So I build a character with a fortitude of 50.

One of the Drow in the Proving Grounds hits me with an implosion spell. I roll a one and die even though my saves are higher than the hit.

I know I can swallow potions of protection against spells but I didn't think I would need that.

Can anyone tell me how how this works?

If you're not immune to an effect, a roll of 1 on a saving throw means automatic failure, whilst a roll of 20 is automatic success, regardless of modifiers.

Using a spell mantle is just about the only certain way of avoiding death by implosion. Other things to try are a high spell resistance, high fortitude, saving throw bonusses versus spells, or counterspelling the magic as it is cast.

Thanks Legolas.

Unfortunately I think that's just ended my idea of creating a heavy hitter that can walk through Undermountain without magic back-up.

Ah well. Dream on.

Just after the last post I went back into Undermountain.

On my last visit I had almost cleared the Trollbark Dungeon. Going back in there had been no reset so I ended up back there in an area where everything had respawned.

I was hit by so many implosion and harm spells that I died at least three times before I could even work out what was happening.

Definitely a storm of effluent

Always leave the game when you're in a safe place! I was killed by implosion spells several times when I was in the trollbark dungeon with my tough little dwarf, try and take down those clerics as fast as possible. I think that the saving throw DC is about 46 to 50 against implosion which is a bit harsh. I managed a DC of 44 with one of my characters, but most bad guys seem to shrug it off. That was with epic spell focus, evocation and 40 something wisdom. Harm seems to work against most bad guys though, I don't know why.

Yeah, it's like those Lizard Realm Arrows of Quick Death. They only seem to work against players.

*sighs*
does Implosion work for we player characters at all? I have tried building magic using PCs before, but it seems Implosion is useless on any of the creatures I want to use it on most of the time. It seems as if Implosion was created purely for the upper levels of the Undermountain to clear people out of the way. So far, the guaranteed spells tend to be that Magical Missle Storm spell, Crumble, Destruction, and any of htose protection spells. Oh, and Delayed Fireball. (Never made a character that uses Hellball yet, so I'll find out soon enough.)