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One of the most frustrating things about being a spellcaster is unleasing a spell, only to have the target make his save.
So, what are the ways a spellcaster can increase that all-important save DC? I've listed the obvious ones below:
Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus feats
Unfortunately, these feats only give a total increase of +2, and only in one school of magic. Still, it's better than nothing.
Are there any others? If not, it seems like there should be ...
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One of the most frustrating things about being a spellcaster is unleasing a spell, only to have the target make his save.
So, what are the ways a spellcaster can increase that all-important save DC? I've listed the obvious ones below:
Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus feats
Unfortunately, these feats only give a total increase of +2, and only in one school of magic. Still, it's better than nothing.Are there any others? If not, it seems like there should be ...
The Heighten Spell metamagic feat?
Heighten Spell (Metamagic)You can cast spells as if they were a higher level.
Benefit: A heightened spell has a higher spell level than normal (up to a maximum of 9th level). Unlike other metamagic feats, Heighten Spell actually increases the effective level of the spell that it modifies. All effects dependent on spell level (such as saving throw DCs and ability to penetrate a lesser globe of invulnerability) are calculated according to the heightened level. The heightened spell is as difficult to prepare and cast as a spell of its effective level.
Are there any others? If not, it seems like there should be ...
A few more ways are:
1) Increase your relevant casting attribute.
2) Heighten spell metamagic
3) Debuffs to lower saves on the target
Spell perfection doubles the bonus of Spell focus and Greater spell focus for 1spell of your choosing.
Wish(+to int,wis or chr)
Headband of Int,wis or chr+2+4+6
Templates can increase your base stats.
Besides this i cant think of any ways to increase it.
One of the most frustrating things about being a spellcaster is unleasing a spell, only to have the target make his save.
So, what are the ways a spellcaster can increase that all-important save DC? I've listed the obvious ones below:
Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus feats
Unfortunately, these feats only give a total increase of +2, and only in one school of magic. Still, it's better than nothing.Are there any others? If not, it seems like there should be ...
Currently playing a Witch. Evil Eye is wonderful as a debuff against opponents for saves as it works for 1 full round even if they save. Otherwise, for me, it lasts 8 rounds (INT mod + 3 rounds).
Shaken (Intimidate/Dazzling Display) also gives -2 to all saves.
Both of these are mind-affecting sorts of things, so a number of opponents will be immune.
There's also Elemental Focus and Greater Elemental Focus, if you're looking for saves on elemental spells. They stack with Spell Focus, and are also doubled by Spell Perfection, so you can get +8 to a single spell (and +4 to all others of that school and element type).
Keep in mind, though, that saves don't increase all that quickly, and anything you can do to make sure your spells always work can be used by NPC spellcasters against you. So having a combination which produced an enormous boost would then mean you'd start having to make impossible saves too.
Also (from the APG):
You can modify a spell to become more tenacious when its targets resist its effect.Benefit: Whenever a creature targeted by a persistent spell or within its area succeeds on its saving throw against the spell, it must make another saving throw against the effect. If a creature fails this second saving throw, it suffers the full effects of the spell, as if it had failed its first saving throw. A persistent spell uses up a spell slot two levels higher than the spell's actual level.
Spells that do not require a saving throw to resist or lessen the spell's effect do not benefit from this feat.
While not raising the DC, they do get two chances to fail
and
When you cast a spell that affects more than one creature, one opponent finds it more difficult to resist.Benefit: When casting a spell that affects or targets more than one creature, you can choose one target or creature within the spell effect. That creature's saving throw DC to resist the spell is increased by +2. You must choose which target to focus the spell on before casting the spell. A focused spell uses up a spell slot one level higher than the spell's actual level.
Spells that do not require a saving throw to resist or lessen the spell's effect do not benefit from this feat.
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Also (from the APG):
You can modify a spell to become more tenacious when its targets resist its effect.Benefit: Whenever a creature targeted by a persistent spell or within its area succeeds on its saving throw against the spell, it must make another saving throw against the effect. If a creature fails this second saving throw, it suffers the full effects of the spell, as if it had failed its first saving throw. A persistent spell uses up a spell slot two levels higher than the spell's actual level.
Spells that do not require a saving throw to resist or lessen the spell's effect do not benefit from this feat.
While not raising the DC, they do get two chances to fail
oh god, do this while a witch has misfortune hex up on the target, hey there Mr bad guy, roll four times for this spell, make sure to pass them all
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The Eldritch Heritage (Arcane) feat chain would also allow any caster to get +2 to save DCs of spells of a certain school, which stack with spell focus - but that's fairly late-game and requires a high Charisma.
Very late game. You can't get this before 17th level, and you need to invest at least 3 feats to make it work.