Can creatures with Spell Resistance voluntarily fail saving throws?
Pathfinder's magic rules say that a creature with "special resistance to magic" can voluntarily fail a saving throw against a spell.
Voluntarily Giving up a Saving Throw
A creature can voluntarily forego a saving throw and willingly accept a spell’s result. Even a character with a special resistance to magic can suppress this quality.
But the rules for spell resistance seem to imply the opposite, that a creature would need to drop its spell resistance before being affected by the spell.
A creature can voluntarily lower its spell resistance. Doing so is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Once a creature lowers its resistance, it remains down until the creature's next turn. At the beginning of the creature's next turn, the creature's spell resistance automatically returns unless the creature intentionally keeps it down (also a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity).
I'm confused how these rules interact. If a creature with SR hasn't lowered their SR, can they voluntarily fail the save without a caster level check from the caster? Or does "special resistance to magic" refer to something other than SR?
pathfinder saving-throw spell-resistance
add a comment |
Pathfinder's magic rules say that a creature with "special resistance to magic" can voluntarily fail a saving throw against a spell.
Voluntarily Giving up a Saving Throw
A creature can voluntarily forego a saving throw and willingly accept a spell’s result. Even a character with a special resistance to magic can suppress this quality.
But the rules for spell resistance seem to imply the opposite, that a creature would need to drop its spell resistance before being affected by the spell.
A creature can voluntarily lower its spell resistance. Doing so is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Once a creature lowers its resistance, it remains down until the creature's next turn. At the beginning of the creature's next turn, the creature's spell resistance automatically returns unless the creature intentionally keeps it down (also a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity).
I'm confused how these rules interact. If a creature with SR hasn't lowered their SR, can they voluntarily fail the save without a caster level check from the caster? Or does "special resistance to magic" refer to something other than SR?
pathfinder saving-throw spell-resistance
add a comment |
Pathfinder's magic rules say that a creature with "special resistance to magic" can voluntarily fail a saving throw against a spell.
Voluntarily Giving up a Saving Throw
A creature can voluntarily forego a saving throw and willingly accept a spell’s result. Even a character with a special resistance to magic can suppress this quality.
But the rules for spell resistance seem to imply the opposite, that a creature would need to drop its spell resistance before being affected by the spell.
A creature can voluntarily lower its spell resistance. Doing so is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Once a creature lowers its resistance, it remains down until the creature's next turn. At the beginning of the creature's next turn, the creature's spell resistance automatically returns unless the creature intentionally keeps it down (also a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity).
I'm confused how these rules interact. If a creature with SR hasn't lowered their SR, can they voluntarily fail the save without a caster level check from the caster? Or does "special resistance to magic" refer to something other than SR?
pathfinder saving-throw spell-resistance
Pathfinder's magic rules say that a creature with "special resistance to magic" can voluntarily fail a saving throw against a spell.
Voluntarily Giving up a Saving Throw
A creature can voluntarily forego a saving throw and willingly accept a spell’s result. Even a character with a special resistance to magic can suppress this quality.
But the rules for spell resistance seem to imply the opposite, that a creature would need to drop its spell resistance before being affected by the spell.
A creature can voluntarily lower its spell resistance. Doing so is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Once a creature lowers its resistance, it remains down until the creature's next turn. At the beginning of the creature's next turn, the creature's spell resistance automatically returns unless the creature intentionally keeps it down (also a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity).
I'm confused how these rules interact. If a creature with SR hasn't lowered their SR, can they voluntarily fail the save without a caster level check from the caster? Or does "special resistance to magic" refer to something other than SR?
pathfinder saving-throw spell-resistance
pathfinder saving-throw spell-resistance
edited Dec 18 '18 at 13:34
MikeQ
asked Dec 18 '18 at 13:07
MikeQMikeQ
12.4k42675
12.4k42675
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
A "special resistance to magic" referred to abilities other than spell resistance
In the D&D 3.5e Player's Handbook the description of this mechanic helpfully includes an example of a special resistance to magic:
Voluntarily Giving up a Saving Throw: A creature can voluntarily forego a saving throw and willingly accept a spell's result. Even a character with a special resistance to magic (for example, an elf's resistance to sleep effects) can suppress this quality.
