A set of defensive traits based on a characters own ability to avoid the brunt of damage, resist control, and endure through some force.
8
votes
1answer
373 views
If you have dis/advantage on a roll, do you have dis/advantage on a reroll?
This might be a duplicate but I can't find it.
To be clear this has nothing to do with Halfling Luck trait. Or similar abilities that allow the reroll of a die that rolls a natural 1. (I was ...
8
votes
3answers
867 views
What happens when a PC drops to 0 HP outside of combat?
All similar questions I've found are concerned with what happens if combat ends while there is an unconscious PC, but I can't find any rules regarding what happens if someone drops to 0 HP while the ...
11
votes
2answers
2k views
Can a Rutterkin's Bite poison a Paladin?
The Rutterkin (from Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, pg. 136) has the following attack:
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: + 4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 12 (3d6 + 2) piercing damage. If the ...
5
votes
3answers
209 views
If I can impose an effect on the enemy on a hit, can I use a Battle Master maneuver after the target has made the save against the other effect?
Can I use Battle Master maneuvers to force a second save after I have seen the target succeed on the first one?
Situation 1
My Moon Druid has 3 levels of Battle Master fighter, and he can use Trip ...
1
vote
2answers
98 views
Maximize/force confirm Reflex save
I'm looking for a way for my Rogue-like character to maximize or at best have the ability to auto-confirm at least one Reflex save per day. He's level 15 at the moment (it's a multiclass character) ...
7
votes
1answer
827 views
Does the Divine Soul sorcerer's Favored by the Gods bonus work with death saving throws?
The Divine Soul sorcerer (Xanathar's Guide to Everything, p. 50) gets the Favored by the Gods feature at 1st level:
Starting at 1st level, divine power guards your destiny. If you fail a saving ...
7
votes
4answers
312 views
If a creature is forced to make a Dex save but has nowhere to go to avoid the effect, can they still make the save?
So I came across a question I had as a DM the other day:
If there is a creature or creatures subject to an spell or effect requiring a Dex saving throw, but they are in a position where avoiding the ...
16
votes
5answers
2k views
What's the benefit for Saving Throws of rerolling vs. advantage?
Relevant: Does Indomitable let you reroll Saving Throws with Advantage?
There's a line that comes up a lot in class abilities that seems out of place, and I don't know what the difference is between ...
0
votes
1answer
96 views
How many dice are rolled on a successful saving throw? [duplicate]
For example, fireball does 8d6 damage, and half as much on a successful dex save. Does half as much mean you take half as much as the total amount on the 8d6s, or do you only roll 4d6 instead? This is ...
-1
votes
1answer
194 views
Which dexterity save spells are made easier to resist because of “half cover” bonus to dexterity saves [closed]
I was rereading the Player’s Handbook section on partial cover and I came to this statement:
A target with half cover has a +2 bonus to AC and Dexterity saving throws.
If the PC/NPC has half cover ...
5
votes
2answers
225 views
How impactful would it be if I were to make saving throws “round up”, unlike other stats?
In an attempt to have players deal with more difficult decisions, I have been considering the idea of making it so that saving throw bonuses don't actually rely on your modifier, but instead use your ...
2
votes
0answers
50 views
How does Damage Resistance and Successful Save interact? [duplicate]
In my campaign, I have a Barbarian with Primal Path of Bear totem. Bear totem gives damage resistance when raging.
During battle the barbarian is targeted by a breathe weapon. And makes his save for ...
10
votes
1answer
625 views
Does damage from an ally break Dominate Person?
Dominate Person states the following:
Each time the target takes damage, it makes a new Wisdom saving
throw against the spell. If the saving throw succeeds, the spell
ends.
As written, this ...
6
votes
1answer
590 views
Is there ever a case where a creature gets a saving throw against the “Sleep” spell?
The sleep spell (PHB 276) states:
This spell sends creatures into a magical slumber. Roll 5d8; the total is how many hit points of creatures this spell can affect.
This and other similar spells ...
0
votes
0answers
175 views
Using the Lucky feat, can you choose to roll the dice, but not use a point? [duplicate]
The Lucky feature states:
"...You have 3 luck points. Whenever you make an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw, you can spend one luck point to roll an additional d20. You can choose ...
12
votes
2answers
824 views
When a roll is rerolled, how does it interact with other roll-manipulation features (like the Lucky feat)?
A 14th level Monk has a Diamond Soul.
Whenever you make a saving throw and fail, you can spend 1 ki point to reroll it and take the second result.
