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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Orryn Emrys" data-source="post: 1847017" data-attributes="member: 6799">Interestingly enough, I have been in the position to make that fireball decision before, and I remember deciding on the spot that the PC at the center of the event wasn't allowed a saving throw.  As I recall, I simply made this decision and delivered it in a matter-of-fact manner to the player in question, who, despite being disappointed at being trapped in this particular situation, would never have even thought to argue.IMO rules should not be enforced if they seem nonsensical, or even, as in this case, simply unlikely.  I believe in presenting a very organic world.  Any number of details might factor in to such decisions.  I might have decided the opposite verdict, and the players in my game may have wondered how exactly that person managed to avoid much of the damage.  Most importantly, however, although I will often discuss a potential ruling with the table, referees in our group are not generally subject to being argued with.  I do welcome criticism of a decision once the session is over, but not during game play.  And such criticism is always offered respectfully, regardless of the detriment to any character resulting from my judgment.  If a strong enough case is made concerning a rules argument, it will be handled differently in the future.More often than not, however, this kind of decision isn't contested.  If it were, I wouldn't offer speculations; I would explain the event according to the character's perceptions, i.e. an earlier injury made a character's leg stiff enough to hamper his movement at that critical moment, or the lose sand beneath the character's feet makes it impossible for him to move fast enough, etc.  Or the fire simply rose all around him so fast that he had no idea what to do to escape immolation.  Keeping the entirety of the environmental impact of the game solidly in the perspective of the PC clears up a lot of difficulty in adjudicating a character's options.  And, at times, these options will be in direct violation of a rule that would work entirely differently in a vaccuum, or even most standard applications.</blockquote>

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