The Suffocation Spell

[Jaunt]

Another simple question, I hope. If you succeed on your first save, you become staggered. Do you continue to make saves and get staggered in the next 3 rounds? I don't think this is the case, because then Mass Suffocation becomes "destroy target non-caster, at least until combat is over or someone dispels him".

Basically, the conflicting understandings of this spell are: 1) make 4 saves, each staggering you or advancing you down the suffocation track or 2) make one save. If you save, then you're staggered. If not, you make 3 more saves, each failure advancing you down the track, each success doing nothing.

Help a guy out?

[Speaker for the Dead]

I would say the second option. If you make your save you're staggered for one round but you aren't suffocating.

[Ashram]

It's Fortitude partial because you're still staggered for one round after succeeding the Fortitude save, but the effect ends if you succeed.

[StreamOfTheSky]

For clarity, they should probably make the duration line read, "3 rounds, or 1 round (see text)"

[unforgivn]

If you make the first save (on the caster's action), then you're staggered for a round and the spell ends. If you fail that first save, then the other 3 saves are made once per round on YOUR turn.

[Friend of the Dork]

unforgivn wrote:

If you make the first save (on the caster's action), then you're staggered for a round and the spell ends. If you fail that first save, then the other 3 saves are made once per round on YOUR turn.

Got an actual rules reference to this?

Also, does this mean it's best to fail the first save (not staggered), then succeed at 3 saves to not be affected by the spell at all?

[pad300]

My understanding of how Suffocation is supposed to work, with example play.

In general, you roll 1 saving throw per round of duration of Suffocation...This is typically a total of 3 saving throws. The "track to suffocation" is not clearly defined, but is this: Staggered > Unconscious with 0 hp > dying with -1 hp > dead.

Sammy the Sorceror meets Frank the Fighter. Neither is surprised, and they decide to fight, starting at a range of 40 ft.

Example 1.
Sammy rolls an 11 for init, and Frank rolls a 3.
round 1
Intiative 11:, Sammy Casts suffocation on Frank. Frank rolls a saving throw (and either succeeds or fails). Sammy then runs away as fast as he can (5ft step + 30 ft move action).
Init 3: If Frank succeeded on his ST in initiative 11, he has been staggered since Init 11, and will continue to be until Init 3 next round - as he is staggered, he chases after Sammy (move action due to staggered, 30 ft + 5ft step). If Frank failed on his ST, he falls unconscious and is reduced to 0 hp.

Round 2
Init 11: Sammy keeps running - we won't worry about him any more.
Init 3 : Frank makes his save for this round. If he previously failed, he either stays at unconscious with 0 hp, if he succeeds on this rounds ST, or falls to -1 hp and dying if he fails. If he previously succeeded, he either remains staggered, if he succeeds on this rounds ST, or Frank falls unconscious and is reduced to 0 hp.

Round 3
Init 11: Sammy's gone.
Init 3 : Frank makes his save for this round. If he fails this save, he advances 1 place on the suffocation track (Staggered > Unconscious with 0 hp > dying with -1 hp > dead). If he succeeds the save, he stays in place on the track he was in before.

Round 4
Init 11: Sammy's gone.
Init 3 : Frank does not make a save, the effects of the spell end.

Example 2.
Sammy rolls an 3 for init, and Frank rolls a 11.
round 1
Intiative 11: Frank Charges, draws his longsword as a free action and whacks Sammy for 14 pts of damage.
Init 3: Sammy 5ft steps out of Frank's reach. Sammy Casts suffocation on Frank. Frank rolls a saving throw (and either succeeds or fails). Sammy then runs away as fast as he can (30 ft move action).

Round 2

Initiative 11: If Frank succeeded on his ST in initiative 3 on the previous turn, he has been staggered since Init 3, round 1, and will continue to be until Init 3 next round (round 3) - as he is staggered, he chases after Sammy (move action due to staggered, 30 ft + 5ft step). If Frank failed on his ST, he falls unconscious and is reduced to 0 hp.
Init 3: Sammy 5ft steps out of Frank's reach again, and runs (120 ft) - we won't worry about him any more

Round 3
Init 11: Frank makes his save for this round. If he previously failed, he either stays at unconscious with 0 hp, if he succeeds on this rounds ST, or falls to -1 hp and dying if he fails. If he previously succeeded, he either remains staggered, if he succeeds on this rounds ST, or Frank falls unconscious and is reduced to 0 hp.
Init 3: Sammy's gone.

Round 4
Init 11: Frank makes his save for this round. If he fails this save, he advances 1 place on the suffocation track (Staggered > Unconscious with 0 hp > dying with -1 hp > dead). If he succeeds the save, he stays in place on the track he was in before.
Init 3: Sammy's gone.

Round 5
Init 11: Frank does not make a save, the effects of the spell end.
Init 3: Sammy's gone.

[Defraeter]

Friend of the Dork wrote:

unforgivn wrote:

If you make the first save (on the caster's action), then you're staggered for a round and the spell ends. If you fail that first save, then the other 3 saves are made once per round on YOUR turn.

Got an actual rules reference to this?

Also, does this mean it's best to fail the first save (not staggered), then succeed at 3 saves to not be affected by the spell at all?

reference? see the spell.

Suffocation spell
"Saving Throw Fortitude partial"...it means that the target must do a ST a soon as the spell is cast, and if the ST fortitude succeed the target is affected but less severely.

initial ST succeed: the target suffocate just for 1 round...........staggered for 1 round. No more effect.

initial ST fail: the target suffocate.......staggered. On its next 3 initiatives, the target will make a save. If a save is failed, he moves one step further along the track to suffocation. Of course, the target is at least staggered during this 3 rounds.

To resume:
initiative of caster: initial ST of target.
Succeeded ST...........staggered 1 round
Failed ST.............staggered at least 3 rounds with ST to do at each of target's next 3 turns.

@pad300: it's not possible to take a 5-foot step with another kind of movement
Take 5-Foot Step