How do saving throws work? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How do saving throws work? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
gagadude
04-27-08, 07:38 AM I do not understand saving throws. What do you do when a monster attacks you and rolls higher than your AC, you do a saving throw, right? What happens when you do this to a monster? does the monster do a saving throw? Also where can I find the DC of the saving throw for the monsters and how is it calculated for the players? (I own the monster manual and the PHB 3.5)
Merestil Haye
04-27-08, 07:59 AM I do not understand saving throws. What do you do when a monster attacks you and rolls higher than your AC, you do a saving throw, right?No.

A saving throw is the attempt by a creature to resist or reduce an effect from a source which will harm or debilitate, but that is not damage dealt by weapons.

You roll a saving throw in the following sort of situation. Someone casts a spell at you, or uses a special that lets you make a save. The type of saving throw is dictated by the spell or ability.
Someone tries to poison you. (If the poison is on a weapon or a creature's stinger, this is separate from the blow's damage.)
You are exposed to a disease.
You fall into a pit trap or similar.Usually the saving throw DC is specified by whatever is producing the effect. Spells and special abilities have formulae in the rules.

You make Fortitude saves to throw off effects that harm the body directly.
You make Reflex saves to reduce the damage from area spells or avoid falling into a pit.
You make Will saves to reduce or negate spells that affect the mind.
Talisman
04-27-08, 10:58 AM What happens when you do this to a monster? does the monster do a saving throw?

A monster gets a saving throw whenever it's hit by an effect that allows one, just as a PC is. If you cast fireball, the monster gets a Reflex save to try to reduce the damage. If you shoot a monster with a poisoned arrow (and hit), the monster gets a Fortitude save to reduce the poison damage.

Also where can I find the DC of the saving throw for the monsters and how is it calculated for the players? (I own the monster manual and the PHB 3.5)

The DC for spells is always 10 + [spell level] + casting ability score] + [miscellaneous modifiers]. For instance, take a 10th-level sorcerer with a 20 Cha and Spell Focus (evocation). His fireball would have a save DC of 19: 10 [base] + 3 [spell level] + 5 [Charisma mod] + 1 [Spell Focus]. If this sorcerer cast fireball, anyone in the area would have to roll a 19 or better on their Reflex save to take half damage.

For monsters, the formula is 10 + [1/2 HD] + [relevant ability score]. For example, the breath weapon of a 10-HD dragon with a Con of 22 would be 21: 10 [base] + 5 [1/2 of 10 HD] + 6 [Con modifier]. The final DC and the relevant ability is usually listed in the ability's description in the MM. Monster ability DCs are usually based on Con (poison, breath weapons, other effects that depend on bodily mass and power) or Cha (raw magical effects).

Hope that helped.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
gagadude 04-27-08, 07:38 AM	I do not understand saving throws. What do you do when a monster attacks you and rolls higher than your AC, you do a saving throw, right? What happens when you do this to a monster? does the monster do a saving throw? Also where can I find the DC of the saving throw for the monsters and how is it calculated for the players? (I own the monster manual and the PHB 3.5)
Merestil Haye 04-27-08, 07:59 AM	I do not understand saving throws. What do you do when a monster attacks you and rolls higher than your AC, you do a saving throw, right?No. A saving throw is the attempt by a creature to resist or reduce an effect from a source which will harm or debilitate, but that is not damage dealt by weapons. You roll a saving throw in the following sort of situation. Someone casts a spell at you, or uses a special that lets you make a save. The type of saving throw is dictated by the spell or ability. Someone tries to poison you. (If the poison is on a weapon or a creature's stinger, this is separate from the blow's damage.) You are exposed to a disease. You fall into a pit trap or similar.Usually the saving throw DC is specified by whatever is producing the effect. Spells and special abilities have formulae in the rules. You make Fortitude saves to throw off effects that harm the body directly. You make Reflex saves to reduce the damage from area spells or avoid falling into a pit. You make Will saves to reduce or negate spells that affect the mind.
Talisman 04-27-08, 10:58 AM	What happens when you do this to a monster? does the monster do a saving throw? A monster gets a saving throw whenever it's hit by an effect that allows one, just as a PC is. If you cast fireball, the monster gets a Reflex save to try to reduce the damage. If you shoot a monster with a poisoned arrow (and hit), the monster gets a Fortitude save to reduce the poison damage. Also where can I find the DC of the saving throw for the monsters and how is it calculated for the players? (I own the monster manual and the PHB 3.5) The DC for spells is always 10 + [spell level] + casting ability score] + [miscellaneous modifiers]. For instance, take a 10th-level sorcerer with a 20 Cha and Spell Focus (evocation). His fireball would have a save DC of 19: 10 [base] + 3 [spell level] + 5 [Charisma mod] + 1 [Spell Focus]. If this sorcerer cast fireball, anyone in the area would have to roll a 19 or better on their Reflex save to take half damage. For monsters, the formula is 10 + [1/2 HD] + [relevant ability score]. For example, the breath weapon of a 10-HD dragon with a Con of 22 would be 21: 10 [base] + 5 [1/2 of 10 HD] + 6 [Con modifier]. The final DC and the relevant ability is usually listed in the ability's description in the MM. Monster ability DCs are usually based on Con (poison, breath weapons, other effects that depend on bodily mass and power) or Cha (raw magical effects). Hope that helped.