Saturday, August 3, 2013

Why Petrification should be a Will save (in 3-save systems at least)


5 comments:

Holly Oats said...

Hehe. I thought the same thing when I first saw that episode. I'd probably use that Saves with Different Abilities variant. Only problem is, I can't decide which should be used. Seems like one's fortitude or constitution should mean something, but then so should willpower. And wouldn't Charisma be fitting since that's used against charms? I tried looking to the Rules Cyclopedia for guidance, but it suggested I use strength! I'm gonna need to figure this out so I can get to work on my fantasy heartbreaker

Rachel Ghoul said...

As little love lost as there is between me and Castles and Crusades, I suggest mapping the saves as they do.

Strength: Paralysis, Constriction
Intelligence: Arcane Magic, Illusion
Wisdom: Divine Magic, Confusion, Gaze Attack, Polymorph, Petrification
Dexterity: Breath Weapon, Traps
Constitution: Disease, Energy Drain, Poison
Charisma: Death Attack, Charm, Fear

Roger G-S said...

Will ... not the will to stand there and scold ... but the quick wits to avert the eyes in time. Really, it should be "Gaze" attacks because petro can come in different forms.

Rachel Ghoul said...

Roger: I rationalize it as a strong enough sense of self making it harder for that self to be changed by magic.

Holly Oats said...

Thought about this some more at work. I think I'd prefer Medusa's gaze to be instantaneous, giving it a Hercules: The Legendary Journeys kinda feel. In this case, a save would represent averting her gaze at the last second, as Roger suggested. So it would be a Reflex save based on Wisdom. Sheer willpower or fortitude could still have a place in determining if a character survived being petrified, of course