A 9th level Fighter has Indomitable.
You can ...
5
votes
2answers
73 views
How does the Indomitable Soul feat interacts with the Pride domain?
The Indomitable Soul feat (PHB II, p. 80) grants the following benefit:
Benefit: Whenever you make a Will save against a mind-affecting
or fear ability, you can roll 2d20 and use the higher of ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
Does Magic Missile cause multiple rolls to break an Aboleth's Charm?
Jeremy Crawford previously noted that Magic Missile causes a separate concentration roll by a spell caster for each hit. (Of note, this is different than Mike Mearl's answer which viewed a Magic ...
5
votes
1answer
563 views
What is the highest spell save DC an AL legal character can have?
Out of curiosity, I’ve been calculating what is the highest spell save DC that a character can have, assuming perfect conditions.
My calculations have so far yielded the following result:
Base of 8
...
1
vote
0answers
165 views
Do attacks that deal damage multiple times count as multiple damage events for death saving throws? [duplicate]
Note: I don't play D&D, but reading some of the Hot Network Questions about saving throws (particularly Does Evasion allow half damage even when unconscious?) has made me curious.
According to ...
30
votes
5answers
4k views
Does Evasion allow half damage even when unconscious?
Evasion is a class feature gained by Rogues and Monks at level 7:
At 7th level, your instinctive agility lets you dodge out of the way of certain area effects, such as a blue dragon’s lightning ...
7
votes
0answers
129 views
How does Healing Spirit interact with death saving throws? [duplicate]
A character is at 0 HP with two failed death saving throws and is lying unconscious on the ground, sharing the same area with the effect of the Healing Spirit spell.
What happens at the beginning of ...
15
votes
2answers
3k views
Do characters know if someone else, who they can see, has failed a saving throw?
Do characters know if someone else, who they can see, has failed a saving throw?
In particular, let's consider the following cases:
a caster has cast a spell, that requires a saving throw, and that ...
11
votes
2answers
2k views
Benign Transposition on an unwilling creature
One of the Arcane Traditions of a wizard is the School of Conjuration, which grants unique spell-like abilities.
Benign Transposition (PHB p.116)
Starting at 6th level, you can use your action ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
How do you determine the DC of a Strength Save?
As example I'm using Pushing Attack from the Battle Master Martial archetypes of the Fighter. How do you determine the Strength Save DC that the enemy has to roll against?
Since normally it would be ...
4
votes
2answers
192 views
Why do passive skills start at 10 instead of 8, like spell save DCs? [closed]
Passive skills are calculated as 10 + Ability Modifier + Proficiency, while spell save DCs are calculated as 8 + Ability Modifier + Proficiency. The opposed roll to both is 1d20 + Ability Modifier + ...
0
votes
0answers
52 views
Does being forced to make a Saving Throw count as a “Hit” for the purpose of Assassinate? [duplicate]
Let's say we have a multiclass Rogue (Assassin) + Sorcerer named Adam. Adam manages to attack a Surprised Target, and chooses to cast Fireball instead of making a Ranged Attack.
Assassinate is worded ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
Should rolling a 1 on a spell saving throw double that spell's damage?
This is more of a balance question. In my table we've agreed that rolling a 20 or a 1 should be special no matter the circumstance. Spells that require attack rolls are special on crits, but, per If ...
2
votes
3answers
500 views
How can I modify attacks on creatures making Death Saves to have less Coup de Grace?
Context
I'm DMing a Tomb of Annihilation-based campaign and we're using Meat Grinder Mode (DC for Death saves is 15).
In the answer to this question, the probabilities of survival are discussed.
...
3
votes
0answers
112 views
Why did the designers refactor Fortitude, Reflex, and Will saves into six different saves in 5e? [duplicate]
In Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition, there were Fortitude, Reflex, and Will saving throws, each tied to a particular ability: CON, DEX, and WIS respectively. (Prior to this edition, saving throws ...
5
votes
1answer
182 views
While under a spell effect that's suspended, can you still make saving throws?
Per this Q&A, creatures under the effects of spells or abilities that give them the frightened condition have that condition suspended while in a Paladin's Aura of Courage.
But if the spell/...
19
votes
1answer
1k views
Does a failed Stabilize action count as a failed death saving throw?
More fully, does a failed Medicine (Wisdom) check while taking the Stabilize action on an unconscious creature count as a failed death saving throw for the unconscious creature?
I've searched all ...
