Originally Posted by
Skrum
On this subject, I'm in the process of writing a skill guide for DMs. It's mostly about how to set DCs - and my main position is most DCs should be pretty low. Like under 10. A +7 on a skill is extremely high relatively to the average person (for context, the PHB defines the average person to have 10 in each stat and no skill proficiencies). Is the average person pretty unlikely to climb a tree? That doesn't add up to me.
DC 8 or 9 seems much more appropriate, if the tree was not a good climbing tree. The average person might be able to climb it. Someone with +7 athletics? I should be damn near automatic.