Saving Throws

Certain spells and other effects allow the victim a saving throw to reduce or negate the effect. The saving throw is similar to any other skill attempt in that a difficulty must be exceeded. A bonus roll is generated and added to the base skill factor. Each success level gained reduces the effect.

The saving throw simulates many things including pure luck, such as the eddies in the fireball were slightly cooler at one point, your success in getting out of the way, your resistance to the effect and your ability to modify the flow of power itself such as a wizard performs when resisting another spell.

Saving throws are often given for inanimate objects in the posession of another (being held or worn).

Calculating the saving throw

A standard save is at difficulty 10 + spell level though this may be modified by many factors such as the ferocity of the dragon or the power of the necromancer.

What to save against

There are several general effects that can be saved against. The saves are made as a normal skill against a statistic. These are :

You will be able to use hero points against certain types of save, such as dodging boulders or fireballs, but not others. You cannot use a hero point against those where you don't know a save was made for you by the DM or there is a fixed percentage chance of an event happening.

Spells will only have one saving throw type for the main effect, other effects are assumed to depend upon the success of failure of main one.

Blast effects

Many spells or creature abilities cause a blast effect, this may be a fireball, dragon's breath or an acid spray. In these cases you are attempting to dodge behind cover, which may be someone else, or simply curling up to present a small a target area as possible. Thus it is a dodge save.

If you are in armour the fire will partially splash off the armour; thererfore, damage is reduced using it's normal affect (e.g. plate = half damage). Lack of armour never increases it. Medium and bigger shields are particularly good for hiding behind so automatically grant +1 level on your save.

Of course heavy armour affects you ability to dodge effectively.

Creatures caught on the edge of a physical effect area get advantage on their dodge save.

Saving throws

Against damaging effects the variability is in the damage rolled; the saving throw is a fixed number for the caster dependent upon their level. Against other spell effects the save is variable but dependent upoon the same factors.

Saving throw adjustments

Cover

Cover can give a bonus to the saving throw against ranged physical (including spell) attacks of +1 per 20% cover.

Mages

Mages gain an additional bonus of +1 to their save for each ability level they have in the spell type. This is cumulative with any other saving throw adjustments

The magical ability of a mage to alter elemental reality gives them saving throws even where none is normally available and even counts against non-spell effect such as the damage suffered from being inside a burning house.

Examples

Snablet the mage fires a fireball at the party with a save required of 15.

• Troppus the barbarian has an dexterity of 3 plus the dodge skill at +4 = 7 so needs to roll an 8 to make 15
• Simeon has an dexterity of 1 and a dodge of +2 and an electromagnetic skill of 3 = 6 so needs to roll an 9 to make 15

However most wizards also have response spells which automatically (if cast) reduce damage by at least half in addition to any saving throw reductions.

Saving Throw Result

This is the same table as the skill success level table. The success level determines the effect the spell or act will have on the character. The greater the success level the less the effect or damage suffered.

For non-damaging effects a successful save will often negate the spell completely. For spells that cause damage the damage is reduced according to the success level of the save.

System Shock

System shock is rolled when a body undergoes a massive transformation such as being turned to stone or polymorphed. The standard save is Endurance 9.

Poison

Poisons do not kill (that is not fun).

When attacked by a known poisonous creature it is assumed you try to avoid the blow getting through. so it may be wise to fight with a defensive stance. If you are struck and suffer damage then you took a nick and may have got poison in you.

ENDURANCE save to see how your body rejects the poison. If you fail then:

• Take the effect
• Save at check period, then if fail take the effect again (if saved see changed effect). The immediate effect oif the first save is to stop it getting worse, then recovery begins at next period.
• Recovery: On the first save the effects stop getting worse, then improve after every further normal check period. Some have slower than the normal check period for recovery times. Further saves may be made at each further check period which would normally end the effect completely (there are exceptiopns). No more than two saves may be passed.
• Endurance (15) save to end the effect
  • Immediate            = effect is double normal (10%)
  • Delayed:              = No immediate effect but no save at first check period.
  • Flat:                    = Effects do not get worse over time.
• Minimum stats when affected by poisons are -5.  You don’t die but are bed bound
• If the effect carries on after the save this goes on for as long as the effect time
• Rising checks get harder to resist, they may have a maximum difficulty after which the effect reduces again.
• Slow poison doubles the time between checks for effects, but keeps the same duration for saves. Against delayed effects this gives you the chance to save before taking any effect as you get a chance to save at the 2nd check before taking the damage.
• Poisons extracted from creatures or on missiles are at half effect and take twice as long between affects (affect on 1st/3rd/... check time) as they degrade outside of a warm body and in the air. After a month they are useless.
  • Herbalism check to succesfuly extract

