Which saving throw thwarts death?

[Katuchan]

Okay, I've been trying to find this answer everywhere, and have been unsuccessful. And so I turn to you. I apologise in advance if you've heard this a thousand times, but I'm at my wit's end.

The PHB states that when you're dying, you make three saving throws to determine how close you are to death. But it never specifies which saving throw. Talking it through with my players, we decided that Fortitude or Will (whichever is higher) is probably the likely choice, but if possible, I'd like to find an actual ruling.

I'm fairly new to DMing, and D&D in general, I've only played 3.5 for a little over a year, so if this is a common-knowledge sort of thing, I apologise for being a noob.

 

[Victim]

Fort and Will are defenses. You don't roll them.

Saves are completely different mechanic.

 

[darkbard]

In 4E, a saving throw is a (usually unmodified) d20 roll. 1 -9 you fail (in this case, one step closer to death), 10 - 19 you are unaffected, 20 you immediately jump to 0 hp and get to spend a healing surge (assuming you still have one to spend). See PHB 295 for more details.

 

[MintMMs]

And since it is a saving throw, feats and abilities that add bonuses to saving throws help as well.

A human who takes the Human Perseverance feat (+1 to saving throws) fails a death saving throw on a 1-8, and gets to spend a healing surge on a 19 or 20!

 

[firesnakearies]

and gets to spend a healing surge on a 19 or 20!

Really? That's awesome. Where does it say that?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Really? That's awesome. Where does it say that?

PHB p295 - make a saving throw; if the result is 20 or higher, spend a healing surge.

If you have a +1 to saving throws, a roll of 19 or 20 will give you a result of 20 or higher.

So if you're a human with Human Perseverance (+1 feat bonus) wearing a Ring of Protection (+1 item bonus) adjacent to your Justiciar ally (Just Shelter, +1 bonus), on Hallowed Ground (Cleric Utility 16, +2 power bonus), you fail on a roll of 1-4, and heal on a roll of 15-20.

-Hyp.

 

[Katuchan]

In 4E, a saving throw is a (usually unmodified) d20 roll. 1 -9 you fail (in this case, one step closer to death), 10 - 19 you are unaffected, 20 you immediately jump to 0 hp and get to spend a healing surge (assuming you still have one to spend). See PHB 295 for more details.

Ah, okay. I understand now. I didn't realise that they'd changed it completely. I gathered from the "20 or higher" quote that it was one of the stat-based saving throws, but I get it now. Darn you 4th edition! Trying to be all user-friendly to new people and confusing us only-kind-of-new people!

Thanks so much for your help.

 

[Dalzig]

Ah, okay. I understand now. I didn't realise that they'd changed it completely. I gathered from the "20 or higher" quote that it was one of the stat-based saving throws, but I get it now. Darn you 4th edition! Trying to be all user-friendly to new people and confusing us only-kind-of-new people!

Thanks so much for your help.

Here's a tip for learning 4e: Forget everything you know about D&D. It'll make it a lot easier.

 

[RabidBob]

Which saving throw thwarts death?

Surely it's a skill challence? Intelligence if you are playing chess, charisma if you're playing Cripple Mr Onion.

 

[Nebulous]

PHB p295 - make a saving throw; if the result is 20 or higher, spend a healing surge.

If you have a +1 to saving throws, a roll of 19 or 20 will give you a result of 20 or higher.

So if you're a human with Human Perseverance (+1 feat bonus) wearing a Ring of Protection (+1 item bonus) adjacent to your Justiciar ally (Just Shelter, +1 bonus), on Hallowed Ground (Cleric Utility 16, +2 power bonus), you fail on a roll of 1-4, and heal on a roll of 15-20.

-Hyp.

Good Lord. I hadn't even thought about that.