This text didn't survive into the SRD (such examples were widely removed to incentivise acquiring the actual PHB), so it didn't make it directly into Pathfinder, and Paizo didn't add any other examples in its stead. However, it seems that in the original source, it was meant to be the case that a spell's target could voluntarily be affected by things they would normally be immune to - such as an elf suppressing their immunity to magical sleep in order to be affected by a spell - and it does not generally refer to spell resistance, which has separate rules for voluntarily suppressing.
Neither 3.5e nor Pathfinder's rules and published books seem to mention this particular mechanic ever again, so there's no other examples or explanation to draw upon that could clarify further.
In any event, spell resistance and saving throws are separate things; if a spell does not overcome a creature's spell resistance, they aren't subject to a saving throw in the first place, so they can't voluntarily fail it. A creature would have to both actively lower their spell resistance and passively deliberately fail the resulting saving throw in order to guarantee being affected by such a spell.
1
The SRD omits pretty much all examples to incentivize buying a PH (the same reason, by the way, that it omits it omits level advancement rules). Its omission of examples is one the things that makes spell adjudication in Pathfinder so freakin' difficult. (Paizo could've included its own new examples but didn't.) Also, it may be worth noting that the lowering special resistance rules are never mentioned again anywhere in the 3.5 core rules or, so far as I'm aware, in Pathfinder.
– Hey I Can Chan
Dec 18 '18 at 17:17
@HeyICanChan thanks for the tip. I wasn't able to google up any further references to the rule myself so I figured that was probably the case but didn't want to state too strongly.
– Carcer
Dec 18 '18 at 17:31
add a comment |
A creature with spell resistance can willingly fail its saving throw.
Spell Resistance and Saving Throws are 2 different things. However, in order for it to be able to (not) make a saving throw, it has to be affected first. This means, the spellcaster needs to overcome the spell resistance of the creature in order for it to choose to fail the save, because otherwise the spell doesn't affect it.
Relevant Information
Spell Resistance (Ex)
A creature with spell resistance can avoid the effects of spells and spell-like abilities that directly affect it. To determine if a spell or spell-like ability works against a creature with spell resistance, the caster must make a caster level check (1d20 + caster level). If the result equals or exceeds the creature’s spell resistance, the spell works normally, although the creature is still allowed a saving throw.
Alternatively, it can lower its spell resistance allowing spells to affect it without having to make caster level checks to overcome its spell resistance. It could then choose to fail its save against spells that target it. However, this also leaves it open for hostile spells to affect it as well.
Note: A superstitious barbarian can never voluntarily fails its saves when raging.
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["\$", "\$"]]);
});
});
}, "mathjax-editing");
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "122"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2frpg.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f137579%2fcan-creatures-with-spell-resistance-voluntarily-fail-saving-throws%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
A "special resistance to magic" referred to abilities other than spell resistance
In the D&D 3.5e Player's Handbook the description of this mechanic helpfully includes an example of a special resistance to magic:
Voluntarily Giving up a Saving Throw: A creature can voluntarily forego a saving throw and willingly accept a spell's result. Even a character with a special resistance to magic (for example, an elf's resistance to sleep effects) can suppress this quality.
This text didn't survive into the SRD (such examples were widely removed to incentivise acquiring the actual PHB), so it didn't make it directly into Pathfinder, and Paizo didn't add any other examples in its stead. However, it seems that in the original source, it was meant to be the case that a spell's target could voluntarily be affected by things they would normally be immune to - such as an elf suppressing their immunity to magical sleep in order to be affected by a spell - and it does not generally refer to spell resistance, which has separate rules for voluntarily suppressing.
Neither 3.5e nor Pathfinder's rules and published books seem to mention this particular mechanic ever again, so there's no other examples or explanation to draw upon that could clarify further.
In any event, spell resistance and saving throws are separate things; if a spell does not overcome a creature's spell resistance, they aren't subject to a saving throw in the first place, so they can't voluntarily fail it. A creature would have to both actively lower their spell resistance and passively deliberately fail the resulting saving throw in order to guarantee being affected by such a spell.
