D&D 4E 4e Save or Die?

[Mort_Q]

There is one that I can think of: Gravity.

If you are on a really high place, from which a fall would be fatal, and you take forced movement that would push/pull/slide you off the edge, you get to save. If you fail, you die.

That would require the DM to set up a scenario specifically to have a fatal drop. That's poor design... unless you actually want Save or Die.

 

[Rel]

That would require the DM to set up a scenario specifically to have a fatal drop. That's poor design... unless you actually want Save or Die.

This feature is simply built into my campaign setting on a fairly regular basis. I'm not going out of my way to kill the PC's but it has happened once and I'm guessing it will happen again.

They have also reaped the benefits however as more than one enemy has plunged to their deaths when they still had plenty of Hit Points.

 

[Mort_Q]

It is very cinematic, sure... but I'm still bitter about a PC I lost to a Save or Die trap many many years ago.... I've always hated them.

That said, in movies, when a main character goes over the edge, there's usually an out... like a ledge or an antenna... I'd take it that direction if they missed. Stilll out of the encounter, but not dead. Unless they did something incredibly stupid...

YMMV.

 

[Mephistopheles]

That said, in movies, when a main character goes over the edge, there's usually an out... like a ledge or an antenna... I'd take it that direction if they missed. Stilll out of the encounter, but not dead. Unless they did something incredibly stupid...

Sounds like a good way to play a successful saving throw in those situations.

 

[Mort_Q]

Sounds like a good way to play a successful saving throw in those situations.

Well, a successful save would have them prone at the edge, and still in the encounter.

 

[Wepwawet]

That said, in movies, when a main character goes over the edge, there's usually an out... like a ledge or an antenna...

Yup, when there's an antenna he'll land on his balls, for further comical effect, his face twists in pain, and then he falls again.
(often there'll be cactuses all the way down. or roses, for a romantic effect)

 

[cmbarona]

It is very cinematic, sure... but I'm still bitter about a PC I lost to a Save or Die trap many many years ago.... I've always hated them.

That said, in movies, when a main character goes over the edge, there's usually an out... like a ledge or an antenna... I'd take it that direction if they missed. Stilll out of the encounter, but not dead. Unless they did something incredibly stupid...

YMMV.

I like your idea that failing an unusually high falling save =/= death, but out for the encounter. Consider this house rule officially yoinked.

Although I'd still deal the falling damage, so they need to spend healing surges afterward.

In general, I'm not a big fan of save or die effects either, so I'm glad they are mostly gone.

 

[El Mahdi]

There is one that I can think of: Gravity.

If you are on a really high place, from which a fall would be fatal, and you take forced movement that would push/pull/slide you off the edge, you get to save. If you fail, you die.

Damn Straight! This and Lava!

 

[Nymrohd]

One more thing about Save and Die effects. They are not just prolonged. There are many utilities, leader and defender powers as well as class features to boost them. You almost always have a chance to react to a save and die effect.

 

[Mort_Q]

Although I'd still deal the falling damage, so they need to spend healing surges afterward.

You could also go the... "You land in a giant spiderweb" route....

.... "the spider is home."