Automatic saving throws

[Clumsy Bob]

Okay, this ocured in our game last night. One of the PC's has a Fortitude save of +15. When fighting some spectre's that have a DC of 15 to avoid energy drain is that PC immune as his minimum save is 16?
We looked for a rule description but we couldn't find anything stating that a roll of 1 is always a failure.
If a 1 is not a failure it kinda makes energy draining beasties suck at higher levels don't you think?
Bob

 

[the Jester]

With most energy drains, you only get the save 24 hours later. In the meantime you have a negative level for each drain. Each negative level gives you a -1 to all your saves, among other things. So your buddy with 5 negative levels has an overall +10- still likely to make them, but...

 

[dcollins]

Nowhere in the core rulebooks is it stated that a 1 is always a failed saving throw.
Nevertheless, the Sage has ruled that it is, in the FAQ.

 

[IceBear]

Yeah, in all the past editions (I know, I know, this is 3E) all the combat rolls (including saving throws) had an auto failure on a 1 and auto success on a 20. I think the designers were working with that in mind, but forgot to write it on paper.

As was pointed out, the Sage has clarified that this is how it is in the D&D FAQ, and some of the other supplements even assume that this is the case as well.

If you don't like that idea, the ELH brings another alternative to the table with open ended dice rolls.

IceBear

 

[kreynolds]

It is also stated in Deities & Demigods, IIRC.