D&D 5E (2014) Intelligence Saves

[jayoungr]

Can anyone think of good situations in which to call for an intelligence saving throw?

 

[Staccat0]

Don't Psionic attacks call for them?

I could see using them creatively in a situation where the players have planned to do something important and I am clearly the only person who remembers that they were going to do that.

Player "alright I leave the castle"
DM "make an INT save real quick"
Player "25"
DM "Oops! You almost forgot your keys!"

 

[Tormyr]

Generally they are called for when the consequence is madness or psychic damage.

Edit: Specifically for the psychic damage, it seems to be when something goes wrong with a spell that uses your intelligence or when a psionic, such as a mind flayer, is attacking. Otherwise, it seems to require a Wisdom saving throw or take psychic damage.

Also, maze uses an Intelligence saving throw. So things where you have to think or bad stuff happens apply.

 

[jayoungr]

Makes sense. Any off-the-wall creative uses for them?

 

[Tormyr]

Makes sense. Any off-the-wall creative uses for them?

I think [MENTION=6695548]Staccat0[/MENTION]'s idea of the DM helping the players when they would otherwise forget something is fantastic.

 

[mellored]

Illusion things often use them as well.

 

[Tormyr]

Illusion things often use them as well.

Usually those are Intelligence (Investigation) checks, or am I missing something?

 

[Leatherhead]

You could use them to hand out clues for puzzles, or to figure out how particularly complex machines or traps are working.

 

[Tormyr]

You could use them to hand out clues for puzzles, or to figure out how particularly complex machines or traps are working.

But those are usually Intelligence ability checks. Saving throws are generally: make the saving throw or Bad Stuff (tm) happens.

 

[RangerWickett]

If I were designing 5e from the ground up, I'd have gone:

* Str saves - Entangle effects, forced movement, telekinesis

* Dex saves - explosions and things to dodge

* Con saves - poisons, body alteration, things that would fatigue like heat or cold

* Int saves - illusions, memory alteration (you figure out that something's not right)

* Wis saves - psychic damage, charm, fear and other emotions (you find serenity, are resilient against harm, and recognize deception)

* Cha saves - compulsion, mind control, and possession (your sense of identity pushes back against direct control)