D&D 5E A Few Questions: Check/Save Difference, Proficiency bonus

[CM]

Is there a functional difference between an ability check and a saving throw? It seems saves are a subset of ability checks: All saves are checks, but not all checks are saves.

For example Cause Fear lets the target use its action to make a Wisdom check to try to remove the spell. Is there a reason this doesn't use the term saving throw, or are saves reserved for purely reactionary rolls (no action on your part)? The How To Play document isn't very clear.

If saves are a subset of ability checks, does that mean someone with, say, advantage on Dexterity checks also has advantage on all Dex saves? I assume the reverse is not true - advantage on Dex saves would not imply advantage on Dex checks. If this is true, it would be redundant to say "advantage on Dex checks and saves."

Finally, does anyone know of any cases where proficiency bonus is ever added to a check or save? I know using a proficient tool can do so, but wanted to know if anything else did, for homebrew purposes. Example: part of a "supernatural strength" feat that might add your proficiency bonus to Strength checks to interact with objects or other creatures.

 

[Ichneumon]

Is there a functional difference between an ability check and a saving throw? It seems saves are a subset of ability checks: All saves are checks, but not all checks are saves.

For example Cause Fear lets the target use its action to make a Wisdom check to try to remove the spell. Is there a reason this doesn't use the term saving throw, or are saves reserved for purely reactionary rolls (no action on your part)? The How To Play document isn't very clear.

If saves are a subset of ability checks, does that mean someone with, say, advantage on Dexterity checks also has advantage on all Dex saves? I assume the reverse is not true - advantage on Dex saves would not imply advantage on Dex checks. If this is true, it would be redundant to say "advantage on Dex checks and saves."

Finally, does anyone know of any cases where proficiency bonus is ever added to a check or save? I know using a proficient tool can do so, but wanted to know if anything else did, for homebrew purposes. Example: part of a "supernatural strength" feat that might add your proficiency bonus to Strength checks to interact with objects or other creatures.

A good rule of thumb is that checks are used when you're trying to accomplish something. Saves are used when trying to avoid something bad. So, Dexterity check to open the lock (trying to get lock open). Constitution save to avoid bad effects from the poison on the lock trap.

Checks and saves are separate, and advantage on one doesn't transfer to the other.
Being trained in a skill or tool adds the proficiency bonus to appropriate checks. Each class has a couple of abilities that they add their proficiency bonus to when making a save.

 

[CM]

A good rule of thumb is that checks are used when you're trying to accomplish something. Saves are used when trying to avoid something bad. So, Dexterity check to open the lock (trying to get lock open). Constitution save to avoid bad effects from the poison on the lock trap.

Checks and saves are separate, and advantage on one doesn't transfer to the other.
Being trained in a skill or tool adds the proficiency bonus to appropriate checks. Each class has a couple of abilities that they add their proficiency bonus to when making a save.

Ok, my confusion sprang from the fact that they're exactly the same mechanic, just used in different situations. Thanks.

I seem to recall someone posting a list of the quantity of existing in-game saving throw effects that utilize each stat. Anyone have that handy? If I remember right the great majority are Dexterity.

 

[Iosue]

Another distinction is that checks tie into the skill system, while saves do not. So, for example, a player may have the Wisdom (Religion) skill (don't have materials in front of me so I'm just spitballing), so they add their proficiency bonus to all checks for Religion, but they don't have Wisdom (Perception), so no bonus there. OTOH, they may have a Wisdom Save, which allows them to add the proficiency bonus to all Wisdom saving throws.

 

[machineelf]

In one of the Q&A videos (I think) WOTC recently put up on YouTube, Mearls talks about how "there was just enough room" in the system to have saving throws be something distinct from ability checks and to be meaningful. He uses the example of how classes get to add proficiency to some distinct saving throws, say like a wisdom saving throw, so that the proficiency applies across the board for all wisdom saving throws. But because proficiency checks are something different, it allows them to have proficiency apply to special wisdom-based skill checks without having it apply across the board to all wisdom skill checks.