is supposed to work.



If the spell says a creature can see through the effect if it passes an Int vs. the SSDC, how does that work? A d20 is rolled by the DM and the Int mod (if any) of the creature is added and it has to beat (be greater than [or equal to?]) my wizard's SSDC (8 + Wis mod + proficiency bonus)?



Note that this is not about how to calculate this SSDC; I already know how to do that.










share|improve this question











$endgroup$




Some spells for a wizard state that they need an ability check vs. spell save DC (SSDC). I'm not understanding how this is supposed to work.



If the spell says a creature can see through the effect if it passes an Int vs. the SSDC, how does that work? A d20 is rolled by the DM and the Int mod (if any) of the creature is added and it has to beat (be greater than [or equal to?]) my wizard's SSDC (8 + Wis mod + proficiency bonus)?



Note that this is not about how to calculate this SSDC; I already know how to do that.







dnd-5e spells difficulty-class






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share|improve this question













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edited Mar 28 at 19:10









V2Blast

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26.3k591161










asked Mar 28 at 16:37









TanstaaflTanstaafl

372




372








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Related: Calculating Wizard spell casting ability and spell attack bonus and How and when do I use my spell save DC and spell attack modifier?
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    Mar 28 at 16:57








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Welcome! You can take the tour as an introduction to the site and check out the help center for further guidance. Your question was edited in an attempt to make it clearer. Feel free to revert the changes or edit it again if you don't like any of the changes. Good luck and happy gaming!
    $endgroup$
    – Sdjz
    Mar 28 at 17:03






  • 7




    $begingroup$
    @enkryptor There is absolutely no call for sarcasm and rudeness here. If you want to help the user, put an answer down below. If you want to mock them, keep it to yourself. Either way, this comment is not appropriate.
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    Mar 28 at 17:12








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Sorry to roll back your question edit, but an answer addresses the wis/int issue and your edit would invalidate their answer.
    $endgroup$
    – NautArch
    Mar 28 at 18:03






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @NautArch I thought invalidating answers was a perfectly alright thing to do, as long as you didn't completely change the meat of the question.
    $endgroup$
    – J. A. Streich
    Mar 28 at 19:18














  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Related: Calculating Wizard spell casting ability and spell attack bonus and How and when do I use my spell save DC and spell attack modifier?
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    Mar 28 at 16:57








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Welcome! You can take the tour as an introduction to the site and check out the help center for further guidance. Your question was edited in an attempt to make it clearer. Feel free to revert the changes or edit it again if you don't like any of the changes. Good luck and happy gaming!
    $endgroup$
    – Sdjz
    Mar 28 at 17:03






  • 7




    $begingroup$
    @enkryptor There is absolutely no call for sarcasm and rudeness here. If you want to help the user, put an answer down below. If you want to mock them, keep it to yourself. Either way, this comment is not appropriate.
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    Mar 28 at 17:12








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Sorry to roll back your question edit, but an answer addresses the wis/int issue and your edit would invalidate their answer.
    $endgroup$
    – NautArch
    Mar 28 at 18:03






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @NautArch I thought invalidating answers was a perfectly alright thing to do, as long as you didn't completely change the meat of the question.
    $endgroup$
    – J. A. Streich
    Mar 28 at 19:18








2




2




$begingroup$
Related: Calculating Wizard spell casting ability and spell attack bonus and How and when do I use my spell save DC and spell attack modifier?
$endgroup$
– Rubiksmoose
Mar 28 at 16:57






$begingroup$
Related: Calculating Wizard spell casting ability and spell attack bonus and How and when do I use my spell save DC and spell attack modifier?
$endgroup$
– Rubiksmoose
Mar 28 at 16:57






2




2




$begingroup$
Welcome! You can take the tour as an introduction to the site and check out the help center for further guidance. Your question was edited in an attempt to make it clearer. Feel free to revert the changes or edit it again if you don't like any of the changes. Good luck and happy gaming!
$endgroup$
– Sdjz
Mar 28 at 17:03




$begingroup$
Welcome! You can take the tour as an introduction to the site and check out the help center for further guidance. Your question was edited in an attempt to make it clearer. Feel free to revert the changes or edit it again if you don't like any of the changes. Good luck and happy gaming!
$endgroup$
– Sdjz
Mar 28 at 17:03




