I'm trying to find an answer for something and I'm not finding the answer.
How do you determine the spell level for a spell-like ability so that you can determine the save DC? I looked through the core rules and couldn't find anything on it.
For instance you have the Kitsune racial feat that grants the character the use of a spell, from the list, as a spell-like ability two times per day. Obviously you can't use the character's class to determine the spell level as a non-spell casting class can take the feat.
Do you consider it to have no level or do you base it on something else? This option doesn't seem right because the save DC would just be too low for some of the spells, but then you have 1st level characters with access to spells that other characters won't gain access to around 6th or even higher level.
The feat says it is a charisma based DC, so do you take the spell level from charisma based casters. Even that isn't foolproof though as some spells are both Bard and Sorcerer and the spell level is different for both. I know I've encountered similar situations before with other feats, traits, and class abilities, but never gave it much thought as I wasn't building a PC or NPC where it mattered.
The FAQ gives a priority list of spell lists, so you determine it's spell level (and arcane/divine type, unless the SLA is from an arcane/divine class in which case that determines the type) based of the priority list: starting with sorceror/wiz list, then cleric, and so on. The FAQ and it's priority list are based off the Bestiary rule for SLAs.
If an SLA isn't based on a normal spell (i.e. it's a unique effect that is activated like an SLA) it should provide the spell level for you (doesn't always happen, but hey). Some SLAs may be based off a normal spell but provide their own DC, as in the case of some Cleric Domains, but if that is the case they will explicitly say so.
Thank you! I completely forgot about the FAQ.
Spell-Like Abilities (Sp) Spell-like abilities are magical and work just like spells (though they are not spells and so have no verbal, somatic, focus, or material components). They go away in an antimagic field and are subject to spell resistance if the spell the ability is based on would be subject to spell resistance.
A spell-like ability usually has a limit on how often it can be used. A constant spell-like ability or one that can be used at will has no use limit; unless otherwise stated, a creature can only use a constant spell-like ability on itself. Reactivating a constant spell-like ability is a swift action. Using all other spell-like abilities is a standard action unless noted otherwise, and doing so provokes attacks of opportunity. It is possible to make a concentration check to use a spell-like ability defensively and avoid provoking an attack of opportunity, just as when casting a spell. A spell-like ability can be disrupted just as a spell can be. Spell-like abilities cannot be used to counterspell, nor can they be counterspelled.
For creatures with spell-like abilities, a designated caster level defines how difficult it is to dispel their spell-like effects and to define any level-dependent variables (such as range and duration) the abilities might have. The creature's caster level never affects which spell-like abilities the creature has; sometimes the given caster level is lower than the level a spellcasting character would need to cast the spell of the same name. If no caster level is specified, the caster level is equal to the creature's Hit Dice. The saving throw (if any) against a spell-like ability is 10 + the level of the spell the ability resembles or duplicates + the creature's Charisma modifier.
Some spell-like abilities duplicate spells that work differently when cast by characters of different classes. A monster's spell-like abilities are presumed to be the sorcerer/wizard versions. If the spell in question is not a sorcerer/wizard spell, then default to cleric, druid, bard, paladin, and ranger, in that order.
Unless the ability specifies something else it should be 10 + equivalent spell level + charisma modifier.
Thanks, I wasn't having problems with calculating the whole DC. As I said, I was having problems determining the equivalent spell level for any particular spell as answered by Quandary. The priority list is what I was looking for. In my example the Kitsune character would use the Sorcerer/Wizard level for determining the spell level on the Magical Tale's spell-like abilities.