Is there any difference between doing the Wisdom save against the Command spell when it's cast and doing it...
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(This question is inspired by the question: When do enemies save against the Command spell?.)
I understand that the DM is thinking that the resisting part of the spell come on the target's turn, because they are "torn" between doing the command or their free will.
Is there any mechanical difference doing the Wisdom save on the start of target's turn, instead when the spell is cast?
What possible problem could arise by allowing the target to delay making the save until their turn?
dnd-5e spells house-rules saving-throw
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up vote
9
down vote
favorite
(This question is inspired by the question: When do enemies save against the Command spell?.)
I understand that the DM is thinking that the resisting part of the spell come on the target's turn, because they are "torn" between doing the command or their free will.
Is there any mechanical difference doing the Wisdom save on the start of target's turn, instead when the spell is cast?
What possible problem could arise by allowing the target to delay making the save until their turn?
dnd-5e spells house-rules saving-throw
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
favorite
up vote
9
down vote
favorite
(This question is inspired by the question: When do enemies save against the Command spell?.)
I understand that the DM is thinking that the resisting part of the spell come on the target's turn, because they are "torn" between doing the command or their free will.
Is there any mechanical difference doing the Wisdom save on the start of target's turn, instead when the spell is cast?
What possible problem could arise by allowing the target to delay making the save until their turn?
dnd-5e spells house-rules saving-throw
(This question is inspired by the question: When do enemies save against the Command spell?.)
I understand that the DM is thinking that the resisting part of the spell come on the target's turn, because they are "torn" between doing the command or their free will.
Is there any mechanical difference doing the Wisdom save on the start of target's turn, instead when the spell is cast?
What possible problem could arise by allowing the target to delay making the save until their turn?
dnd-5e spells house-rules saving-throw
dnd-5e spells house-rules saving-throw
edited Nov 21 at 8:10
SevenSidedDie♦
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asked Nov 21 at 4:47
Vylix
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8,954234114
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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up vote
24
down vote
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It's about information
The main difference is that if the save is rolled when the spell is cast, then you know immediately whether the spell has worked or not. You can then use this information to inform your decisions for the remainder of your turn. For example, if you issued the command "halt" and knew that the target failed their save, then you know you don't need to move out of that target's melee range for this round, since they won't be able to attack you. In contrast, if the save is rolled on the target's turn, you don't know what the result is until after your turn is finished, so you need to account for both success and failure as you take the rest of your turn.
There are other minor mechanical implications as well, such as giving other characters a window in which to affect the outcome of the roll (as pointed out in Luke's answer), but the difference in information that you have on your turn is the main distinction, since it will be relevant every time you cast the spell.
1
There's no assumption in 5e (I don't know earlier versions well) that the caster knows the result of a target's save roll.
– Luke
Nov 21 at 5:25
3
@Luke, this is true, but it is common (albeit not required) for a GM to let a player know about the success or otherwise of their spells. If the GM does provide this information, then it matters when you learn it, as Ryan says in this answer. But if the GM does not hand out that information, then indeed the only difference is that mentioned in your answer.
– BBeast
Nov 21 at 6:11
@BBeast Now we're saying that this house rule (Saves on creatures turn) is different because of that house rule (DM tells you the results of the save).
– Luke
Nov 21 at 6:38
2
@Luke There's no assumption that the caster knows the result of a saving throw, but wouldn't they know if the spell is active or not? Or is that only for spells that require concentration? (Either way, you're right, the issue is a bit more complicated than I've implied in my answer.)
– Ryan Thompson
Nov 21 at 7:33
Not to mention the target may be able to take a reaction against you or someone else if they don't make the save until their turn.
– TylerH
Nov 21 at 14:40
|
show 2 more comments
up vote
11
down vote
Yes. One example would be that other creatures may have turns before the targeted creature makes a save. They may use spells, abilities or some other action to affect the outcome of the Wisdom save.
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
24
down vote
accepted
It's about information
The main difference is that if the save is rolled when the spell is cast, then you know immediately whether the spell has worked or not. You can then use this information to inform your decisions for the remainder of your turn. For example, if you issued the command "halt" and knew that the target failed their save, then you know you don't need to move out of that target's melee range for this round, since they won't be able to attack you. In contrast, if the save is rolled on the target's turn, you don't know what the result is until after your turn is finished, so you need to account for both success and failure as you take the rest of your turn.
There are other minor mechanical implications as well, such as giving other characters a window in which to affect the outcome of the roll (as pointed out in Luke's answer), but the difference in information that you have on your turn is the main distinction, since it will be relevant every time you cast the spell.
1
There's no assumption in 5e (I don't know earlier versions well) that the caster knows the result of a target's save roll.
