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From: barryg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Lee Gold)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: Saving Throws
Message-ID: <2151@sdcrdcf.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 16-Jul-85 08:10:07 EDT
Article-I.D.: sdcrdcf.2151
Posted: Tue Jul 16 08:10:07 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 19-Jul-85 02:48:45 EDT
References: <122@uts.am.reading.UUCP> <6313@ucla-cs.ARPA>
Reply-To: barryg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Lee Gold)
Organization: System Development Corp. R+D, Santa Monica
Lines: 20
Summary: 

A piece of E-Mail from one reader reminds me of another problem I have with
D&D saving throws:  some of them aren't against magic but against perfectly
normal physical phenomena like poison, death, etc.

I don't think your reaction to poison should be determined by your character
class or level.  I think it should be determined by your species and body
weight.  And Constitution.  (Incidentally, your reaction to alcohol and
drugs should be affected by the same factors.  One of the areas in which
using English leads one to think accurately is calling this "inTOXICation.")

Your chance of being transformed (into stone, a polymorphed living form,
or whatever) is probably a save against magic PLUS some sort of CON roll
to see if you survive the change.

And so on....(Sapienza at one point proposed a Highly Complicated Saving
Throw System in which there were at least six classes of save, each based
on a particular characeristic and NONE based on your level and character
class.)

--Lee Gold