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What is a Saving Roll

If you're a fan of tabletop roleplaying games, chances are you've heard of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). This classic game has been around for decades and continues to be a popular choice for players all around the world.

One important aspect of D&D is the concept of saving throws. These rolls, also known as saving throws, are used to determine whether a character is able to resist or avoid the effects of a spell, attack, or other dangerous situation.

So, what exactly is a saving throw in D&D? And how do they work?

In D&D, saving throws are made with a d20, or a twenty-sided die. Each character has three saving throw abilities: Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution. These abilities are determined by the character's ability scores, which are determined by rolling dice during character creation.

Saving throws are used in a variety of situations in D&D. For example, if a character is facing a spell that could potentially cause harm, they may make a saving throw to avoid the effects of the spell. Similarly, if a character is caught in a trap, they may make a saving throw to escape the trap.

There are two types of saving throws in D&D: passive and active. Passive saving throws are made without the player needing to take any action, whereas active saving throws require the player to take a specific action in order to make the saving throw.

To make a saving throw, the player rolls a d20 and adds their character's relevant ability score bonus. For example, if a character is making a Dexterity saving throw, they would add their Dexterity bonus to the roll.

The difficulty of the saving throw is determined by the Dungeon Master (DM), who sets a target number for the saving throw. If the total of the d20 roll and the ability score bonus is equal to or greater than the target number, the saving throw is successful and the character avoids the harmful effect. If the total is less than the target number, the saving throw is unsuccessful and the character suffers the consequences.

It's important to note that not all situations in D&D require a saving throw. Some spells and attacks automatically hit their target, while others may allow the target to make a saving throw to avoid the effects. The DM will determine when a saving throw is necessary and what the target number should be.

In addition to ability scores, there are a few other factors that can affect a character's saving throws. For example, some spells and abilities give a character advantage or disadvantage on saving throws. This means that the character gets to roll two d20s and choose the higher or lower roll, respectively.

There are also a number of spells and abilities that can give a character a bonus to their saving throws. For example, the Protection from Energy spell gives a character resistance to a specific type of damage, allowing them to make saving throws with advantage against that damage type.

Saving throws are an important aspect of D&D and can be the difference between success and failure for a character. By understanding how saving throws work and how to use them to their advantage, players can give their characters a better chance of surviving the dangers of the game.

So next time you're playing D&D and your character is faced with a spell or attack that could potentially cause harm, don't forget to make that saving throw! It could mean the difference between life and death for your character.

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