– Luke
Nov 21 at 5:25
3
@Luke, this is true, but it is common (albeit not required) for a GM to let a player know about the success or otherwise of their spells. If the GM does provide this information, then it matters when you learn it, as Ryan says in this answer. But if the GM does not hand out that information, then indeed the only difference is that mentioned in your answer.
– BBeast
Nov 21 at 6:11
@BBeast Now we're saying that this house rule (Saves on creatures turn) is different because of that house rule (DM tells you the results of the save).
– Luke
Nov 21 at 6:38
2
@Luke There's no assumption that the caster knows the result of a saving throw, but wouldn't they know if the spell is active or not? Or is that only for spells that require concentration? (Either way, you're right, the issue is a bit more complicated than I've implied in my answer.)
– Ryan Thompson
Nov 21 at 7:33
Not to mention the target may be able to take a reaction against you or someone else if they don't make the save until their turn.
– TylerH
Nov 21 at 14:40
|
show 2 more comments
up vote
24
down vote
accepted
It's about information
The main difference is that if the save is rolled when the spell is cast, then you know immediately whether the spell has worked or not. You can then use this information to inform your decisions for the remainder of your turn. For example, if you issued the command "halt" and knew that the target failed their save, then you know you don't need to move out of that target's melee range for this round, since they won't be able to attack you. In contrast, if the save is rolled on the target's turn, you don't know what the result is until after your turn is finished, so you need to account for both success and failure as you take the rest of your turn.
There are other minor mechanical implications as well, such as giving other characters a window in which to affect the outcome of the roll (as pointed out in Luke's answer), but the difference in information that you have on your turn is the main distinction, since it will be relevant every time you cast the spell.
1
There's no assumption in 5e (I don't know earlier versions well) that the caster knows the result of a target's save roll.
– Luke
Nov 21 at 5:25
3
@Luke, this is true, but it is common (albeit not required) for a GM to let a player know about the success or otherwise of their spells. If the GM does provide this information, then it matters when you learn it, as Ryan says in this answer. But if the GM does not hand out that information, then indeed the only difference is that mentioned in your answer.
– BBeast
Nov 21 at 6:11
@BBeast Now we're saying that this house rule (Saves on creatures turn) is different because of that house rule (DM tells you the results of the save).
– Luke
Nov 21 at 6:38
2
@Luke There's no assumption that the caster knows the result of a saving throw, but wouldn't they know if the spell is active or not? Or is that only for spells that require concentration? (Either way, you're right, the issue is a bit more complicated than I've implied in my answer.)
– Ryan Thompson
Nov 21 at 7:33
Not to mention the target may be able to take a reaction against you or someone else if they don't make the save until their turn.
– TylerH
Nov 21 at 14:40
|
show 2 more comments
up vote
24
down vote
accepted
up vote
24
down vote
accepted
It's about information
The main difference is that if the save is rolled when the spell is cast, then you know immediately whether the spell has worked or not. You can then use this information to inform your decisions for the remainder of your turn. For example, if you issued the command "halt" and knew that the target failed their save, then you know you don't need to move out of that target's melee range for this round, since they won't be able to attack you. In contrast, if the save is rolled on the target's turn, you don't know what the result is until after your turn is finished, so you need to account for both success and failure as you take the rest of your turn.
There are other minor mechanical implications as well, such as giving other characters a window in which to affect the outcome of the roll (as pointed out in Luke's answer), but the difference in information that you have on your turn is the main distinction, since it will be relevant every time you cast the spell.
It's about information
The main difference is that if the save is rolled when the spell is cast, then you know immediately whether the spell has worked or not. You can then use this information to inform your decisions for the remainder of your turn. For example, if you issued the command "halt" and knew that the target failed their save, then you know you don't need to move out of that target's melee range for this round, since they won't be able to attack you. In contrast, if the save is rolled on the target's turn, you don't know what the result is until after your turn is finished, so you need to account for both success and failure as you take the rest of your turn.
There are other minor mechanical implications as well, such as giving other characters a window in which to affect the outcome of the roll (as pointed out in Luke's answer), but the difference in information that you have on your turn is the main distinction, since it will be relevant every time you cast the spell.
answered Nov 21 at 5:04
Ryan Thompson
4,37411445
4,37411445
1
There's no assumption in 5e (I don't know earlier versions well) that the caster knows the result of a target's save roll.
– Luke
Nov 21 at 5:25
3
@Luke, this is true, but it is common (albeit not required) for a GM to let a player know about the success or otherwise of their spells. If the GM does provide this information, then it matters when you learn it, as Ryan says in this answer. But if the GM does not hand out that information, then indeed the only difference is that mentioned in your answer.
