[3.5e] Different Ability for Saves

[Jaws]

In the latest Dragon Magazine #309 (July 2003), there is an article written by Andy Collins and Matthew Sernett. It is called Beasts of the Battlefield (pages 26-33). It is about war constructs and creatures.

At the end of a description of a combat ability that requires a saving throw, it reads that the save DC is ability-based. The ability that is listed is normally not associated with that save.

Example: For the Crawling Slaughter, its special attack Stench, it has a Fortitude save. Then it says at the end that the save DC is Charisma-based.

What does this mean? Why is it included? What is the purpose?


Peace and smiles

j.

 

[Happy Funball]

Well, not having seen my Dragon yet, if the ability is for a Construct, then you may have your answer.

Constructs have no Constitution. A number of natural abilities' saving throw (e.g. Dragon's Breath) are based off the CON of the monster. Without CON, you have to base it on something. I guess Charisma is the next best thing. Although for a Construct it would seem kind of odd, I'll grant you.

If it is not a construct, undead, or other thing without CON, I have no idea.

 

[Petrosian]

fortitude save is the save the target of the power needs to make.

charisma based is the indication of which ability of the USER is used to determine the DC.

Think of a disintigrate spell cast by a wizard. it requires a fort save but the wizard's int bonus ups the Dc.

 

[DreamChaser]

It means that the save DC is adjusted by the creature's Charisma score modifier. A creature might have the ability to cast charm person. Before it would have said "...as a 10th level sorcerer." Now it says "the save DC is Charisma based."

A snakes poison save DC might be Constitution based, for example.

DC

 

[Jaws]

But I find it strange that some of the saves are Constitution-based for an undead. And the explanation says +0 due to lack of Constitution.

That's the same as if it did have a Constitution score of a 10 or an 11.

Peace and smiles

j.

 

[Draugin]

Charismatic constructs?

Well there are some cases in which an ability modifier can replace a nonability modifier of +0 (such as Charisma instead of Constitution for undead, and it sounds good).
Nevertheless, it really sounds crazy that a construct special ability is based on its Charisma. I understand why they've not used Strenght (overpowered DCs), but that choice is weird.
Maybe that's not a problem, bigger constructs (more HD) will have a greater DC.