Is a creature that sees a Medusa's eyes automatically subjected to a saving throw?












7












$begingroup$


Famously, the gaze of a Medusa's eyes turns hapless adventurers to stone.



However, is this save automatic upon seeing her eyes?



The Medusa's Petrifying Gaze feature says (emphasis mine):




Petrifying Gaze. When a creature that can see the medusa's eyes starts its turn within 30 feet of the medusa, the medusa can force it to make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw if the medusa isn't incapacitated and can see the creature.




Emphasis mine.



The text states that the Medusa can force the creature to make a save, implying that the Medusa chooses when this effect takes place. Is this how it works, or is the effect automatic?



For a little more background, currently I am running




Tomb of Annihilation, where Zalkoré has her face hidden behind a translucent veil.




The players can clearly see her eyes, but she hasn't yet decided to activate her ability yet, so no petrification saving throws yet. Am I playing this correctly, RAW?






dnd-5e monsters







share|improve this question











$endgroup$

















    7












    $begingroup$


    Famously, the gaze of a Medusa's eyes turns hapless adventurers to stone.



    However, is this save automatic upon seeing her eyes?



    The Medusa's Petrifying Gaze feature says (emphasis mine):




    Petrifying Gaze. When a creature that can see the medusa's eyes starts its turn within 30 feet of the medusa, the medusa can force it to make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw if the medusa isn't incapacitated and can see the creature.




    Emphasis mine.



    The text states that the Medusa can force the creature to make a save, implying that the Medusa chooses when this effect takes place. Is this how it works, or is the effect automatic?



    For a little more background, currently I am running




    Tomb of Annihilation, where Zalkoré has her face hidden behind a translucent veil.




    The players can clearly see her eyes, but she hasn't yet decided to activate her ability yet, so no petrification saving throws yet. Am I playing this correctly, RAW?






    dnd-5e monsters







    share|improve this question











    $endgroup$















      7












      7








      7





      $begingroup$


      Famously, the gaze of a Medusa's eyes turns hapless adventurers to stone.



      However, is this save automatic upon seeing her eyes?



      The Medusa's Petrifying Gaze feature says (emphasis mine):




      Petrifying Gaze. When a creature that can see the medusa's eyes starts its turn within 30 feet of the medusa, the medusa can force it to make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw if the medusa isn't incapacitated and can see the creature.




      Emphasis mine.



      The text states that the Medusa can force the creature to make a save, implying that the Medusa chooses when this effect takes place. Is this how it works, or is the effect automatic?



      For a little more background, currently I am running




      Tomb of Annihilation, where Zalkoré has her face hidden behind a translucent veil.




      The players can clearly see her eyes, but she hasn't yet decided to activate her ability yet, so no petrification saving throws yet. Am I playing this correctly, RAW?






      dnd-5e monsters







      share|improve this question











      $endgroup$




      Famously, the gaze of a Medusa's eyes turns hapless adventurers to stone.



      However, is this save automatic upon seeing her eyes?



      The Medusa's Petrifying Gaze feature says (emphasis mine):




      Petrifying Gaze. When a creature that can see the medusa's eyes starts its turn within 30 feet of the medusa, the medusa can force it to make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw if the medusa isn't incapacitated and can see the creature.




      Emphasis mine.



      The text states that the Medusa can force the creature to make a save, implying that the Medusa chooses when this effect takes place. Is this how it works, or is the effect automatic?



      For a little more background, currently I am running




      Tomb of Annihilation, where Zalkoré has her face hidden behind a translucent veil.




      The players can clearly see her eyes, but she hasn't yet decided to activate her ability yet, so no petrification saving throws yet. Am I playing this correctly, RAW?






      dnd-5e monsters




      dnd-5e monsters






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 8 hours ago









      V2Blast

      23.3k375146




      23.3k375146










      asked 8 hours ago









      NicboboNicbobo

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          $begingroup$

          No, it's up to the Medusa



          You've quoted the relevant requirement in that that the Medusa can force the creature to make the saving throw. If the Medusa opts not to, then no saving throw is needed.



          Yes, you are playing this correctly.



          Your decision to not force the save until you are ready to do so was the right one.






          share|improve this answer











          $endgroup$













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            $begingroup$

            No, it's up to the Medusa



            You've quoted the relevant requirement in that that the Medusa can force the creature to make the saving throw. If the Medusa opts not to, then no saving throw is needed.



            Yes, you are playing this correctly.



            Your decision to not force the save until you are ready to do so was the right one.






            share|improve this answer











            $endgroup$


















              11












              $begingroup$

              No, it's up to the Medusa



              You've quoted the relevant requirement in that that the Medusa can force the creature to make the saving throw. If the Medusa opts not to, then no saving throw is needed.



              Yes, you are playing this correctly.



              Your decision to not force the save until you are ready to do so was the right one.






              share|improve this answer











              $endgroup$
















                11












                11








                11





                $begingroup$

                No, it's up to the Medusa



                You've quoted the relevant requirement in that that the Medusa can force the creature to make the saving throw. If the Medusa opts not to, then no saving throw is needed.



                Yes, you are playing this correctly.



                Your decision to not force the save until you are ready to do so was the right one.






                share|improve this answer











                $endgroup$



                No, it's up to the Medusa



                You've quoted the relevant requirement in that that the Medusa can force the creature to make the saving throw. If the Medusa opts not to, then no saving throw is needed.



                Yes, you are playing this correctly.



                Your decision to not force the save until you are ready to do so was the right one.







                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited 8 hours ago

























                answered 8 hours ago









                NautArchNautArch

                57.2k8203381




                57.2k8203381






























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