Saving throw

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In role-playing games, a saving throw is a roll of dice used to determine whether magic, poison, or various types of traps are effective against a character or monster.

They are used to represent the character's ability to avoid or resist the threat, such as by dodging a trap, or being able to resist the effects of a poison. For this reason, they are often modified by appropriate attributes such as dexterity, constitution, wisdom or luck. Magical equipment or spells can also modify saving throw values.

Saving throws are represented as a numeric value that often changes as the character advances in experience. In order to successfully make a throw, the character must roll dice, achieving a result based on the calculated value of the saving throw which is compared against a success value. Under different RPG game systems, the roll and/or the success value may have modifiers added or subtracted to determine the outcome.d20 article on Combat Statistics

A gamemaster may also allow a bonus on saving rolls to players who come up with creative ways for their characters to protect themselves.

Some games achieve a similar randomised result by use of other mechanisms including drawing cards, simple contests of luck, or use of tables of random results.