2
votes
3answers
163 views
Will save method for ambushes
Players run a kingdom... Tiny kingdom. Pimple on the axe of their huge empire enemy. Only hope of victory is guerrilla warfare and forest ambushes.
An effective ambush doesnt result in a fight. It ...
11
votes
3answers
976 views
Does the ranger's companion get to make death saving throws?
I play the role of a cleric in a game that also has a ranger.
This ranger happens to have a wolf as a companion. It happened a couple of time that the wolf fell to 0 hp and was declare dead by the DM.
...
16
votes
5answers
3k views
Are all d20 rolls either attacks, saves or ability checks?
In D&D 5e, there are attack rolls (rolls to hit something's AC, usually with a weapon), saving throws (rolls to avoid something) and ability checks (including skill checks).
Do all rolls of ...
4
votes
1answer
475 views
Does Aura of Protection add to my spell save DC?
I’m playing a paladin of conquest and am often casting spells or effects that require enemies to make a saving throw against my spell save dc. Can I add my aura of protection bonus to the spell save ...
1
vote
2answers
354 views
Can the target of Confusion make saves?
Can a character under the effects of a confusion spell make saving throws? I.e. if I'm confused can I dodge a fireball?
0
votes
1answer
104 views
How to max out Will saves under level 4 [closed]
Standard Paizo books.
20 point buy.
150 starting gold.
How can one max out will saves at specifically level 1, but overall under level 4?
Classes, archetypes, feats, races, traits, and whatnot. If ...
18
votes
1answer
3k views
Can a dragon retroactively use its legendary resistance?
Let's say an ancient dragon, for some reason, fails a saving throw with legendary resistances left, but decides to save its legendary resistance and take the negative effect instead. Then, a round or ...
0
votes
2answers
1k views
Using Dodge & Reaction Rolls
New DM here. Hosted a game this weekend for my kids who have never played (I have never DM and haven;t played for 20 +). I am trying to figure out Dodge and saving throws.
Dodge - Only used as an ...
4
votes
3answers
238 views
Do reflex saves for half damage also halve potential bonus damage?
I am playing a homebrewed "Flame Disciple" class in heavily modified version of D&D 3.5, which has an ability that adds a certain amount of extra damage to attacks made with fire.
The spell-like-...
28
votes
3answers
2k views
How to halve the damage on a successful saving throw?
I'm new to DnD, though not new to rpgs in general.
I'm a bit confused on the damage of spells. For example, the Fireball deals 8d6 fire damage on a failed saving throw, and half as much on a ...
3
votes
1answer
95 views
How would an attended object (a corpse) make a saving throw?
I'm trying to understand how objects make saving throws, specifically attended objects that are being individually targeted. In the case at hand, a Vermlek demon is inhabiting a human body and ...
17
votes
3answers
8k views
When rolling a 20 for a Death Saving Throw, can you move and take Actions that turn?
My intrepid adventuring character has been attacked, and the damage reduced him to 0 hit points and falls unconscious. On his next turn, he rolls a Death Saving Throw, and gets everybody's favorite ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
What determines the ability used for a saving throw?
I'm new to D&D. I was reading about save throws in the Player's Handbook and saw this:
To make a saving throw, roll a d20 and add the
appropriate ability modifier. For example, you use your
...
5
votes
2answers
116 views
Who gets to save against a telekinetic sphere, and what happens to those that do?
Psionic power Telekinetic Sphere has a save:
Saving Throw: Reflex negates (object)
All good. But the sphere can be targeted at a creature or an object, and picks up everything in its radius (at ...
0
votes
1answer
72 views
When does the target of a Suggestion spell get a save?
When a creature is subjected to the Suggestion spell, at what point in time is it required for said creature to make its save? The moment the spell is cast, or the moment it receives its suggestion?
...
4
votes
1answer
935 views
How does Meat Grinder mode affect death saving throw probabilities?
The module Tomb of Annihilation features an optional 'Meat Grinder' mode. By using this optional rule, the difficulty of death saving throws is increased from 10 to 15.
The probabilities of living ...
4
votes
1answer
143 views
What are the base saves for a 15HD dragon with 12 monk levels?
I am aware of numerous house-rules, such as the fractional system, which intend to overcome the shortcomings of just adding numbers on charts together. I'd like to know if such an alternative system ...
15
votes
1answer
1k views
Do targets get a saving throw if they don't want a positive magic effect?
Imagine you have contracted lycanthropy, and you do not want to be cured. A cleric within touch range attempts to use Remove Curse on you. You are not a willing recipient of the interaction, and you ...