Roll	Body effect	Game effect per check	Check every	After 1st save	After 2nd save
1	Necrosis Limb turns black	Delayed: -1WP	Day	Recover 1WP/day	Recover 2 WP/day
2	Paralysis in limb	N/A	Hour	Half speed for limb actions (& disadvantage)	Disadvantage for 1 hour
3	Difficulty breathing	Lose all breather and 5 minute points +1 SP per round when exerting	10 min	Recover 5 minute points normally
4	Tunnel vision	-1 alertness/defence (min -4)	Hour	Recover 1	Recover
5	Convulsions	Double on dice = convulsions for 1 round. +1 level/check  starting at double 1-4	Hour	Recover 1	Cured
6	Muscle spasms	Fumble on a <4-8 rising (dice), no criticals	round	Recover -1/hour	Recover -1/minute
7	Unconsciousness	WILL (10-16) rising, sleep until WILL 16 then END (16) ongoing check	Hour	Wake up
8	Drowsiness	Alertness & defence  -1, Sleep if not moving. WILL(10-16) rising	Minute	Recover after 1 hour
10	Engorged tongue/frothing	-1 to speech actions	Hour	Recover 1
11	Keeps bleeding	Delayed: 1WP Bound = 1 Day point instead.	Day	Recover 1
12	Blood oozes from orifices	Delayed: -1 STR & DEX	30 mins	Recover at 1/ day
13	Fever	Delayed: -1 all stats	Hour	Recover 1
14	Severe pain when moving	-2SP (needs magic to cure) Can’t recover day (hour…?) points	Hour	Recover normally
15	Immediate limb pain	4 Day points (No WP) Flat: 1d8 for skills	Hour	½ effect	Cured
16	Painful	Flat: Skills & defence -2	Hour	½ effect	Cured
17	Debilitating pain - Instant	3d6 damage reducing per round (3d6/2d4/d4). No actions for 2 rounds. No WP effect	Round	½ damage	Cured
18	Profuse sweating	2SP /r when in combat	5 mins	½ effect	Cured
19	Nausea	Skills & defence -1	30 min	½ effect	Cured
20	Migraine	Flat: Skills & defence -4	10 min	½ effect	Cured
21	Pain	Flat: L2 damage, rest 5 minutes in every 30	Hour
22	Accumulating pain	-1 skill every round of action without rest	Hour	Every 2r	Cured
23	Weakness	-1 STR	Hour	Recover at 1/hour
24	Double vision	Flat: -2 Alertness & perception	Hour	Cured
25	Ringing ears	Flat: -1 Alertness	Hour	Cured
26	Wobbly legs	-1 DEX (affects defence)	Hour	Recover 1
27	Co-ordination	-2 dex skills,-1 other physical skills	Hour	Recover 1
28	Swelling	Delayed: Limbs swell up -2 def.  No metal armour	5 min	Recover at 1/day
29	Lose concentration	-1 ALERT, -1 initiative	1 hour	Recover 1
30	Blurred vision	Flat: -4 skills under 30’, -2 over 30’	1 hour	½ effect	Cured
	LSD	You can fly (with pink elephants)
	Nausea	Lose next 2 rounds + 3d6 damage
	Slow acting	1 SP (but save is at -5) no cure	1 round	Cured
	Fuzzy mind	Disadvantage to all mental skills and saves
	Jeteye	Disadvantage on sight based actions
	Anti-regen	All healing fails
	Stumbler	DEX = -2 (includes defence, but not propelled weapons)

Mind control effects

Spells which control the mind may have reduced effects if a save is made. For example if a hold spell was cast it would end up being a slow spell if the save was just made or cause only a loss of initiative if it was successful by a larger margin.

Horror

Certain monsters, sights and situations are so horrific that characters may literally quake in their boots. Unless a saving throw is made characters will suffer some ill effects depending upon the severity of the failure.

Once a scene has been saved against successfully the character need not save again if it is re-encountered. If the save failed they must save again adding the success modifier from the last failure. The ability to save again simulates the desensitising effect of repeated encounters.

Ill effects may be removed with a remove fear .

Threatening situations

Stymied

The character starts shaking and perform all actions at -2. No hero points may be used. This lasts until 10 minutes afterwards the encounter is ended

 

Aversion

The character cannot bear to look at or approach the cause. They may only attack from the relatively safe distance of 30'. Even then all actions are performed at -4. If the creature comes closer then the character must endeavour to retreat. If retreat is impossible due to a physical restraint (a wall, fast flowing river, or such like) they may attack at -6. No hero points may be used during this encounter or for a period of 10 minutes afterwards.

 

Mental shock

The character remains stunned (see combat) for three rounds. After that a saving throw against mind may be made. If failed another save may be made after 3 rounds. If three saves fail the character falls into a state of deep shock whereby a save may be made only every hour. No hero points may be used during this encounter or for a period of 10 minutes afterwards.

 

Obsession

The character would willingly dive into a set of rapids or through a wall of flame in order to get away. No hero points may be used during this encounter or for a period of 10 minutes afterwards.

For the next month they will be revolted even by the sight of something that reminds them of the scene. (Thus spilt red wine suggests the spilt blood of a massacre). The horrifying experience play itself over and over again in the characters mind. By day they continually talk about the event; by night they suffer nightmares and gain little real rest. Only half normal stamina and power points may be gained each day.

 

Non-threatening situations

If the scene turns threatening then at that point the threatening reactions occurs instead.

Disgust

The character has to look away in disgust. No hero points may be used until 10 minutes afterwards the scene can no longer be seen (and the character is a reasonable distance away).

