Houserule for using the Help Action on saving throws

[Kobold Avenger]

I know that technically the text of Help says you assist attacks and ability checks, and that saving throws aren't ability checks.

I feel there are situations where I feel one should be able to help someone else with saving throws, it probably won't apply to most saving throws since they are entirely reactive and there isn't much of a way to prepare against such things. But there are saving throws against ongoing effects, which I feel someone could try to help against with their action.

But to help someone with a saving throw with an ongoing effect, I feel the helper probably needs to be proficient in an appropriate skill like Insight or Arcana to help with ongoing Wisdom saves or Medicine for ongoing Constitution saves. Or that maybe the skills to help a save are more dependant on the type of effect.

As for the bonus given by helping, it could be advantage as is standard for the Help Action, but maybe it could be something like adding the helper's proficiency bonus.

 

[iserith]

It seems reasonable, depending on the player's stated goal and approach, to allow an extra saving throw or to grant advantage on a saving throw under certain circumstances. I probably wouldn't go so far as to make a standing house rule on it as it will only make sense sometimes. I would also keep the bonus as advantage rather than apply proficiency bonuses as that is more in line with the D&D 5e paradigm.

 

[jaelis]

I agree there are times it makes sense. When it does, I would just let the helper grant a save when they take the help action. That is almost the same as granting advantage on the victim's next save, but makes more narrative sense to me.

 

[MonkeezOnFire]

Granting advantage or disadvantage as circumstances dictate is well within the rules of 5e. I see no reason that having another help you overcome something be treated differently. That said, like the others above, I would only allow it when it makes sense.

Making a dex save to grab a ledge you failed to jump to and someone is nearby ready to help catch you? Sure.
Making a con save against some poison from a dart trap and the cleric is offering encouragement? Probably not.

 

[Warmaster Horus]

Allowing the use of the Help action to allow Advantage on a saving throw would be an edge case for me. It would have to make sense for the given situation and actually be achievable by the Helper. Definitely NOT something that would be a norm at my table but could be possible on occasion when the story's stars aligned.

 

[jaelis]

Here's a non-trivial example I would allow:
Bob is frightened by a dragon's Frightful Presence. Alice made her save. I would let her take the help action to try to calm down Bob and end the effect. I'd implement that as letting Bob make an extra save on Alice's turn.

 

[Warmaster Horus]

Here's a non-trivial example I would allow:
Bob is frightened by a dragon's Frightful Presence. Alice made her save. I would let her take the help action to try to calm down Bob and end the effect. I'd implement that as letting Bob make an extra save on Alice's turn.

That's the kind of thing I'd veer away from. In my mind Alice would need to make some sort of check, Persuasion or Insight or the like, at the Dragon's fear DC to even be eligible to do this. Probably to keep it from being completely out of the question, Alice would need to be adjacent to Bob and use the Help Action to make a Persuasion check equal to the Dragon's Fear DC. If she succeeds then Bob has advantage on his next Fear save per the Help action, otherwise nothing happens and Alice's action is spent. If it becomes sort of activity is too easy you start to denigrate the power of the Dragon's Fear, in my mind.

 

[nugstradamus]

but maybe it could be something like adding the helper's proficiency bonus.

I like this idea. Because one's proficiency is what sets them apart from the average person when it comes to a task or skill. Someone proficient in repairing air conditioners specifically, for instance, would still be able to help someone who's generally intelligent, by imparting that additional knowledge he's learned.

 

[guachi]

I like the idea of potentially granting advantage on a saving throw. It seems very cinematic to have heroes urge their friends to overcome some obstacle, which might be a saving throw in a given situation in D&D.

 

[iserith]

If the PCs are particularly concerned about a saving throw in my games, then they will tend to work for Inspiration for themselves or someone else will give up their Inspiration for the player about to roll the save. So I think this is an issue that's mostly resolved by the rules as they currently exist.