Dwarf Spell Defense?

[Kage72]

How is this calculated in the game? Does it add to your spell resistance? Does it add to will saves?

[Gol]

Adds to all saves versus spells. You won't see it on your character sheet tab, but it does work ingame.

[Kage72]

ok. thanks. Is there any save roll made for arcane spells? or is that just a spell resistance check?

[Gol]

ok. thanks. Is there any save roll made for arcane spells? or is that just a spell resistance check?

That will vary from spell to spell.

Some spells have saves (Fireball, Hold Person, etc), some can be deflected with Spell Resistance (Otto's Irrestistable, others), and some spells can be deflected with either (Finger of Death, others). And some spells have neither, though those are few (Solid Fog, Firewall, a few others).

Spell Resistance for players is generally useless due to caster level inflation of monsters, most notably on hard and elite difficulties. Spell saves, on the other hand, are incredibly useful for players and this enhancement line is one of the strongest reasons people choose Dwarves for their character race.

[zopzop]

Guys quick question about this racial ability, the text says it works against spells and "magical effects". What counts as a magical effect? Do they mean stuff like breath weapons (from dragons and mephits) and such?

[Shade]

Guys quick question about this racial ability, the text says it works against spells and "magical effects". What counts as a magical effect? Do they mean stuff like breath weapons (from dragons and mephits) and such?

No it doesn't wort against most breath weapons. Think because there considered a natural weapon of the enemy, that are not nessasarily magical in nature.

It means anytype of magical spell, from any source.. Even non spellcaster.
Sometimes traps will cast spells, and it will work versus those.

Some enemies have special spell-like abilities that are considered magical in nature it will also work against. One example is beholders various eyebeams.. They all shoot out spells, which aren't cast the normal way, but it works against them.

Other things it won't work against:
Mind Blast (not magical, considered psionic attack)
Cometfall Trip portion (guess this part is considered a physical reflex save, while the damage portion you do get the bonus versus,... Technically a Dwarf should be more stable on his feat due to his dwarven stability, but he gets no such bonus vs cometfall)