Noob General Inquiry

[Slod Vondo]

"The DC of a supernatural ability is typically equal to 10 + half
the level of the creature using it + the creature’s relevant ability
score modifier, as detailed in the ability’s description."

Does this mean that as a character levels up the roll to have a SU ability may be out-paced by the character level unless the character keeps the required ability modifier also moving up? (I know that may have been worded very oddly - let me splane?)

At level 1 the DC is 10+0+Ability Mod (let's assume +1) = 11
At level 2 the DC is 10+1+Ability Mod (again assume +1) = 12

Seems like every other level the DC would go up by one UNLESS the player does something to help bump the ability modifier? And, thus the SU ability would become increasingly more difficult to achieve as the character gets proverbially better by leveling up?

Please help my confusion, or clear up my misconceptions.

Thanks - sincerely noob
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[Garretmander]

Slod Vondo wrote:

"The DC of a supernatural ability is typically equal to 10 + half

the level of the creature using it + the creature’s relevant ability
score modifier, as detailed in the ability’s description."

Does this mean that as a character levels up the roll to have a SU ability may be out-paced by the character level unless the character keeps the required ability modifier also moving up? (I know that may have been worded very oddly - let me splane?)

At level 1 the DC is 10+0+Ability Mod (let's assume +1) = 11
At level 2 the DC is 10+1+Ability Mod (again assume +1) = 12

Seems like every other level the DC would go up by one UNLESS the player does something to help bump the ability modifier? And, thus the SU ability would become increasingly more difficult to achieve as the character gets proverbially better by leveling up?

Please help my confusion, or clear up my misconceptions.

Thanks - sincerely noob
This message is COVID-19 compliant.

A high ability modifier is necessary to keep a SU ability that affects things on a save relevant, yes. The DC would cap out at 20 for an ability score of 10, or 29 if it's based on your absolute best ability score with personal upgrades.

[Slod Vondo]

A high ability modifier is necessary to keep a SU ability that affects things on a save relevant, yes. The DC would cap out at 20 for an ability score of 10, or 29 if it's based on your absolute best ability score with personal upgrades.

So - the DC is not for the special ability to go off per-se but is the DC of the SAVE against the effect of the SU? Or both? It would seem that the ability to produce the effect should at least get easier as the character levels up, and as they become more proficient at use of that ability the SAVE against it would necessarily go up?

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

[HammerJack]

The DC of the ability is the DC to save against the ability. It is not a DC that must be rolled against in order to use the ability.

So both increasing in level and increasing the key attribute make the ability more difficult to resist. As the save modifiers of creatures you would face increase, at higher levels, investment into the key stat does tend to be necessary to keep the ability relevant.