Does a character get a reflex save vs a lightning bolt spell if there is a darkness spell effect in place?
Short answer: yes -- Long answer: yes
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A character *always* gets a reflex save (unless they're dead). Even unconscious they get one; With a dex of 0 and no evasion, but they still get it.
I don't believe that the "flat-footed" conditions really apply to reflex saves, so I'm not sure there is technically any penalty for this save, though you could certainly apply one.
To make it easier to conceptualize, think of a reflex save as a combination of luck and skill.
EDIT: In other words, +1 @ Abraham.
The situation in which someone looses a Reflex save is sort of up in the air to some degree. On one hand the rules state that you always get a Reflex save regardless of the situation , on the other hand it also states that certain situations a person can loose their save (like crawling through a cramped air duct)…DM permitting.
In my own opinion of the matter, if you are denied your dexterity modifier (whether you have one or not) you aren’t allowed to make a Reflex save; there should be a reason in which Uncanny Dodge is useful and why spell casters should also aim to get sneak attacks when they can. The latter is actually more profound reason to do so, in my own opinion, since it would seem that if you catch your opponents off-guard the only spells that take advantage over it are those that use attack rolls…but there is not much difference between your AC and your Reflex except your Reflex is based on spontaneous stimuli; if you didn’t see it coming, you dodn’t see it coming.
If a fighter steps on a trap and has a blade suddenly shoot up, he looses his dexterity to his AC; if he steps on landmine he’s ‘blasting off again’. Though to be fair, you might want to do the path of Monte Cook and make Uncanny Dodge a feat that can be taken (though with a high Dexterity prerequisite); or simply allow a Reflex save, except you only get your Base Save plus any luck bonuses that apply.
But if your immobile you don’t get a Reflex save period, if you cant move you cant roll to dodge.
Though it bears saying, I don’t believe you can willingly fail a Fortitude save either…unless you believe in Star Wars logic.
Your mileage may vary.
To be an honest dissenter:
Reflex saving throws, for avoiding fireballs and other attacks that you can escape by moving quickly.
This phrase implies that one needs the ability to be mobile. I would therefore rule that an unconscious individual does not get a reflex save because of this statement (emphasis mine):
When a creature is the subject of a dangerous spell or effect, it often receives a saving throw to mitigate the damage or result.
Meaning that it does not always receive a saving throw.
To be an honest dissenter:
Reflex saving throws, for avoiding fireballs and other attacks that you can escape by moving quickly.
This phrase implies that one needs the ability to be mobile. I would therefore rule that an unconscious individual does not get a reflex save because of this statement (emphasis mine):
When a creature is the subject of a dangerous spell or effect, it often receives a saving throw to mitigate the damage or result.
Meaning that it does not always receive a saving throw.
Ok, so being blinded would have no bearing on losing a reflex save?
Blinded by itself no. After all you might hear the casting (if a spell) or the dragon's intake of breath -- etc. Maybe you just luck out and moved at the right time.
However with rule 0 and the circumstance modifiers I could see a DM giving a -2 to the save. But I would use this very sparingly.
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I'd support the idea of a flat-footed reflex, ie, reflex w/o Dex bonus. No reflex save when flat footed is pretty harsh, while being caught flat footed and suffering no penalty seems illogical - your AC is screwed but not your ability to jump out of the way?
Of course, there's no support for this in the RAW...
I'd support the idea of a flat-footed reflex, ie, reflex w/o Dex bonus. No reflex save when flat footed is pretty harsh, while being caught flat footed and suffering no penalty seems illogical - your AC is screwed but not your ability to jump out of the way?
Of course, there's no support for this in the RAW...
Ok... well then in that case we shouldn't allow the con bonus to fort saves when flat footed or the wisdom bonus to will saves either...
Especially if you don't know something is invading your mind -- how can you possibly resist what you don't know?!?!?!
The idea isn't that you are prepared -- this is raw gut instinct -- that thing that makes you move suddenly when you don't even know why you are moving.