Mixing
Should skill checks be higher or lower than saves?
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
I'm homebrewing a rotten, collapsable staircase. I want there to be a dex check to climb it, but if they fail the check, they can make a save to avoid falling.
Should the check or the save be of a higher DC?
For saves and checks in general, is one typically higher than the other?
dnd-5e skills encounter-design
edited 1 hour ago
PixelMaster
6,6442179
asked 2 hours ago
Govika
311
New contributor
Govika is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
I'm homebrewing a rotten, collapsable staircase. I want there to be a dex check to climb it, but if they fail the check, they can make a save to avoid falling.
Should the check or the save be of a higher DC?
For saves and checks in general, is one typically higher than the other?
dnd-5e skills encounter-design
edited 1 hour ago
PixelMaster
6,6442179
asked 2 hours ago
Govika
311
New contributor
Govika is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Do you mean Dex(Acrobatics), or Dex check?
– András
17 mins ago
Why not use Str(Athletics) to climb, since climbing is explicitly part of that skill?
– ValhallaGH
10 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
I'm homebrewing a rotten, collapsable staircase. I want there to be a dex check to climb it, but if they fail the check, they can make a save to avoid falling.
Should the check or the save be of a higher DC?
For saves and checks in general, is one typically higher than the other?
dnd-5e skills encounter-design
edited 1 hour ago
PixelMaster
6,6442179
asked 2 hours ago
Govika
311
New contributor
Govika is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I'm homebrewing a rotten, collapsable staircase. I want there to be a dex check to climb it, but if they fail the check, they can make a save to avoid falling.
Should the check or the save be of a higher DC?
For saves and checks in general, is one typically higher than the other?
dnd-5e skills encounter-design
dnd-5e skills encounter-design
edited 1 hour ago
PixelMaster
6,6442179
asked 2 hours ago
Govika
311
New contributor
Govika is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 1 hour ago
PixelMaster
6,6442179
asked 2 hours ago
Govika
311
New contributor
Govika is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 1 hour ago
PixelMaster
6,6442179
edited 1 hour ago
PixelMaster
6,6442179
edited 1 hour ago
PixelMaster
6,6442179
6,6442179
asked 2 hours ago
Govika
311
New contributor
Govika is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
Govika
311
asked 2 hours ago
Govika
311
311
New contributor
Govika is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Govika is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Govika is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Do you mean Dex(Acrobatics), or Dex check?
– András
17 mins ago
Why not use Str(Athletics) to climb, since climbing is explicitly part of that skill?
– ValhallaGH
10 mins ago
add a comment |Â
Do you mean Dex(Acrobatics), or Dex check?
– András
17 mins ago
Why not use Str(Athletics) to climb, since climbing is explicitly part of that skill?
– ValhallaGH
10 mins ago
Do you mean Dex(Acrobatics), or Dex check?
– András
17 mins ago
Do you mean Dex(Acrobatics), or Dex check?
– András
17 mins ago
Why not use Str(Athletics) to climb, since climbing is explicitly part of that skill?
– ValhallaGH
10 mins ago
Why not use Str(Athletics) to climb, since climbing is explicitly part of that skill?
– ValhallaGH
10 mins ago
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
There is no rule about which is harder
The DMG says the following regarding setting DC:
When you do so, think of how difficult a task is and then pick the associated DC from the Typical DCs table.
Very easy 5
Easy 10
Moderate 15
Hard 20
Very hard 25
Nearly impossible 30
The numbers associated with these categories of difficulty are meant to be easy to keep in your head. DMG p.238
In your given example, think about how bad you want the stairs to be. Are they ready to collapse or only a few bad steps? On a fail, does only one step give way or the whole flight? Etc.
A sample scenario
There is a flight of rotting stairs. 5 steps are too weak to support any weight. A DC15 Perception(Wisdom) check is required to spot the rotten steps. On a failed check the PC needs to make a DC12 Dexterity save to avoid falling through the step. 1d4 damage on a failed save.
NOTE: Depending on the characters ability score and proficiency, a DC10-DC15 usually has a 50% chance of success.
answered 9 mins ago
ravery
5,9981946
add a comment |Â
up vote
-1
down vote
Saves should be higher than ability checks
You can get a proficiency bonus to saves, but not to ability checks*.
Skill checks are a subset of ability checks, you might add your proficiency bonus to Dex(Acrobatics), but not to pure Dex checks.
*) Bards can get half for ability checks, and some other classes for some abilities.
answered 24 mins ago
András
24.1k1089179
1
You can't get proficiency on ability checks like dexterity, but you can get proficiency on skill checks, like acrobatics. The question does say "dexterity check", but that could also mean "some kind of skill check involving dexterity".