7




7




$begingroup$
@enkryptor There is absolutely no call for sarcasm and rudeness here. If you want to help the user, put an answer down below. If you want to mock them, keep it to yourself. Either way, this comment is not appropriate.
$endgroup$
– Rubiksmoose
Mar 28 at 17:12






$begingroup$
@enkryptor There is absolutely no call for sarcasm and rudeness here. If you want to help the user, put an answer down below. If you want to mock them, keep it to yourself. Either way, this comment is not appropriate.
$endgroup$
– Rubiksmoose
Mar 28 at 17:12






2




2




$begingroup$
Sorry to roll back your question edit, but an answer addresses the wis/int issue and your edit would invalidate their answer.
$endgroup$
– NautArch
Mar 28 at 18:03




$begingroup$
Sorry to roll back your question edit, but an answer addresses the wis/int issue and your edit would invalidate their answer.
$endgroup$
– NautArch
Mar 28 at 18:03




2




2




$begingroup$
@NautArch I thought invalidating answers was a perfectly alright thing to do, as long as you didn't completely change the meat of the question.
$endgroup$
– J. A. Streich
Mar 28 at 19:18




$begingroup$
@NautArch I thought invalidating answers was a perfectly alright thing to do, as long as you didn't completely change the meat of the question.
$endgroup$
– J. A. Streich
Mar 28 at 19:18










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

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Your analysis is correct (mostly).



Minor illusion is a good example of this. The text (PHB 260) says:




... the creature can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC.




If a creature under the control of the DM uses its action to investigate the illusion, the DM rolls the d20, adds the creature's Investigation bonus (or just its Intelligence bonus if it doesn't have a modifier specified for the Investigation skill), and checks if it is greater than or equal to the caster's spell save DC.



If the check is greater than or equal to the caster's spell save DC, the creature determines the illusion is false.



However, Wizards use Intelligence, not Wisdom, for their spells.



The Wizard's spell save DC, therefore, is 8 + [Intelligence modifier] + [Proficiency bonus].






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Thanks, I knew it was Int...just a kind of typo.
    $endgroup$
    – Tanstaafl
    Mar 28 at 17:58






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @Tanstaafl No worries, we kind of figured it was, but this answer covered it just in case. FYI if you find an answer that solves your problem you can indicate that by accepting it by clicking the checkmark next to it. Sometimes it is good to wait 24 hours to do so but you are welcome to do it whenever (or not at all)
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    Mar 28 at 18:07










  • $begingroup$
    @Tanstaafl You can, and probably should, change "Wis" to "Int" in your question... It's a good question, and there's really no point in having that there for all time. Just click the "edit" link under your question and edit away.
    $endgroup$
    – Reginald Blue
    Mar 28 at 19:15










  • $begingroup$
    What gives you proficiency on spellsaves?
    $endgroup$
    – Miles Bedinger
    Mar 28 at 20:18






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @MilesBedinger Your class gives you two saving throw proficiencies, if that's what you mean, but a spellcasting class calculates their spell save DC with 8 + [their spellcasting modifier] + [their proficiency bonus]. A spellcaster is always proficient in the spells they cast
    $endgroup$
    – Blake Steel
    Mar 28 at 20:25



















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There's no functional difference between rolling an ability check against a spell DC and rolling any other ability check against any other DC; it's just a different person rolling the dice, and the difficulty is coming off your character sheet rather than the DM's notes.



Meeting the DC of a check exactly is in fact a success, as described in step 3 of "The d20" in the introduction to the Player's Handbook (page 7). My group always forgets whether meeting a DC is a success or not, so I remind them, "The guy with the die wins a tie." (And in the case where more than one person are rolling in opposition -- a Contest, per PHB p.174 -- a tie is really a tie, and the situation is not resolved in either character's favor.)






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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    16












    $begingroup$

    Your analysis is correct (mostly).



    Minor illusion is a good example of this. The text (PHB 260) says:




    ... the creature can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC.




    If a creature under the control of the DM uses its action to investigate the illusion, the DM rolls the d20, adds the creature's Investigation bonus (or just its Intelligence bonus if it doesn't have a modifier specified for the Investigation skill), and checks if it is greater than or equal to the caster's spell save DC.



