The more things to save against, the better?

[Chowder]

Hello.

In the PDF compiled in http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=221405 (which is fantastic, by the way), in the "Saving Throw" section, it states that a creature affected by more than one effect that allows a save may attempt a saving throw against each such effect at the end of its turn. It also states that if a creature rolls a 20 on a saving throw, all effects that allow a save will end.

If I understand that correctly, the more effects on a creature, the greater the number of saving throw rolls that creature gets, and the more chances to roll a 20. Suppose a group of 5 PCs all cast spells on a creature, and all of those spells impart effects that allow a save. This means that the creature will get 5 chances to roll a 20, which means there's a 22.6% chance that they'll roll a 20 at least once, and thereby remove all 5 effects. This seems pretty high.

In an extreme example, suppose 15 enemy spellcasters do the same thing to a PC. The chance that a PC rolls a 20 at least once on his 15 saving throws is 53.7%. It might actually be better for the enemy spellcasters to cast fewer spells on the PC, and have some of the enemy spellcasters sit the combat out!

Am I misunderstanding how this works?

-Chowder

 

[Nytmare]

I'd say that not having to make any saving throws would be the best case scenario, but aside from that, yes you're correct.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

Debunked. D&D Minis Rule only. As per James Wyatt.

 

[Nytmare]

Debunked.

Or then again, maybe I was just lying to you Chowder.

 

[Victim]

It's a built in disincentive for the focus fire tactics that DnD's damage system has ordinarily encouraged.

Of course, someone with a ton of conditions might be in serious trouble even if those conditions are short lived.

 

[Knight Otu]

The way I understand it, the "recover from all conditions on a 20" rule is unique to the minis game, and not part of the actual rules. The Scalegloom scans on saves makes no mention of that rule.

 

[psionotic]

Ah, minis rule only. Edited.

Too bad, I kinda liked this rule.

 

[keterys]

Easy house rule to adopt

 

[mach1.9pants]

Ah, minis rule only. Edited.

Too bad, I kinda liked this rule.

Yeah and you roll for your saves at the end of your turn, so in the example above you still get the effect of the 15 spells at least once *ouch*

 

[Chowder]

Thanks for the information that "20 ends all effects" is a minis-only rule. I think that it makes the most sense that the more negative effects, the worse it should be for the recipient of those effects, whereas the "20 ends all effects" rule would mean that this is not necessarily true.

It's a good point that you make the saves at the end of your turn, and therefore will suffer all the effects at least once. However, some spells (like Sleep) don't do damage, and therefore suffering the effects multiple times isn't a problem. I prefer it that if you get hit with 100 Sleep spells, you're almost certain to fall asleep, whereas with the "20 ends all effects" rule, you're almost certain to avoid falling asleep.

-Chowder