 

Senseless rage

If the scene is static (no monsters and not threatening) the character flies into a rage and their only desire is to smash and destroy the horror scene. The character attacks twice as often as normal and continues after the scene is destroyed. Starting 1 round after total destruction the character may make another save at -2 each round (reducing by 1 each round) until successful. No hero points may be used until 10 minutes afterwards the scene has been destroyed or the character has been calmed down by other means.

 

Nausea

The character cannot bear to look at the scene or stay in an enclosed space. The character starts shaking with fright then throws up. No hero points may be used until 10 minutes afterwards the scene can no longer be seen (and the character is a reasonable distance away)

 

Repulsion

The immediate affects are as for nausea however the effects are more traumatic and permanent. The character will immediately try to put as much distance as possible between them and the scene. This will involve running at 4x speed for 2 rounds or until exhausted whichever occurs first. Once the character has got over the initial effects then for the next month they will be revolted even by the sight of something that reminds them of the scene. (Thus spilt red wine suggests the spilt blood of a massacre).

Wild Surges

Roll	Effect	Description
1	Blast	10' diameter arcane blast 1SP per power point (Endurance)
2	Backfire	Thrown back 10' take d6 damage (bludgeon)
3	Internalised	Power channelled through you too early,  suffer minor damage, 1SP per power point (no save)
4	Curveball	Spell directed incorrectly (does not hit original target)
5	Burnout early	Spells burnsout in 1 round if it has a duration or no effect if instant
6	Power leak	Additional power needed cast at +1 level or the spell fails.
7	Brain freeze	No action until end of next turn.
8	Brain addled	No casting next turn (or this), dazed.
9	Stunned	Stunned next round
10	Dazed	Dazed next round
11	Off balance	You are at disadvantage until end of next round
12		Combat advantage to all saves.
13	Saw it coming	=+D6 to opponent's saves
14	Thick ether	Spell goes off at half desired range.
15	Thin ether	Spell goes off at 2x expected range
16	Distracted	Lost concentration, goes off in front of your face.
17	Bemused	=+D6 to saves
18	Connection lost	Spell fails, no visible effect
19	Wobbly ether	Spell effect reversed (if possible)
20	Ether hole	Rains fish...
21	Oops	Clothes catch on fire
22	Planar leak	Special
23	Planar leak	Special
24	Planar leak	Special
25	Planar leak	Special
26	Planar leak	Special
27	Planar leak	Special
28	Planar leak	Special
29	Planar leak	Special
30	Planar leak	Special

 

	Specials
1	Conj / Abjur	Attract Fire /electricity...
2	Conj / Abjur	Glowing halo 1 easier to hit for 6 rounds
3	Conj / Abjur	Annoyed demon comes through = spell level
4	Conj / Abjur	Dispel Magic field, affects 1 item/buff
5	Conj / Abjur	Teleported random direction 15' x level
6	Conj / Abjur	You are moved to the Astral plane for 1r
1	Alteration	Boots... turned to stone...
2	Alteration	1 potion / liquid turned to water
3	Alteration	Turn surroundings to another state solid (Floor > mud, Water>ice, Air>water,slippery for 2r acrobatics 12 to not fall
4	Alteration	Sunk into ground level x 1"
5	Alteration	Saps 2 strength from 1 creature
6	Alteration	Head grows to twice size for 2r (-2 to speech)
1	Force	Thrown upwards level x 5' feet. L(spell/2) damage from ceiling and floor
2	Force	Cone 120 degrees pushes characters 10'x level
3	Force	Sphere of force pushes all out within 5' x spell level, L1 damage
4	Force	Mage thrown random direction 5' x level. Damage = L(spell-1)
5	Force	Force wall 10' in front of you 20' long from you for 1r. Prenents missiles/magic Broken by boulders...
6	Force
1	Elemental	Ball of Fire… sphere 10' rad
2	Elemental	Cone of fire… cone 20'
3	Elemental	Lava / freezing fog / mud / cyclone pours through L(spell/2) damage
4	Elemental	Annoyed elemental comes through the rift
5	Elemental	Potions within 20' frrozen for 10 minutes
6	Elemental	Immolated / frozen / static…1 round (2d6 damage)
1	Divination	Random vision of something within 50 miles
2	Divination	Broadcast thoughts & plans. All opponents go before you next round
3	Divination	Blind for 1 round
4	Divination	All creatures within 20' glow and become 1 easier to hit for 2 rounds
5	Divination	You can see all invisible and other creatures for 2r
6	Divination
1	Electro-mag	Annoyed elemental comes through
2	Electro-mag	Sucks out all light 20' rad
3	Electro-mag	Blinding light -2 skills to all within 10'
4	Electro-mag	You glow with a bright light for 2r +2 to be hit.
5	Electro-mag
6	Electro-mag
1	Emotion	Fear, run away next round
2	Emotion	Hate - All nearby creatures target you next round (including ranged)
3	Emotion	Spell affects caster
4	Emotion	Blubbering wreck, -2 to skills next round, Iniative = 10, No feats
5	Emotion	Mentallly exhausted for 2r -2 to WILL/INT skills
6	Emotion