What Counts as a Saving Throw?
Introduction
Saving throws, also referred to as simply "saves", are an integral part of the Dungeons and Dragons game. They offer a measure of protection from harm or misfortune and can prove crucial in preserving the characters’ lives, especially when faced with insidious curse, deadly potion, or devastating attack.
Saving Throw Basics
A saving throw is, in its most basic sense, an attempt to defy the impending doom or consequences of an event. Made by a character, typically in a situation where it is clearly specified, saves are done to avoid bad outcomes like death, enslavement, or unwanted transformation.
Types of Saving Throws
There are several instances where saving throws are commonly required:
- Will saves: Save against curses, mind controlling effects, or other abilities that impact a character’s thoughts, actions, and decisions. These saves, as highlighted by The Dungeon Master’s Guide (DMG), will be labeled with a "[WILL]" notation at the relevant table or within the surrounding text.
- Wisdom saves: Save against mind-affecting or insight-based events, for example, during a truth-reading ordeal or mental attack. Labelled WIS, Wisdom saving throws, as DMG stresses, are most often referred to as simple "Will" saves instead.
- Dexterity saves: Save against potentially deadly obstacles or hazards and, typically, against combat attacks of certain types when the "deflect from harm" mechanism is introduced. Mentioned in The Combat Math System Manual (CSM), CSM makes a clear example of rolling for DEX saves specifically during combat; the number achieved will subtract from your attacker’s rolling result based on the relevant table of outcomes.
For further information on such deflection events, turn to the comprehensive Math Manual on page and *** within the game guide.
- Strength, Agility, as well as Intelligent actions all have equivalent saving capabilities: Fight, Dodge, & Outwit.
Specific Situations Triggering Saves
Fragile situations involve the option of saving up to defray the bad outcome but with a more limited role of the other two attributes mentioned above under the above Types.. As the characters’ trustworthiness levels rise alongside other factors it is determined if they were able enough to save properly. However, the best way and any other essential details like, for now, is not something we care about. I will share these details based on which kind of questions you post and the most important stuff, which really matters like your character.
*For questions about special Saving
capabilities like Agility/Dodge with Evasion etc., be sure to send me one in the **chat* on The Beyond Network. Keep the questions within the character profile and this will all become clear while we progress in the gaming experience shared on this side of .*