Hussar
Legend
I'm sorry, but, I haven't been following this DC discussion very closely, but, do I have this right? People are seriously arguing that DC's are set by some sort of world building notion? That the objective DC's of, say, 3e D&D, were based off of what the world should be like? Are people seriously making that claim?
Good grief, has anyone ever READ a module? Look, it's all well and good to talk about how a mountain would be difficult for a peasant or easy for a PC, but, who cares? The DC of that mountain climb will be whatever is required by the adventure at the time, and it will be set based on the level of the PC's in that adventure. Same as locks, traps and various other DC's. You won't find DC 30+ locks in a 1st level adventure, nor will you find DC 15 locks in a 10th level adventure. What would be the point? The DC of a given lock will always be determined by the expected level of the PC's in that adventure.
Full stop.
You can talk all you want about how there's a dragon's lair over there and if the PC's go there before they're ready, they'll die. Fine and dandy. But, shock and surprise, when they eventually DO go over there, every lock, every trap and every NPC' interaction DC will be based on the expected level of a PC group who can successfully navigate that adventure. So, if the Dragon's Lair is a 15th level adventure, then every DC in that adventure will be based on a 15th level party. Some harder, some easier, but, all within that range.
It's been that way since time began as well. It doesn't matter what edition you want to look at. The adventures are tailored for a specific level range of PC's. You don't find Tomb of Horror style traps in a 1st-4th level adventure. You don't find 10 foot pit traps in a 9-12th level adventure either.
So people can blow all the smoke they iike about how DC's are set by the setting and it's all about building a believable world, but, when the rubber meets the road, it's all a load of baloney. DC's are set by the expected level of the adventure first, and foremost. Always have been and always will be.
Good grief, has anyone ever READ a module? Look, it's all well and good to talk about how a mountain would be difficult for a peasant or easy for a PC, but, who cares? The DC of that mountain climb will be whatever is required by the adventure at the time, and it will be set based on the level of the PC's in that adventure. Same as locks, traps and various other DC's. You won't find DC 30+ locks in a 1st level adventure, nor will you find DC 15 locks in a 10th level adventure. What would be the point? The DC of a given lock will always be determined by the expected level of the PC's in that adventure.
Full stop.
You can talk all you want about how there's a dragon's lair over there and if the PC's go there before they're ready, they'll die. Fine and dandy. But, shock and surprise, when they eventually DO go over there, every lock, every trap and every NPC' interaction DC will be based on the expected level of a PC group who can successfully navigate that adventure. So, if the Dragon's Lair is a 15th level adventure, then every DC in that adventure will be based on a 15th level party. Some harder, some easier, but, all within that range.
It's been that way since time began as well. It doesn't matter what edition you want to look at. The adventures are tailored for a specific level range of PC's. You don't find Tomb of Horror style traps in a 1st-4th level adventure. You don't find 10 foot pit traps in a 9-12th level adventure either.
So people can blow all the smoke they iike about how DC's are set by the setting and it's all about building a believable world, but, when the rubber meets the road, it's all a load of baloney. DC's are set by the expected level of the adventure first, and foremost. Always have been and always will be.