    If the check is greater than or equal to the caster's spell save DC, the creature determines the illusion is false.



    However, Wizards use Intelligence, not Wisdom, for their spells.



    The Wizard's spell save DC, therefore, is 8 + [Intelligence modifier] + [Proficiency bonus].






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      Thanks, I knew it was Int...just a kind of typo.
      $endgroup$
      – Tanstaafl
      Mar 28 at 17:58






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @Tanstaafl No worries, we kind of figured it was, but this answer covered it just in case. FYI if you find an answer that solves your problem you can indicate that by accepting it by clicking the checkmark next to it. Sometimes it is good to wait 24 hours to do so but you are welcome to do it whenever (or not at all)
      $endgroup$
      – Rubiksmoose
      Mar 28 at 18:07










    • $begingroup$
      @Tanstaafl You can, and probably should, change "Wis" to "Int" in your question... It's a good question, and there's really no point in having that there for all time. Just click the "edit" link under your question and edit away.
      $endgroup$
      – Reginald Blue
      Mar 28 at 19:15










    • $begingroup$
      What gives you proficiency on spellsaves?
      $endgroup$
      – Miles Bedinger
      Mar 28 at 20:18






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @MilesBedinger Your class gives you two saving throw proficiencies, if that's what you mean, but a spellcasting class calculates their spell save DC with 8 + [their spellcasting modifier] + [their proficiency bonus]. A spellcaster is always proficient in the spells they cast
      $endgroup$
      – Blake Steel
      Mar 28 at 20:25
















    16












    $begingroup$

    Your analysis is correct (mostly).



    Minor illusion is a good example of this. The text (PHB 260) says:




    ... the creature can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC.




    If a creature under the control of the DM uses its action to investigate the illusion, the DM rolls the d20, adds the creature's Investigation bonus (or just its Intelligence bonus if it doesn't have a modifier specified for the Investigation skill), and checks if it is greater than or equal to the caster's spell save DC.



    If the check is greater than or equal to the caster's spell save DC, the creature determines the illusion is false.



    However, Wizards use Intelligence, not Wisdom, for their spells.



    The Wizard's spell save DC, therefore, is 8 + [Intelligence modifier] + [Proficiency bonus].






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      Thanks, I knew it was Int...just a kind of typo.
      $endgroup$
      – Tanstaafl
      Mar 28 at 17:58






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @Tanstaafl No worries, we kind of figured it was, but this answer covered it just in case. FYI if you find an answer that solves your problem you can indicate that by accepting it by clicking the checkmark next to it. Sometimes it is good to wait 24 hours to do so but you are welcome to do it whenever (or not at all)
      $endgroup$
      – Rubiksmoose
      Mar 28 at 18:07










    • $begingroup$
      @Tanstaafl You can, and probably should, change "Wis" to "Int" in your question... It's a good question, and there's really no point in having that there for all time. Just click the "edit" link under your question and edit away.
      $endgroup$
      – Reginald Blue
      Mar 28 at 19:15










    • $begingroup$
      What gives you proficiency on spellsaves?
      $endgroup$
      – Miles Bedinger
      Mar 28 at 20:18






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @MilesBedinger Your class gives you two saving throw proficiencies, if that's what you mean, but a spellcasting class calculates their spell save DC with 8 + [their spellcasting modifier] + [their proficiency bonus]. A spellcaster is always proficient in the spells they cast
      $endgroup$
      – Blake Steel
      Mar 28 at 20:25














    16












    16








    16





    $begingroup$

    Your analysis is correct (mostly).



    Minor illusion is a good example of this. The text (PHB 260) says:




    ... the creature can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC.




    If a creature under the control of the DM uses its action to investigate the illusion, the DM rolls the d20, adds the creature's Investigation bonus (or just its Intelligence bonus if it doesn't have a modifier specified for the Investigation skill), and checks if it is greater than or equal to the caster's spell save DC.



    If the check is greater than or equal to the caster's spell save DC, the creature determines the illusion is false.



    However, Wizards use Intelligence, not Wisdom, for their spells.



    The Wizard's spell save DC, therefore, is 8 + [Intelligence modifier] + [Proficiency bonus].






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$



    Your analysis is correct (mostly).



    Minor illusion is a good example of this. The text (PHB 260) says:




    ... the creature can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC.




