Wiktionary
n. (context gaming English) In certain games, primarily role-playing games, an effort to ward off a specific threat by rolling a die or dice and coming up with a particular number.
Wikipedia
In role-playing games (RPGs) and war games, a saving throw is a roll of dice used to determine whether magic, poison, or various other types of attacks are effective against a character or monster. The term was first used in the original Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game by TSR.
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. Sometimes the throw also represents the chance of penetrating the armor being worn by the character/unit, and so players can either roll for an 'armor save' (as is often the case), or for the unit's 'invulnerability save' if applicable (this is most notable in Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40,000). Magical equipment or spells can also modify saving throw values. A successful saving throw typically either negates or reduces the effectiveness of the effect being saved against.
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 (often a single 20-sided die ("d20") or three six-sided dice ("3d6")), achieving a result based on the calculated value of the saving throw which is compared against a success value. Under different RPG systems, the roll and/or the success value may have modifiers added or subtracted to determine the outcome.
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.
Category:Role-playing game terminology
Usage examples of "saving throw".
Constricted or not, the cone of arrows does the same damage: All living creatures in he cone mug make a successful saving throw vs.
Each target hit with the bolt counts towards the Hit Dice limit, whether its saving throw was successful or not.
Anyone who gazes into the eye of an earth mole is paralyzed for 1-6 rounds with no saving throw.
Any small or medium sized creature or object struck by this force who fails a saving throw vs.
This poison will cause the affected person (if a saving throw versus poison is failed) to fall into a deep sleep, unable to be awakened for a full 24 hours.
If her attack roll is successful, the victim is allowed a saving throw versus spell to avoid having any water breathing magic negated.