1
The SRD omits pretty much all examples to incentivize buying a PH (the same reason, by the way, that it omits it omits level advancement rules). Its omission of examples is one the things that makes spell adjudication in Pathfinder so freakin' difficult. (Paizo could've included its own new examples but didn't.) Also, it may be worth noting that the lowering special resistance rules are never mentioned again anywhere in the 3.5 core rules or, so far as I'm aware, in Pathfinder.
– Hey I Can Chan
Dec 18 '18 at 17:17
@HeyICanChan thanks for the tip. I wasn't able to google up any further references to the rule myself so I figured that was probably the case but didn't want to state too strongly.
– Carcer
Dec 18 '18 at 17:31
add a comment |
A "special resistance to magic" referred to abilities other than spell resistance
In the D&D 3.5e Player's Handbook the description of this mechanic helpfully includes an example of a special resistance to magic:
Voluntarily Giving up a Saving Throw: A creature can voluntarily forego a saving throw and willingly accept a spell's result. Even a character with a special resistance to magic (for example, an elf's resistance to sleep effects) can suppress this quality.
This text didn't survive into the SRD (such examples were widely removed to incentivise acquiring the actual PHB), so it didn't make it directly into Pathfinder, and Paizo didn't add any other examples in its stead. However, it seems that in the original source, it was meant to be the case that a spell's target could voluntarily be affected by things they would normally be immune to - such as an elf suppressing their immunity to magical sleep in order to be affected by a spell - and it does not generally refer to spell resistance, which has separate rules for voluntarily suppressing.
Neither 3.5e nor Pathfinder's rules and published books seem to mention this particular mechanic ever again, so there's no other examples or explanation to draw upon that could clarify further.
In any event, spell resistance and saving throws are separate things; if a spell does not overcome a creature's spell resistance, they aren't subject to a saving throw in the first place, so they can't voluntarily fail it. A creature would have to both actively lower their spell resistance and passively deliberately fail the resulting saving throw in order to guarantee being affected by such a spell.
1
The SRD omits pretty much all examples to incentivize buying a PH (the same reason, by the way, that it omits it omits level advancement rules). Its omission of examples is one the things that makes spell adjudication in Pathfinder so freakin' difficult. (Paizo could've included its own new examples but didn't.) Also, it may be worth noting that the lowering special resistance rules are never mentioned again anywhere in the 3.5 core rules or, so far as I'm aware, in Pathfinder.
– Hey I Can Chan
Dec 18 '18 at 17:17
@HeyICanChan thanks for the tip. I wasn't able to google up any further references to the rule myself so I figured that was probably the case but didn't want to state too strongly.
– Carcer
Dec 18 '18 at 17:31
add a comment |
A "special resistance to magic" referred to abilities other than spell resistance
In the D&D 3.5e Player's Handbook the description of this mechanic helpfully includes an example of a special resistance to magic:
Voluntarily Giving up a Saving Throw: A creature can voluntarily forego a saving throw and willingly accept a spell's result. Even a character with a special resistance to magic (for example, an elf's resistance to sleep effects) can suppress this quality.
This text didn't survive into the SRD (such examples were widely removed to incentivise acquiring the actual PHB), so it didn't make it directly into Pathfinder, and Paizo didn't add any other examples in its stead. However, it seems that in the original source, it was meant to be the case that a spell's target could voluntarily be affected by things they would normally be immune to - such as an elf suppressing their immunity to magical sleep in order to be affected by a spell - and it does not generally refer to spell resistance, which has separate rules for voluntarily suppressing.
Neither 3.5e nor Pathfinder's rules and published books seem to mention this particular mechanic ever again, so there's no other examples or explanation to draw upon that could clarify further.
In any event, spell resistance and saving throws are separate things; if a spell does not overcome a creature's spell resistance, they aren't subject to a saving throw in the first place, so they can't voluntarily fail it. A creature would have to both actively lower their spell resistance and passively deliberately fail the resulting saving throw in order to guarantee being affected by such a spell.
