do you know what you just saved against?

[bweenie]

When a character makes a saving throw, especially a will save (say against a mind control effect), do they get a clue what they just avoided?

Here's the specific situation:
A lamia, disguised as a centaur, has asked for help. The lamia wishes to ensnare the party members as her slaves while traveling. The lamia can use CHARM MONSTER three times a day. Since it is a spell like ability, and not a spell, she should not have to speak or gesture or whatnot. So what clues do the players/characters get as to whats going on?

 

[Saeviomagy]

When a character makes a saving throw, especially a will save (say against a mind control effect), do they get a clue what they just avoided?

Here's the specific situation:
A lamia, disguised as a centaur, has asked for help. The lamia wishes to ensnare the party members as her slaves while traveling. The lamia can use CHARM MONSTER three times a day. Since it is a spell like ability, and not a spell, she should not have to speak or gesture or whatnot. So what clues do the players/characters get as to whats going on?

from the spellcraft skill:

"DC 25 + level of spell - identify a spell that targeted you after succeeding at your save"

I'd extend this to apply to SU and SLAs as well.

Regardless - you know that something happened when you succeed at your save.

 

[Arkhandus]

By the core rules, in the Magic chapter of the PH, a successful saving throw against a charm or compulsion effect results in the subject realizing that something just tried to control their mind; they just had a contest of wills, and won, though they do not know what specifically was just used against them. If they failed their save, they don't realize they're being controlled until the effect ends, except for domination; Dominate Person and the like is obvious to the affected character, whereas charm effects are more subtle to the subject.

Remember that when a character interacts with or observes someone who's charmed or dominated, that character can attempt a Sense Motive check to notice the mind control (someone under mind control doesn't behave exactly normal, even though they may behave similarly to normal). This is in the Sense Motive description, and IIRC the DC is something like 20 or so to notice that someone is under such mental influence. Also remember that Charm Person, Charm Monster, et al, give the victim a bonus on their saving throw if they're in battle or something (check the spell descriptions).

 

[Hypersmurf]

By the core rules, in the Magic chapter of the PH, a successful saving throw against a charm or compulsion effect results in the subject realizing that something just tried to control their mind; they just had a contest of wills, and won, though they do not know what specifically was just used against them.

It's not specific to charms and compulsions.

"A creature that successfully saves against a spell that has no obvious physical effects feels a hostile force or a tingle, but cannot deduce the exact nature of the attack."

-Hyp.

 

[kigmatzomat]

I use a spot check DC5 to notice saves with non-visual clues because face it; sometimes people are oblivious.

 

[MerakSpielman]

I had some PCs "feel a tingle" and some of them "collapse to the ground" during our first (and last) bodak encounter. Amazingly, none of the players even knew what a bodak was. They were absolutely horrified when they found out what those "tingles" actually represented.

 

[Clangador]

When a character makes a saving throw, especially a will save (say against a mind control effect), do they get a clue what they just avoided?

I'd say it also depends on the DM too. Some I've played with give you no clue, while others are most informative.