– Ryan Thompson
22 mins ago
@RyanThompson There is no skill checks in 5e. There are ability checks only, with proficiency bonus, if you have a skill. "a dex check to climb it" would be "Strength (Athletics)" or "Dexterity (Acrobatics)" check, with proficiency bonus for respective classes.
– enkryptor
3 mins ago
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
There is no rule about which is harder
The DMG says the following regarding setting DC:
When you do so, think of how difficult a task is and then pick the associated DC from the Typical DCs table.
Very easy 5
Easy 10
Moderate 15
Hard 20
Very hard 25
Nearly impossible 30
The numbers associated with these categories of difficulty are meant to be easy to keep in your head. DMG p.238
In your given example, think about how bad you want the stairs to be. Are they ready to collapse or only a few bad steps? On a fail, does only one step give way or the whole flight? Etc.
A sample scenario
There is a flight of rotting stairs. 5 steps are too weak to support any weight. A DC15 Perception(Wisdom) check is required to spot the rotten steps. On a failed check the PC needs to make a DC12 Dexterity save to avoid falling through the step. 1d4 damage on a failed save.
NOTE: Depending on the characters ability score and proficiency, a DC10-DC15 usually has a 50% chance of success.
answered 9 mins ago
ravery
5,9981946
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
There is no rule about which is harder
The DMG says the following regarding setting DC:
When you do so, think of how difficult a task is and then pick the associated DC from the Typical DCs table.
Very easy 5
Easy 10
Moderate 15
Hard 20
Very hard 25
Nearly impossible 30
The numbers associated with these categories of difficulty are meant to be easy to keep in your head. DMG p.238
In your given example, think about how bad you want the stairs to be. Are they ready to collapse or only a few bad steps? On a fail, does only one step give way or the whole flight? Etc.
A sample scenario
There is a flight of rotting stairs. 5 steps are too weak to support any weight. A DC15 Perception(Wisdom) check is required to spot the rotten steps. On a failed check the PC needs to make a DC12 Dexterity save to avoid falling through the step. 1d4 damage on a failed save.
NOTE: Depending on the characters ability score and proficiency, a DC10-DC15 usually has a 50% chance of success.
answered 9 mins ago
ravery
5,9981946
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
There is no rule about which is harder
The DMG says the following regarding setting DC:
When you do so, think of how difficult a task is and then pick the associated DC from the Typical DCs table.
Very easy 5
Easy 10
Moderate 15
Hard 20
Very hard 25
Nearly impossible 30
The numbers associated with these categories of difficulty are meant to be easy to keep in your head. DMG p.238
In your given example, think about how bad you want the stairs to be. Are they ready to collapse or only a few bad steps? On a fail, does only one step give way or the whole flight? Etc.
A sample scenario
There is a flight of rotting stairs. 5 steps are too weak to support any weight. A DC15 Perception(Wisdom) check is required to spot the rotten steps. On a failed check the PC needs to make a DC12 Dexterity save to avoid falling through the step. 1d4 damage on a failed save.
NOTE: Depending on the characters ability score and proficiency, a DC10-DC15 usually has a 50% chance of success.
answered 9 mins ago
ravery
5,9981946
There is no rule about which is harder
The DMG says the following regarding setting DC:
When you do so, think of how difficult a task is and then pick the associated DC from the Typical DCs table.
Very easy 5
Easy 10
Moderate 15
Hard 20
Very hard 25
Nearly impossible 30
The numbers associated with these categories of difficulty are meant to be easy to keep in your head. DMG p.238
In your given example, think about how bad you want the stairs to be. Are they ready to collapse or only a few bad steps? On a fail, does only one step give way or the whole flight? Etc.
A sample scenario
There is a flight of rotting stairs. 5 steps are too weak to support any weight. A DC15 Perception(Wisdom) check is required to spot the rotten steps. On a failed check the PC needs to make a DC12 Dexterity save to avoid falling through the step. 1d4 damage on a failed save.
NOTE: Depending on the characters ability score and proficiency, a DC10-DC15 usually has a 50% chance of success.
answered 9 mins ago
ravery
5,9981946
edited 59 secs ago
answered 9 mins ago
ravery
5,9981946
answered 9 mins ago
ravery
5,9981946
answered 9 mins ago
ravery
5,9981946
5,9981946
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
-1
down vote
Saves should be higher than ability checks
You can get a proficiency bonus to saves, but not to ability checks*.
Skill checks are a subset of ability checks, you might add your proficiency bonus to Dex(Acrobatics), but not to pure Dex checks.
*) Bards can get half for ability checks, and some other classes for some abilities.
answered 24 mins ago
András
24.1k1089179
1
You can't get proficiency on ability checks like dexterity, but you can get proficiency on skill checks, like acrobatics. The question does say "dexterity check", but that could also mean "some kind of skill check involving dexterity".
