Let's say spell caster w/ higher initiative nails an enemy w/ Glitterdust (or Hold Person) early in the round. They fail their save and are temporarily blinded/paralyzed. The way I'm reading the spells is that once the enemy's turn comes around, they get to make a save.
Fair enough, but doesn't that mean in this scenario they get 2 saves in the round? That seems a little unfair. Though I suppose I would appreciate it if I were on the receiving end.
You are reading it correctly.
This is one reason that many spellcasters look for spells that don't allow a save at all. ;)
Yes that is how it would work.
The hold person save takes a full round action, and the glitter dust save is at the end of their turn so they still lose the entire round.
Ok, that's what I thought, thank you both. I'll appreciate it more when I'm on the receiving end, as I said.
Keep in mind that an enemy will almost always get exactly one turn before you get another turn (even if it's a turn in which they can't act). It doesn't matter if they go after your initiative count in the same round, or before your initiative count in the next round, the end result is the same because combat is cyclic.