I'm working on an NPC and want to give them a scrying spell to spy on the party. The beginning of the spell description is as such:
You can see and hear a particular creature you choose that is on the same plane of existence as you. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw, which is modified by how well you know the target and the sort of physical connection you have to it. If a target knows you're casting this spell, it can fail the saving throw voluntarily if it wants to be observed.
Following this, the description describes qualifiers for DC modification...
Secondhand (you have heard of the target)
+5
Firsthand (you have met the target)
0
Familiar (you know the target well)
-5
Likeness or picture
-2
Possession or garment
-4
Body part, lock of hair, bit of nail, or the like
-10
"Familiar (you know the target well) ...-5". Does this mean if a character knows the target well, the DC the target has to beat to avoid the spell is decreased by 5? I may just be reading it wrong; the description makes it seem like you will be most benefited by not knowing and having a minimal connection to the target you're trying to scry on.
The table isn't a DC modifier, it's a Save modifier. If your Spell Save DC is 16, you have a body part, and you are familiar with them, they need to make a DC 16 WIS saving throw with -10 for the body part, and -5 for familiarity, for a total of -15 on their roll.
The person that is being scryed makes a WIS saving throw to not be scryed, and the get the different modifiers. They can also voluntarily fail the save.
I'm working on an NPC and want to give them a scrying spell to spy on the party. The beginning of the spell description is as such:
You can see and hear a particular creature you choose that is on the same plane of existence as you. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw, which is modified by how well you know the target and the sort of physical connection you have to it. If a target knows you're casting this spell, it can fail the saving throw voluntarily if it wants to be observed.
Following this, the description describes qualifiers for DC modification...
"Familiar (you know the target well) ...-5". Does this mean if a character knows the target well, the DC the target has to beat to avoid the spell is decreased by 5? I may just be reading it wrong; the description makes it seem like you will be most benefited by not knowing and having a minimal connection to the target you're trying to scry on.
The table isn't a DC modifier, it's a Save modifier. If your Spell Save DC is 16, you have a body part, and you are familiar with them, they need to make a DC 16 WIS saving throw with -10 for the body part, and -5 for familiarity, for a total of -15 on their roll.
The person that is being scryed makes a WIS saving throw to not be scryed, and the get the different modifiers. They can also voluntarily fail the save.
Those charts from scrying say they modify the save, not the save DC.
It is admittedly less clear than it could have been.
Just look at body part. Obviously having a body part makes it easier to scry, so -10 means a lot easier.
Ah, okay. I’m dumb. Understood
Nah, you're not dumb. The wording of the spell is dumb.
Yeah, requires a bit of precise terminology understanding (save vs save DC) and correct interpretation of their "common language" phrasing.
At least this is clearer than several other rules.