Poison or Magic?

I guess read over what the descriptions of the Saves say and choose accordingly.  I'm not sure which would be better as I can see reasons to choose each one.

Normally, if the effect is 'to kill' something on a single hit, Poison is used.

But, as the Gm, you are free to adjudicate whatever the way you'd like. Is the desintagration a magic effect, destroying the aether and spirit connection of the body and soul? Then, use magic.

Is the desintegration physical? The power of the creature acting on the victim's body in a way of anihilating every single cell of it? Then, Poison.

Are you feeling douchy today? So ask your player to save from BOTH! If he fails any one of them, then he is dead, haha.

That's how I think, at least.

The way I use saving throws in my game are like this:

. Paralyse: It is for effects that binds the target, including grappling.

. Poison: Everything that affects the biology of the victim in an invading way (diseases, natural venons etc)

. Breath: It's basically reflexes. Are you falling through a trap? Save against 'Breath' to see if you cling into the edge of the cliff.

. Magic Device: I don't use it. Some times I use specifically for trap and seeing if you can perceive the trap and avoid it, but I don't like this one. It might be used for 'surprise attacks', as some sort of perception roll, but I'm digressing.

. Magic: Everything that is supernatural, mind controlling, soul shattering uses saving throws. I also use that for Insanity and Corruption, when creatures are so vile and so beyond human compreension that the mere sight of it may kill a player, or cause damage.

Last edited by Gaigaia (2013-03-18 22:02:02)

I think I'll simply ignore the fact that 'Poison' is also supposed to be 'Death effects' and use it for actual poison and similar things. As soon as it's a supernatural monster attack, even if the end result is an instant kill, I'll use Magic.

That's what caused my confusion in the first place, in some D&D games it is called both and it's even somewhat described like that in LotFP despite just neing called 'Poison'... But the way I'll be using it is; if it's poison of a natural sort, like a spider's venom, I use Poison. If it's a supernatural insta-kill attack like a Bodak's, I use Magic. But that's my personal take on it. I'm unclear on the official one since I'm not familiar with actual pre-3.X editions, just their retro-clones to some extent.

Maybe if Raggi could share which save he'd use for a supernatural monster Death attack as an example?

Last edited by Treant_on_Fire (2013-03-23 06:00:23)

If the beholder does not roll to hit, I would be inclined to say breath because you are trying to dodge the ray.