Help! Important DC question

[DMJohnny]

Hey everyone, in the last couple adventures I ran there are a couple of different instances where there are DCs with nothing next to it (fort, ref,will). What do I do? Is it just a 20 roll to beat the dc?

[Mabven the OP healer]

A DC can refer to saves, skill checks, ability checks, caster level checks, and probably other things I am not thinking of.

You are probably just missing what type of check/save they are referring to. Take a second look at them, and look for phrases like "if the character misses a DC (number) (ability/skill/caster level, will/fort/ref save), they are affected by (some penalty, damage, status ailment)."

[Michael Foster 989]

Read what the effect is

mind effecting (roll will)
dodgeable (roll ref)
other (roll fort)

[Howie23]

There should be something available from the context. If it is a skill check or ability check, then it should be specified. If it references a spell, then the nature of the save is specified in the referenced spell listing. If a trap, then in the trap stat block, if the special ability of a creature, then in the creature stat block, etc.

If you provide a specific example (text, not just page reference), it may be easier to provide some guidance. Use spoiler blocks if appropriate.

[Benchak the Nightstalker]

Do you have an example?

Usually when an effect is listed with just a number for the DC, it's because the effect is defined somewhere in the Core Rulebook or the Bestiary.

Check the Universal Monster Rules (Link) and see if the effect is listed there, if so it should tell you what save to roll.

To my knowledge, there are no "just roll a d20" type saves in Pathfinder. You always add your Fort, Ref, or Will to the save.

[DMJohnny]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the quick response. Basically you use the appropriate will, fort, ref. I just wasnt sure if it was a "just roll d20"

[Bobson]

DMJohnny wrote:

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the quick response. Basically you use the appropriate will, fort, ref. I just wasnt sure if it was a "just roll d20"

Or the appropriate skill (Acrobatics DC 20), or the appropriate attribute (Strength DC 20), or the appropriate caster level, etc...

[Michael Foster 989]

Context will usually give you a fairly accurate guess as to what you are rolling, so just think about what seems most logical to roll in that sort of circumstance and you will be right about 99% of the time