    If a creature under the control of the DM uses its action to investigate the illusion, the DM rolls the d20, adds the creature's Investigation bonus (or just its Intelligence bonus if it doesn't have a modifier specified for the Investigation skill), and checks if it is greater than or equal to the caster's spell save DC.



    If the check is greater than or equal to the caster's spell save DC, the creature determines the illusion is false.



    However, Wizards use Intelligence, not Wisdom, for their spells.



    The Wizard's spell save DC, therefore, is 8 + [Intelligence modifier] + [Proficiency bonus].







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited Mar 28 at 19:12









    V2Blast

    26.3k591161




    26.3k591161










    answered Mar 28 at 16:48









    Blake SteelBlake Steel

    4,4381951




    4,4381951












    • $begingroup$
      Thanks, I knew it was Int...just a kind of typo.
      $endgroup$
      – Tanstaafl
      Mar 28 at 17:58






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @Tanstaafl No worries, we kind of figured it was, but this answer covered it just in case. FYI if you find an answer that solves your problem you can indicate that by accepting it by clicking the checkmark next to it. Sometimes it is good to wait 24 hours to do so but you are welcome to do it whenever (or not at all)
      $endgroup$
      – Rubiksmoose
      Mar 28 at 18:07










    • $begingroup$
      @Tanstaafl You can, and probably should, change "Wis" to "Int" in your question... It's a good question, and there's really no point in having that there for all time. Just click the "edit" link under your question and edit away.
      $endgroup$
      – Reginald Blue
      Mar 28 at 19:15










    • $begingroup$
      What gives you proficiency on spellsaves?
      $endgroup$
      – Miles Bedinger
      Mar 28 at 20:18






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @MilesBedinger Your class gives you two saving throw proficiencies, if that's what you mean, but a spellcasting class calculates their spell save DC with 8 + [their spellcasting modifier] + [their proficiency bonus]. A spellcaster is always proficient in the spells they cast
      $endgroup$
      – Blake Steel
      Mar 28 at 20:25


















    • $begingroup$
      Thanks, I knew it was Int...just a kind of typo.
      $endgroup$
      – Tanstaafl
      Mar 28 at 17:58






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @Tanstaafl No worries, we kind of figured it was, but this answer covered it just in case. FYI if you find an answer that solves your problem you can indicate that by accepting it by clicking the checkmark next to it. Sometimes it is good to wait 24 hours to do so but you are welcome to do it whenever (or not at all)
      $endgroup$
      – Rubiksmoose
      Mar 28 at 18:07










    • $begingroup$
      @Tanstaafl You can, and probably should, change "Wis" to "Int" in your question... It's a good question, and there's really no point in having that there for all time. Just click the "edit" link under your question and edit away.
      $endgroup$
      – Reginald Blue
      Mar 28 at 19:15










    • $begingroup$
      What gives you proficiency on spellsaves?
      $endgroup$
      – Miles Bedinger
      Mar 28 at 20:18






    • 1




      $begingroup$
      @MilesBedinger Your class gives you two saving throw proficiencies, if that's what you mean, but a spellcasting class calculates their spell save DC with 8 + [their spellcasting modifier] + [their proficiency bonus]. A spellcaster is always proficient in the spells they cast
      $endgroup$
      – Blake Steel
      Mar 28 at 20:25
















    $begingroup$
    Thanks, I knew it was Int...just a kind of typo.
    $endgroup$
    – Tanstaafl
    Mar 28 at 17:58




    $begingroup$
    Thanks, I knew it was Int...just a kind of typo.
    $endgroup$
    – Tanstaafl
    Mar 28 at 17:58




    1




    1




    $begingroup$
    @Tanstaafl No worries, we kind of figured it was, but this answer covered it just in case. FYI if you find an answer that solves your problem you can indicate that by accepting it by clicking the checkmark next to it. Sometimes it is good to wait 24 hours to do so but you are welcome to do it whenever (or not at all)
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    Mar 28 at 18:07




    $begingroup$
    @Tanstaafl No worries, we kind of figured it was, but this answer covered it just in case. FYI if you find an answer that solves your problem you can indicate that by accepting it by clicking the checkmark next to it. Sometimes it is good to wait 24 hours to do so but you are welcome to do it whenever (or not at all)
    $endgroup$
    – Rubiksmoose
    Mar 28 at 18:07












