Creatures who succesfully save immune for 24 hours...

[heliopolix]

I have happened across several special abilities that have the caveat "A creature that successfully saves versus this affect cannot be affected by the same monster's affect for 24 hours". Take a look at a ghost's Horrific Appearance or a Troglodyte's stench ability to see what I mean.

Horrific Appearance: All living creatures within 60 ft. make will save or take 1d4 str, dex & con damage. Creatures that save are immune to this ghost's appearance for 24 hours.

Troglodyte Stench: All non-troglodytes within 30 ft. make fort save or be sickened for 10 rounds. Creatures that save immune to same troglodyte's stench for 24 hours.

My question is: do creatures that fail against the first save need to make another saving throw the next round if they are still in the affected area?

For example, say Joe Fighter bravely charges Ghostly Barkeep with his Masterwork Barstool-Leg-of-Ghostly-Barkeep-Slaying. Ghostly Barkeep was burned to death so he don't look so pretty. Joe Fighter gets within 60 ft of the barkeep, and fails his will save, taking 1d4 str, dex, & con damage. Whiff with the Barstool-Leg. Next round, Joe Fighter is still bravely melee-ing with his MWBsLoGBS. Does he need to save again? If so, Ghostly Barkeep will soon have a new companion, Ghostly-Fighter-who-though-he-clould-slay-Ghostly-Barkeep-with-his-masterwork-barstool-leg-of-Ghostly-Barkeep-slaying.

Silly example aside, my question is serious. Thanks in advance for your insight.

heliopolix

 

[wuyanei]

In a word, yes. You attempt to save until you succeed for the first time. Afterwards, you become immune for 24 hours.

 

[Starglim]

If you fail a save, you are definitely not immune. I suppose the question is when you are next required to make a save. In the case of a ghost's Horrific Appearance

Any living creature within 60 feet that views a ghost must succeed on a Fortitude save

I'd say that 'viewing' is an involuntary gaze action by the victim and therefore occurs at the beginning of the victim's next turn if he is still in range, after he has the chance to close his eyes if he chooses.

In the case of the troglodyte, technically it would be once a round, although the victim is already sickened when he makes his first 9 saves. It would be mechanically identical to give the victim a save each round after the 10th round to recover.

 

[heliopolix]

I was almost certain that the wording did require those who failed their save to try again the next round, and in the case of the troglodyte it wouldnt much matter; sickened is sickened. The Horrific Appearance is a little more deadly, as characters with low fortitudes, like rogues and wizards, would most likely be taking 1d4 damage to Str, Dex, and Con each round they were in the affected area. And wizards / rogues fighting blind renders most of thier abilities useless, unlike a fighter who can just get next to the creature and start swinging away at it.

Thanks for your confirmation. I'll have to consider re-evaluating the CR on one of my BBEG's, as he is a Ghostly Sorcerer, with a pretty decent CHA, and rather tough horrific appearance DC.

heliopolix

 

[dvvega]

Personally I never make players save every round for a ghost or like creature unless they leave the area of effect and return to it at a later stage.

The reason for this is simply that the first failed save reduces future saves and will essentially paralyze a low-Will PC.

If they leave the area (withdraw/flee/whatever) and come back without resting/recuperating then they're stupid and make another save.

D

 

[frankthedm]

I was almost certain that the wording did require those who failed their save to try again the next round, and in the case of the troglodyte it wouldnt much matter; sickened is sickened. The Horrific Appearance is a little more deadly, as characters with low fortitudes, like rogues and wizards, would most likely be taking 1d4 damage to Str, Dex, and Con each round they were in the affected area. And wizards / rogues fighting blind renders most of thier abilities useless, unlike a fighter who can just get next to the creature and start swinging away at it.

Thanks for your confirmation. I'll have to consider re-evaluating the CR on one of my BBEG's, as he is a Ghostly Sorcerer, with a pretty decent CHA, and rather tough horrific appearance DC.

heliopolix

No need to re-evaluate Its CR, re evaluate how the party can lay it to rest. If they insist on fighting the thing like it was a pile of hitpoints, then kill em.