Saving throw

A saving throw (English: saving throw ) is typical for pen & paper and tabletop games game mechanism that allows to avert impending damage with a successful roll of a game character. The threat is usually directed against the physical or mental health of the player character, and the rescue is done either by a suitable ability of the figure or by magic, divine intervention, or other supernatural effects.

The possibility of a rescue litter for a figure represents the potential ability to escape the corresponding risk or mitigate the effects, at least. Whereby the typical control-related attributes such as courage, wisdom, dexterity, strength and talents or skills play a role. Even the possession of certain items, the existence of supernatural powers or protection just to have luck (in the sense of a happy chance or fateful favoring ) can be represented by the possibility of a saving throw. Some control system provide that with increasing experience of a figure rise in number or prospects of saving throws. Last but not least gamemaster may allow for different reasons saving throws, for example, as a reward for a particularly creative idea or a particularly beautifully played scene.

The conceptual transition from saving throw to other rule- technical forms of " security through successful dice " is fluid. So saving throws, for example, in Dungeons and Dragons and Warhammer essential components of the rules, while they at least do not appear in the game The Dark Eye by name.

• Role-playing game concept