General rule for frequency of saves?

[CFet]

Hi, I'm wondering how to determine how often a PC is allowed a saving throw from a continuous effect during combat when the spell in question does not specify.

A poison for example, a save every round is usually the case?

Also, what about mind altering effects in which they have failed an initial roll and lost control, such as the spell insanity - would they still get a save throw each round even without control of their character?

[Oladon]

Poisons do specify how often you can save, as do spells. What spell are you reviewing?

The insanity spell doesn't specify that the target can make a new save, so no, they don't get another save*. They need a "Greater restoration, heal, limited wish, miracle, or wish".

* Unless they have a feat or ability (such as the rogue's "Hard to Fool") which allows them a new save

[LazarX]

Most spells only have one save and that's it unless noted in the spell description. And some spells will have components which don't allow saves mixed with some that do.

All poisons will individually note their saving throw conditions, some will clear with one save, others require a certain number of consecutives.

In short there really isn't a general rule, but each effect will list it's own conditions.

[Jiggy]

CFet wrote:

Hi, I'm wondering how to determine how often a PC is allowed a saving throw from a continuous effect during combat when the spell in question does not specify.

A poison for example, a save every round is usually the case?

Poisons will specify the frequency in the poison's individual stat block. For instance, "Frequency: 1/round" would be a save every round.

Quote:

Also, what about mind altering effects in which they have failed an initial roll and lost control, such as the spell insanity - would they still get a save throw each round even without control of their character?

If the target is allowed multiple saves, the effect should tell you. In the case of insanity, it never ends unless you manage to remove it. Similarly, confusion (which insanity is based on) does not get any additional saves. If it did, it would say so.

[Chemlak]

Corollary question: when during the round are those saves made? At the start of the affected creature's turn? At the end? On the initiative count when the effect first hit? (I'm mostly thing of 1/round poison saves)

[Jiggy]

Can't remember if that's specified anywhere (for the poisons, I mean - spells I think usually say).

If not, it's probably a beginning-of-turn thing (though that gets weird if the affected creature goes right after the creature who inflicted the poison).

[Joana]

Poison blog

The initial save is made when the poison "hits"; subsequent saves are made at the end of the poisoned creature's turn.

Quote:

Scenario A: Valeros is hit by an arrow coated in greenblood oil. He fails the DC 13 Fort save and takes 1 point of Con damage. At the end of his turn, he fails a saving throw against the poison and takes 1 more point of Con damage. Before his second turn, he gets hit again and must attempt a DC 15 Fort save (because 1 dose is already affecting him). He fails this save as well, which deals another point of Con damage, increases the save DC he must make each round to 15, and extends the total duration by 2 rounds.

{My bold added}