If an undead creature were to unknowingly drink a potion of cure light wounds would it apply spell resistance and get a Will save?
I would say yes.
However, if there were a harmful potion of a spell that granted a Reflex save would the drinker get that reflex save?
I would think not.
Yes, spell resistance applies and they get a save. Even a reflex save. (You can make reflex saves even while tied up and unable to move. Obviously, a reflex save is not all about dodging the effect - luck is involved too.)
If they want a saving throw, then they need to specify. The drinker of the potion is considered the caster and the target, and it is generally assumed that they will lower their spell resistance and fail any saving throws as needed. If they think that it's a healing potion, then they get no saving throw, unless they would normally try to resist the effects of a healing potion.
You are allowed to forgo saving throws. Each time you drink a potion, you are generally choosing to forgo saving throws against the action. Even healing spells allow saving throws.
A superstitious barbarian has a bit of trouble because of this. The save DCs on potions tend to be horrible, and it's very easy to negate the effects of helpful potions this way (they're not allowed to forgo the save).
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An intelligent undead that thinks it's drinking a potion that will give it some benefit would forego its save and drop its spell resistance. More generally, if an intelligent creature drinks a potion of its own free will, it can decide whether to make a saving throw and its choice applies no matter what the effect is.
I'd give a mindless undead or a creature drinking the potion under magical compulsion (for example, beguiling gift) a save. Mindless undead would also not think of dropping any spell resistance they might have, unless commanded to do so.
How many spells that target a creature allow a Reflex save? It seems incongruous.
How many spells that target a creature allow a Reflex save? It seems incongruous.
As far as I can tell no spells that can be made into potions allow a Reflex save, and I think I see your point there. Reflex saves are usually limited to area of effect spells.
A superstitious barbarian has a bit of trouble because of this. The save DCs on potions tend to be horrible, and it's very easy to negate the effects of helpful potions this way (they're not allowed to forgo the save).
Not quite on topic, but: Can a raging barbarian drink a potion? That seems too much like patience to me.
A superstitious barbarian has a bit of trouble because of this. The save DCs on potions tend to be horrible, and it's very easy to negate the effects of helpful potions this way (they're not allowed to forgo the save).Not quite on topic, but: Can a raging barbarian drink a potion? That seems too much like patience to me.
Yes, they can. They can also draw new weapons, insult your mama, your daddy, your sister's other daddy, 'cause yo' momma's a ho', and then slobber down a potion while in the middle of their super-saiyen warp spasm. :P
Not quite on topic, but: Can a raging barbarian drink a potion? That seems too much like patience to me.Yes, they can. They can also draw new weapons, insult your mama, your daddy, your sister's other daddy, 'cause yo' momma's a ho', and then slobber down a potion while in the middle of their super-saiyen warp spasm. :P
I must say, I am quite offended at your flagrant stereotyping. I neither slobber nor spasm while I draw on my inner reserves of martial might (nor indeed at any other time). Additionally, I would never stoop so low as to use the nightmarish slang you suggest, such as "ho" or - even worse - "yo" as a substitute for "your".
I am a barbarian, not an animal.
If they want a saving throw, then they need to specify. The drinker of the potion is considered the caster and the target, and it is generally assumed that they will lower their spell resistance and fail any saving throws as needed. If they think that it's a healing potion, then they get no saving throw, unless they would normally try to resist the effects of a healing potion.
You are allowed to forgo saving throws. Each time you drink a potion, you are generally choosing to forgo saving throws against the action. Even healing spells allow saving throws.
Basically this. Potions are unique to other items in that the user (drinker) is considered the caster. And a caster bypasses his own SR.
If the undead didn't want to drink the potion, it wouldn't have drank it in the first place (unless it was fed the potion by someone else while helpless or something, but if its somehow in that bad a position, beating its own SR with a cure potion is hardly its biggest concern!).
It chose to drink it, and therefore bypasses its own SR. Also note that in the order of how things are applied, SR is before the save. Even if it "felt" the potential harm from the potion as it drank and got the save to resist, the SR check comes before the spell has even begun to affect the target.