    $begingroup$
    @Tanstaafl You can, and probably should, change "Wis" to "Int" in your question... It's a good question, and there's really no point in having that there for all time. Just click the "edit" link under your question and edit away.
    $endgroup$
    – Reginald Blue
    Mar 28 at 19:15




    $begingroup$
    @Tanstaafl You can, and probably should, change "Wis" to "Int" in your question... It's a good question, and there's really no point in having that there for all time. Just click the "edit" link under your question and edit away.
    $endgroup$
    – Reginald Blue
    Mar 28 at 19:15












    $begingroup$
    What gives you proficiency on spellsaves?
    $endgroup$
    – Miles Bedinger
    Mar 28 at 20:18




    $begingroup$
    What gives you proficiency on spellsaves?
    $endgroup$
    – Miles Bedinger
    Mar 28 at 20:18




    1




    1




    $begingroup$
    @MilesBedinger Your class gives you two saving throw proficiencies, if that's what you mean, but a spellcasting class calculates their spell save DC with 8 + [their spellcasting modifier] + [their proficiency bonus]. A spellcaster is always proficient in the spells they cast
    $endgroup$
    – Blake Steel
    Mar 28 at 20:25




    $begingroup$
    @MilesBedinger Your class gives you two saving throw proficiencies, if that's what you mean, but a spellcasting class calculates their spell save DC with 8 + [their spellcasting modifier] + [their proficiency bonus]. A spellcaster is always proficient in the spells they cast
    $endgroup$
    – Blake Steel
    Mar 28 at 20:25













    2












    $begingroup$

    There's no functional difference between rolling an ability check against a spell DC and rolling any other ability check against any other DC; it's just a different person rolling the dice, and the difficulty is coming off your character sheet rather than the DM's notes.



    Meeting the DC of a check exactly is in fact a success, as described in step 3 of "The d20" in the introduction to the Player's Handbook (page 7). My group always forgets whether meeting a DC is a success or not, so I remind them, "The guy with the die wins a tie." (And in the case where more than one person are rolling in opposition -- a Contest, per PHB p.174 -- a tie is really a tie, and the situation is not resolved in either character's favor.)






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$


















      2












      $begingroup$

      There's no functional difference between rolling an ability check against a spell DC and rolling any other ability check against any other DC; it's just a different person rolling the dice, and the difficulty is coming off your character sheet rather than the DM's notes.



      Meeting the DC of a check exactly is in fact a success, as described in step 3 of "The d20" in the introduction to the Player's Handbook (page 7). My group always forgets whether meeting a DC is a success or not, so I remind them, "The guy with the die wins a tie." (And in the case where more than one person are rolling in opposition -- a Contest, per PHB p.174 -- a tie is really a tie, and the situation is not resolved in either character's favor.)






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$
















        2












        2








        2





        $begingroup$

        There's no functional difference between rolling an ability check against a spell DC and rolling any other ability check against any other DC; it's just a different person rolling the dice, and the difficulty is coming off your character sheet rather than the DM's notes.



        Meeting the DC of a check exactly is in fact a success, as described in step 3 of "The d20" in the introduction to the Player's Handbook (page 7). My group always forgets whether meeting a DC is a success or not, so I remind them, "The guy with the die wins a tie." (And in the case where more than one person are rolling in opposition -- a Contest, per PHB p.174 -- a tie is really a tie, and the situation is not resolved in either character's favor.)






        share|improve this answer









        $endgroup$



        There's no functional difference between rolling an ability check against a spell DC and rolling any other ability check against any other DC; it's just a different person rolling the dice, and the difficulty is coming off your character sheet rather than the DM's notes.



        Meeting the DC of a check exactly is in fact a success, as described in step 3 of "The d20" in the introduction to the Player's Handbook (page 7). My group always forgets whether meeting a DC is a success or not, so I remind them, "The guy with the die wins a tie." (And in the case where more than one person are rolling in opposition -- a Contest, per PHB p.174 -- a tie is really a tie, and the situation is not resolved in either character's favor.)







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Mar 28 at 20:48









        Darth PseudonymDarth Pseudonym

        16.1k34188




        16.1k34188






























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