A "special resistance to magic" referred to abilities other than spell resistance
In the D&D 3.5e Player's Handbook the description of this mechanic helpfully includes an example of a special resistance to magic:
Voluntarily Giving up a Saving Throw: A creature can voluntarily forego a saving throw and willingly accept a spell's result. Even a character with a special resistance to magic (for example, an elf's resistance to sleep effects) can suppress this quality.
This text didn't survive into the SRD (such examples were widely removed to incentivise acquiring the actual PHB), so it didn't make it directly into Pathfinder, and Paizo didn't add any other examples in its stead. However, it seems that in the original source, it was meant to be the case that a spell's target could voluntarily be affected by things they would normally be immune to - such as an elf suppressing their immunity to magical sleep in order to be affected by a spell - and it does not generally refer to spell resistance, which has separate rules for voluntarily suppressing.
Neither 3.5e nor Pathfinder's rules and published books seem to mention this particular mechanic ever again, so there's no other examples or explanation to draw upon that could clarify further.
In any event, spell resistance and saving throws are separate things; if a spell does not overcome a creature's spell resistance, they aren't subject to a saving throw in the first place, so they can't voluntarily fail it. A creature would have to both actively lower their spell resistance and passively deliberately fail the resulting saving throw in order to guarantee being affected by such a spell.
edited Dec 18 '18 at 17:29
answered Dec 18 '18 at 16:35
CarcerCarcer
22.5k467123
22.5k467123
1
The SRD omits pretty much all examples to incentivize buying a PH (the same reason, by the way, that it omits it omits level advancement rules). Its omission of examples is one the things that makes spell adjudication in Pathfinder so freakin' difficult. (Paizo could've included its own new examples but didn't.) Also, it may be worth noting that the lowering special resistance rules are never mentioned again anywhere in the 3.5 core rules or, so far as I'm aware, in Pathfinder.
– Hey I Can Chan
Dec 18 '18 at 17:17
@HeyICanChan thanks for the tip. I wasn't able to google up any further references to the rule myself so I figured that was probably the case but didn't want to state too strongly.
– Carcer
Dec 18 '18 at 17:31
add a comment |
1
The SRD omits pretty much all examples to incentivize buying a PH (the same reason, by the way, that it omits it omits level advancement rules). Its omission of examples is one the things that makes spell adjudication in Pathfinder so freakin' difficult. (Paizo could've included its own new examples but didn't.) Also, it may be worth noting that the lowering special resistance rules are never mentioned again anywhere in the 3.5 core rules or, so far as I'm aware, in Pathfinder.
– Hey I Can Chan
Dec 18 '18 at 17:17
@HeyICanChan thanks for the tip. I wasn't able to google up any further references to the rule myself so I figured that was probably the case but didn't want to state too strongly.
– Carcer
Dec 18 '18 at 17:31
1
1
The SRD omits pretty much all examples to incentivize buying a PH (the same reason, by the way, that it omits it omits level advancement rules). Its omission of examples is one the things that makes spell adjudication in Pathfinder so freakin' difficult. (Paizo could've included its own new examples but didn't.) Also, it may be worth noting that the lowering special resistance rules are never mentioned again anywhere in the 3.5 core rules or, so far as I'm aware, in Pathfinder.
– Hey I Can Chan
Dec 18 '18 at 17:17
The SRD omits pretty much all examples to incentivize buying a PH (the same reason, by the way, that it omits it omits level advancement rules). Its omission of examples is one the things that makes spell adjudication in Pathfinder so freakin' difficult. (Paizo could've included its own new examples but didn't.) Also, it may be worth noting that the lowering special resistance rules are never mentioned again anywhere in the 3.5 core rules or, so far as I'm aware, in Pathfinder.
– Hey I Can Chan
Dec 18 '18 at 17:17
@HeyICanChan thanks for the tip. I wasn't able to google up any further references to the rule myself so I figured that was probably the case but didn't want to state too strongly.
– Carcer
Dec 18 '18 at 17:31
@HeyICanChan thanks for the tip. I wasn't able to google up any further references to the rule myself so I figured that was probably the case but didn't want to state too strongly.
– Carcer
Dec 18 '18 at 17:31
add a comment |
A creature with spell resistance can willingly fail its saving throw.