– Ryan Thompson
22 mins ago
@RyanThompson There is no skill checks in 5e. There are ability checks only, with proficiency bonus, if you have a skill. "a dex check to climb it" would be "Strength (Athletics)" or "Dexterity (Acrobatics)" check, with proficiency bonus for respective classes.
– enkryptor
3 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
-1
down vote
Saves should be higher than ability checks
You can get a proficiency bonus to saves, but not to ability checks*.
Skill checks are a subset of ability checks, you might add your proficiency bonus to Dex(Acrobatics), but not to pure Dex checks.
*) Bards can get half for ability checks, and some other classes for some abilities.
answered 24 mins ago
András
24.1k1089179
1
You can't get proficiency on ability checks like dexterity, but you can get proficiency on skill checks, like acrobatics. The question does say "dexterity check", but that could also mean "some kind of skill check involving dexterity".
– Ryan Thompson
22 mins ago
@RyanThompson There is no skill checks in 5e. There are ability checks only, with proficiency bonus, if you have a skill. "a dex check to climb it" would be "Strength (Athletics)" or "Dexterity (Acrobatics)" check, with proficiency bonus for respective classes.
– enkryptor
3 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
-1
down vote
up vote
-1
down vote
Saves should be higher than ability checks
You can get a proficiency bonus to saves, but not to ability checks*.
Skill checks are a subset of ability checks, you might add your proficiency bonus to Dex(Acrobatics), but not to pure Dex checks.
*) Bards can get half for ability checks, and some other classes for some abilities.
answered 24 mins ago
András
24.1k1089179
Saves should be higher than ability checks
You can get a proficiency bonus to saves, but not to ability checks*.
Skill checks are a subset of ability checks, you might add your proficiency bonus to Dex(Acrobatics), but not to pure Dex checks.
*) Bards can get half for ability checks, and some other classes for some abilities.
answered 24 mins ago
András
24.1k1089179
edited 18 mins ago
answered 24 mins ago
András
24.1k1089179
answered 24 mins ago
András
24.1k1089179
answered 24 mins ago
András
24.1k1089179
24.1k1089179
1
You can't get proficiency on ability checks like dexterity, but you can get proficiency on skill checks, like acrobatics. The question does say "dexterity check", but that could also mean "some kind of skill check involving dexterity".
– Ryan Thompson
22 mins ago
@RyanThompson There is no skill checks in 5e. There are ability checks only, with proficiency bonus, if you have a skill. "a dex check to climb it" would be "Strength (Athletics)" or "Dexterity (Acrobatics)" check, with proficiency bonus for respective classes.
– enkryptor
3 mins ago
add a comment |Â
1
You can't get proficiency on ability checks like dexterity, but you can get proficiency on skill checks, like acrobatics. The question does say "dexterity check", but that could also mean "some kind of skill check involving dexterity".
– Ryan Thompson
22 mins ago
@RyanThompson There is no skill checks in 5e. There are ability checks only, with proficiency bonus, if you have a skill. "a dex check to climb it" would be "Strength (Athletics)" or "Dexterity (Acrobatics)" check, with proficiency bonus for respective classes.
– enkryptor
3 mins ago
1
1
You can't get proficiency on ability checks like dexterity, but you can get proficiency on skill checks, like acrobatics. The question does say "dexterity check", but that could also mean "some kind of skill check involving dexterity".
– Ryan Thompson
22 mins ago
You can't get proficiency on ability checks like dexterity, but you can get proficiency on skill checks, like acrobatics. The question does say "dexterity check", but that could also mean "some kind of skill check involving dexterity".
– Ryan Thompson
22 mins ago
@RyanThompson There is no skill checks in 5e. There are ability checks only, with proficiency bonus, if you have a skill. "a dex check to climb it" would be "Strength (Athletics)" or "Dexterity (Acrobatics)" check, with proficiency bonus for respective classes.
– enkryptor
3 mins ago
@RyanThompson There is no skill checks in 5e. There are ability checks only, with proficiency bonus, if you have a skill. "a dex check to climb it" would be "Strength (Athletics)" or "Dexterity (Acrobatics)" check, with proficiency bonus for respective classes.
– enkryptor
3 mins ago
add a comment |Â
Govika is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Govika is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Govika is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Govika is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2frpg.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f134495%2fshould-skill-checks-be-higher-or-lower-than-saves%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Do you mean Dex(Acrobatics), or Dex check?
– András
17 mins ago
Why not use Str(Athletics) to climb, since climbing is explicitly part of that skill?
– ValhallaGH
10 mins ago