I don't understand why my Trip Attack failed (saving throw related)

[wilky]

My Karlach is L4 (+2 proficiency bonus), has 18 STR (+4), and 14 DEX (+2). I used a Trip Attack (Ranged) against a 9-STR mage enemy, and failed the Saving Throw which seemed curious to me, so I checked the combat log. The enemy rolled a 10 saving throw against Trip Attack's Spell DC 10. However, when I go into the Spellbook for Karlach, it says this move is supposed to have a Spell DC of 14 (the tooltip says 8 base + 4 STR + 2 proficiency).

So what gives? The move is bugged? The tooltip is inaccurate? I just don't understand?

I am honestly not 100% sure if Trip Attack (Ranged) would refer to Karlach's STR or DEX bonus, but even if it did refer to DEX, shouldn't the Spell DC still be 8+2+2 and sufficient to knock the enemy prone?

[igor140]

You are understanding the tool tip correctly. I've never used it myself, but in standard tabletop 5e, a ranged trip attack should still use your STR. Also, in the logs, it should tell you the DC of the roll.

As to why it didn't work, two theories:
1) There is some additional factor/ bonus at play. Maybe the enemy has a bonus to their saves more than you would expect, like from gear or some other passive effect. Maybe another enemy used a spell on you to temporarily lower your DC somehow. BG3 does a good job of hiding a lot of the complications in the calculations, but that's a two-edged sword when it comes to figuring out stuff like this. Now, it's unlikely to be a truly HIDDEN factor... it may just be easily overlooked.

2) it's possibly a bug. I do know there's still a bug with Polearm Master + Sentinel where if YOU move into an enemies movement range on your turn and both of you have a spear equipped it will prompt YOU for a reaction... which results in then enemy attacking YOU. This may be a similar thing.