No Saving Throw: Difference between revisions

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Normally in fiction, powers have some chance of failure, whether through lack of skill, [[Heroic Willpower]] on the part of the would-be victim, or [[Competitive Balance|some other factor]] that does not make the power 100% effective. But some powers are such that they work automatically if they hit, regardless of any special defenses, resistances, or countermeasures the person on the receiving end may have. You can't [[Glamour Failure|see through the illusion]], you can't cure the [[Universal Poison|poison]], you can't [[Fighting From the Inside|resist the mind control]], people hit by the [[Disintegrator Ray]] die instantly 100% of the time no matter [[Plot Armor|how important they are.]]
Normally in fiction, powers have some chance of failure, whether through lack of skill, [[Heroic Willpower]] on the part of the would-be victim, or [[Competitive Balance|some other factor]] that does not make the power 100% effective. But some powers are such that they work automatically if they hit, regardless of any special defenses, resistances, or countermeasures the person on the receiving end may have. You can't [[Glamour Failure|see through the illusion]], you can't cure the [[Universal Poison|poison]], you can't [[Fighting From the Inside|resist the mind control]], people hit by the [[Disintegrator Ray]] die instantly 100% of the time no matter [[Plot Armor|how important they are.]]


The [[Trope Namer]] here is ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'', where normally, harmful effects such as mind-controlling magic, dragon breath, illusions, or other supernatural nastiness allows the character affected to make a saving throw of the dice to negate or minimize the effect. Some spells and effects, unfortunately, such as the [[Level Drain]] ability of a wraith, do NOT allow a saving throw to be made against them. In more modern editions of the game, these effects almost always have a chance to miss instead.
The [[Trope Namer]] here is ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', where normally, harmful effects such as mind-controlling magic, dragon breath, illusions, or other supernatural nastiness allows the character affected to make a saving throw of the dice to negate or minimize the effect. Some spells and effects, unfortunately, such as the [[Level Drain]] ability of a wraith, do NOT allow a saving throw to be made against them. In more modern editions of the game, these effects almost always have a chance to miss instead.


Contrast [[Always Accurate Attack]]. Complete opposite of [[No Sell]]. May overlap with [[Evil Is Not a Toy]]. See also [[Unblockable Attack]]. [[Compelling Voice]] is a [[Sub-Trope]] of this. As would [[Gameplay and Story Segregation]] in certain cases.
Contrast [[Always Accurate Attack]]. Complete opposite of [[Won't Work On Me]]. May overlap with [[Evil Is Not a Toy]]. See also [[Unblockable Attack]]. [[Compelling Voice]] is a [[Sub-Trope]] of this. As would [[Gameplay and Story Segregation]] in certain cases.


Do not confuse with [[Author's Saving Throw]].
Do not confuse with [[Author's Saving Throw]].
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=== [[Tabletop RPG]] ===
=== [[Tabletop RPG]] ===
* ''[[Call of Cthulhu (tabletop game)]]'' loves this trope.{{context}}
* ''[[Call of Cthulhu (tabletop game)]]'' loves this trope.{{context}}
* ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'' has many weapons that bypass Armor Saves and a few ones that bypass ''Invulnerable'' Saves. The wording on one of these attacks simply states that the affected model is "removed from play with no saves of any kind allowed".
* ''[[Warhammer 40,000]]'' has many weapons that bypass Armor Saves and a few ones that bypass ''Invulnerable'' Saves. The wording on one of these attacks simply states that the affected model is "removed from play with no saves of any kind allowed".
** A favourite tactic of Chaos players in the days of 3.5 Edition was to create one of these by taking a Chaos Lord with the "[[One-Winged Angel|Daemonic Stature]]" daemonic gift and the "[[Impossibly Cool Weapon|Dreadaxe]]" [[Sentient Weapon|daemonic weapon.]] [[Hilarity Ensues|Hilarity ensued]], then [[nerf]]ing.
** A favourite tactic of Chaos players in the days of 3.5 Edition was to create one of these by taking a Chaos Lord with the "[[One-Winged Angel|Daemonic Stature]]" daemonic gift and the "[[Impossibly Cool Weapon|Dreadaxe]]" [[Sentient Weapon|daemonic weapon.]] [[Hilarity Ensues|Hilarity ensued]], then [[nerf]]ing.
* ''[[Warhammer Fantasy Battle]]'' tends not to have outright remove-from-play spells, instead using spells that require rolls against characteristics not typically used for resisting damage; of these the much-maligned [[Game Breaker|Purple Sun of Xereus]] is probably the most famous.
* ''[[Warhammer Fantasy Battle]]'' tends not to have outright remove-from-play spells, instead using spells that require rolls against characteristics not typically used for resisting damage; of these the much-maligned [[Game Breaker|Purple Sun of Xereus]] is probably the most famous.
* If you are level 4 or below in Rules Cyclopedia ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'', if someone casts a Sleep spell upon you, you're as good as sleeping, as it doesn't give you a saving throw against it. If you don't have any friends to protect you or wake you up when you're under the spell's influence, you're pretty much at the mercy of whoever cast the spell on you, as anyone can use a bladed weapon to kill you instantly no matter how many HP you have.
* If you are level 4 or below in Rules Cyclopedia ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', if someone casts a Sleep spell upon you, you're as good as sleeping, as it doesn't give you a saving throw against it. If you don't have any friends to protect you or wake you up when you're under the spell's influence, you're pretty much at the mercy of whoever cast the spell on you, as anyone can use a bladed weapon to kill you instantly no matter how many HP you have.
** As mentioned above, the [[Level Drain]] attacks of many [[The Undead|undead]] do not allow a saving throw, except for special circumstances.
** As mentioned above, the [[Level Drain]] attacks of many [[The Undead|undead]] do not allow a saving throw, except for special circumstances.
** Do not look at a Catoblepas straight in the eyes unless you want to die.
** Do not look at a Catoblepas straight in the eyes unless you want to die.
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Tabletop Game Tropes]]
[[Category:Tabletop Game Tropes]]
[[Category:No Saving Throw]]
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