Saving throw

In role-playing games, a saving throw is a roll of dice used to determine whether magic, poison, or various other types of attacks are effective against a character or monster.

They are used to represent the character's ability to avoid or resist the threat, such as by dodging a trap, or being able to resist the effects of a poison. For this reason, they are often modified by appropriate attributes such as dexterity, constitution, wisdom or luck. Magical equipment or spells can also modify saving throw values. A successful saving throw typically either negates or reduces the effectiveness of the effect being saved against.

Saving throws are represented as a numeric value that often changes as the character advances in experience. In order to successfully make a throw, the character must roll dice, achieving a result based on the calculated value of the saving throw which is compared against a success value. Under different RPG game systems, the roll and/or the success value may have modifiers added or subtracted to determine the outcome.

A gamemaster may also allow a bonus on saving rolls to players who come up with creative ways for their characters to protect themselves.

Some games achieve a similar randomised result by use of other mechanisms including drawing cards, simple contests of luck, or use of tables of random results.