Petrify Construct

[javijuji]

I know flesh to stone doesnt work on a construct since it clearly states it only affect creatures made of flesh. But what about special abilities like a Meduza's Gaze

Petrifying Gaze (Su): Turn to stone permanently, 30 feet, Fortitude DC 15 negates. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Would this work on a construct?

[Morcleon]

As a gaze attack only affects creatures, and:


Immunity to any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects, or is harmless).


...no, it does not work on a construct.

[javijuji]

I was hit by this:

Eye Rays (Su): A retriever's eyes can produce four different magical rays with a range of 100 feet. Each round, it can fire one ray as a free action. A particular ray is usable only once every 4 rounds. A retriever can fire an eye ray in the same round that it makes physical attacks. The save DC for all rays is 18. The save DC is Dexterity-based.

The four eye effects are:

Fire: Deals 12d6 points of fire damage to the target (Reflex half ).

Cold: Deals 12d6 points of cold damage to the target (Reflex half ).

Electricity: Deals 12d6 points of electricity damage to the target (Reflex half ).

Petrification: The target must succeed on a Fortitude save or turn to stone permanently.

The DM said that this petrification "ray" could also affect objects. And as such it falled into the category of "Fort saves that affect constructs"

[JBento]

It can't. Unless otherwise specified, effects that allow Fortitude saves don't work on objects, and therefore don't work on creatures without a Constitution score (unless they're harmless).

Note: If you are a living construct, like a non-juggernaut Warforged, you're not immune to effects requiring a Fortitude save.

[javijuji]

100% construct. Not warforged.

[javijuji]

Immunity to any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects, or is harmless).

Does the last part mean any spell that works on objects or spells that work both on creatures and objects?

[javijuji]

For example. Could shatter be targeted at me as if I were an object?

"Alternatively, you can target shatter against a single solid object, regardless of composition,"

[Cog]

It can't. Unless otherwise specified, effects that allow Fortitude saves don't work on objects, and therefore don't work on creatures without a Constitution score (unless they're harmless).
I'm not sure that this statement has any basis in the rules. For effects that target a creature, sure, but that limit isn't in the quoted portion of the Retriever's abilities.

[Fouredged Sword]

Constructs are creatures, not objects. They simply are immune to fortitude save based effects that cannot target objects. This does not imply that constructs ARE objects, and if they where the above immunity would be pointless as saying "objects are immune to effects that cannot target objects" is silly.

[mattie_p]

Shatter requires a will save for objects. A better example is disintegrate, which offers fort save for objects.

[JBento]

Regardless, unless you're a glass golem or otherwise crystalline creature, you can't be targeted by Shatter. You're a creature, not an object.

[javijuji]

Constructs are creatures, not objects. They simply are immune to fortitude save based effects that cannot target objects. This does not imply that constructs ARE objects, and if they where the above immunity would be pointless as saying "objects are immune to effects that cannot target objects" is silly.

What if an ability (Super Natural, Extraordinary) doesnt specify a target? Which is the case for the Retriever's Ray Ability.

[mattie_p]

What if an ability (Super Natural, Extraordinary) doesnt specify a target? Which is the case for the Retriever's Ray Ability.


Petrification
The target must succeed on a Fortitude save or turn to stone permanently.


Since the target is not defined, it is up to the DM. The retriever might be able to target a tree or a wagon, for example.

This particular ability is different from a gaze attack, which describes opponent, character, and looking (none of which can refer to objects).

[Morcleon]

What if an ability (Super Natural, Extraordinary) doesnt specify a target? Which is the case for the Retriever's Ray Ability.

In this case, the retriever's ray ability does not specify that objects can be targeted. Thus, objects (and by extension constructs) are immune to it.

[Fouredged Sword]

It would need the fortitude negates (object) tag to effect objects per the SRD description of saving throws. Your DM may choose to apply this tag to the ability, though you should get him or her to specify that he/she in fact is making that ruling.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicOverview/spellDescriptions.htm#savingThrow

[mattie_p]

It would need the fortitude negates (object) tag to effect objects per the SRD description of saving throws. Your DM may choose to apply this tag to the ability, though you should get him or her to specify that he/she in fact is making that ruling.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicOverview/spellDescriptions.htm#savingThrow

The hyperlink you gave is for spells. The Eye Rays are a supernatural ability, so may not need that. I'm looking for examples of such.

Edit: beholder is not a good comparison as it specifies "as the spell". The retriever has no such language.