– BBeast
Nov 21 at 6:11
@BBeast Now we're saying that this house rule (Saves on creatures turn) is different because of that house rule (DM tells you the results of the save).
– Luke
Nov 21 at 6:38
2
@Luke There's no assumption that the caster knows the result of a saving throw, but wouldn't they know if the spell is active or not? Or is that only for spells that require concentration? (Either way, you're right, the issue is a bit more complicated than I've implied in my answer.)
– Ryan Thompson
Nov 21 at 7:33
Not to mention the target may be able to take a reaction against you or someone else if they don't make the save until their turn.
– TylerH
Nov 21 at 14:40
|
show 2 more comments
1
There's no assumption in 5e (I don't know earlier versions well) that the caster knows the result of a target's save roll.
– Luke
Nov 21 at 5:25
3
@Luke, this is true, but it is common (albeit not required) for a GM to let a player know about the success or otherwise of their spells. If the GM does provide this information, then it matters when you learn it, as Ryan says in this answer. But if the GM does not hand out that information, then indeed the only difference is that mentioned in your answer.
– BBeast
Nov 21 at 6:11
@BBeast Now we're saying that this house rule (Saves on creatures turn) is different because of that house rule (DM tells you the results of the save).
– Luke
Nov 21 at 6:38
2
@Luke There's no assumption that the caster knows the result of a saving throw, but wouldn't they know if the spell is active or not? Or is that only for spells that require concentration? (Either way, you're right, the issue is a bit more complicated than I've implied in my answer.)
– Ryan Thompson
Nov 21 at 7:33
Not to mention the target may be able to take a reaction against you or someone else if they don't make the save until their turn.
– TylerH
Nov 21 at 14:40
1
1
There's no assumption in 5e (I don't know earlier versions well) that the caster knows the result of a target's save roll.
– Luke
Nov 21 at 5:25
There's no assumption in 5e (I don't know earlier versions well) that the caster knows the result of a target's save roll.
– Luke
Nov 21 at 5:25
3
3
@Luke, this is true, but it is common (albeit not required) for a GM to let a player know about the success or otherwise of their spells. If the GM does provide this information, then it matters when you learn it, as Ryan says in this answer. But if the GM does not hand out that information, then indeed the only difference is that mentioned in your answer.
– BBeast
Nov 21 at 6:11
@Luke, this is true, but it is common (albeit not required) for a GM to let a player know about the success or otherwise of their spells. If the GM does provide this information, then it matters when you learn it, as Ryan says in this answer. But if the GM does not hand out that information, then indeed the only difference is that mentioned in your answer.
– BBeast
Nov 21 at 6:11
@BBeast Now we're saying that this house rule (Saves on creatures turn) is different because of that house rule (DM tells you the results of the save).
– Luke
Nov 21 at 6:38
@BBeast Now we're saying that this house rule (Saves on creatures turn) is different because of that house rule (DM tells you the results of the save).
– Luke
Nov 21 at 6:38
2
2
@Luke There's no assumption that the caster knows the result of a saving throw, but wouldn't they know if the spell is active or not? Or is that only for spells that require concentration? (Either way, you're right, the issue is a bit more complicated than I've implied in my answer.)
– Ryan Thompson
Nov 21 at 7:33
@Luke There's no assumption that the caster knows the result of a saving throw, but wouldn't they know if the spell is active or not? Or is that only for spells that require concentration? (Either way, you're right, the issue is a bit more complicated than I've implied in my answer.)
– Ryan Thompson
Nov 21 at 7:33
Not to mention the target may be able to take a reaction against you or someone else if they don't make the save until their turn.
– TylerH
Nov 21 at 14:40
Not to mention the target may be able to take a reaction against you or someone else if they don't make the save until their turn.
– TylerH
Nov 21 at 14:40
|
show 2 more comments
up vote
11
down vote
Yes. One example would be that other creatures may have turns before the targeted creature makes a save. They may use spells, abilities or some other action to affect the outcome of the Wisdom save.
add a comment |
up vote
11
down vote
Yes. One example would be that other creatures may have turns before the targeted creature makes a save. They may use spells, abilities or some other action to affect the outcome of the Wisdom save.
add a comment |
up vote
11
down vote
up vote
11
down vote
Yes. One example would be that other creatures may have turns before the targeted creature makes a save. They may use spells, abilities or some other action to affect the outcome of the Wisdom save.
Yes. One example would be that other creatures may have turns before the targeted creature makes a save. They may use spells, abilities or some other action to affect the outcome of the Wisdom save.
answered Nov 21 at 4:50
Luke
4,9241539
4,9241539
add a comment |
add a comment |
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