Spell Resistance and Saving Throws are 2 different things. However, in order for it to be able to (not) make a saving throw, it has to be affected first. This means, the spellcaster needs to overcome the spell resistance of the creature in order for it to choose to fail the save, because otherwise the spell doesn't affect it.
Relevant Information
Spell Resistance (Ex)
A creature with spell resistance can avoid the effects of spells and spell-like abilities that directly affect it. To determine if a spell or spell-like ability works against a creature with spell resistance, the caster must make a caster level check (1d20 + caster level). If the result equals or exceeds the creature’s spell resistance, the spell works normally, although the creature is still allowed a saving throw.
Alternatively, it can lower its spell resistance allowing spells to affect it without having to make caster level checks to overcome its spell resistance. It could then choose to fail its save against spells that target it. However, this also leaves it open for hostile spells to affect it as well.
Note: A superstitious barbarian can never voluntarily fails its saves when raging.
add a comment |
A creature with spell resistance can willingly fail its saving throw.
Spell Resistance and Saving Throws are 2 different things. However, in order for it to be able to (not) make a saving throw, it has to be affected first. This means, the spellcaster needs to overcome the spell resistance of the creature in order for it to choose to fail the save, because otherwise the spell doesn't affect it.
Relevant Information
Spell Resistance (Ex)
A creature with spell resistance can avoid the effects of spells and spell-like abilities that directly affect it. To determine if a spell or spell-like ability works against a creature with spell resistance, the caster must make a caster level check (1d20 + caster level). If the result equals or exceeds the creature’s spell resistance, the spell works normally, although the creature is still allowed a saving throw.
Alternatively, it can lower its spell resistance allowing spells to affect it without having to make caster level checks to overcome its spell resistance. It could then choose to fail its save against spells that target it. However, this also leaves it open for hostile spells to affect it as well.
Note: A superstitious barbarian can never voluntarily fails its saves when raging.
add a comment |
A creature with spell resistance can willingly fail its saving throw.
Spell Resistance and Saving Throws are 2 different things. However, in order for it to be able to (not) make a saving throw, it has to be affected first. This means, the spellcaster needs to overcome the spell resistance of the creature in order for it to choose to fail the save, because otherwise the spell doesn't affect it.
Relevant Information
Spell Resistance (Ex)
A creature with spell resistance can avoid the effects of spells and spell-like abilities that directly affect it. To determine if a spell or spell-like ability works against a creature with spell resistance, the caster must make a caster level check (1d20 + caster level). If the result equals or exceeds the creature’s spell resistance, the spell works normally, although the creature is still allowed a saving throw.
Alternatively, it can lower its spell resistance allowing spells to affect it without having to make caster level checks to overcome its spell resistance. It could then choose to fail its save against spells that target it. However, this also leaves it open for hostile spells to affect it as well.
Note: A superstitious barbarian can never voluntarily fails its saves when raging.
A creature with spell resistance can willingly fail its saving throw.
Spell Resistance and Saving Throws are 2 different things. However, in order for it to be able to (not) make a saving throw, it has to be affected first. This means, the spellcaster needs to overcome the spell resistance of the creature in order for it to choose to fail the save, because otherwise the spell doesn't affect it.
Relevant Information
Spell Resistance (Ex)
A creature with spell resistance can avoid the effects of spells and spell-like abilities that directly affect it. To determine if a spell or spell-like ability works against a creature with spell resistance, the caster must make a caster level check (1d20 + caster level). If the result equals or exceeds the creature’s spell resistance, the spell works normally, although the creature is still allowed a saving throw.
Alternatively, it can lower its spell resistance allowing spells to affect it without having to make caster level checks to overcome its spell resistance. It could then choose to fail its save against spells that target it. However, this also leaves it open for hostile spells to affect it as well.
Note: A superstitious barbarian can never voluntarily fails its saves when raging.
answered Dec 18 '18 at 13:29
william porterwilliam porter
929114
929114
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Role-playing Games Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2frpg.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f137579%2fcan-creatures-with-spell-resistance-voluntarily-fail-saving-throws%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown