Yes. It should have a wisdom score no matter what. Even if the score is a 1 or a 3 (with the appropriate negative modifier), I’d say, as long as it’s a creature. Only an object might have no wis score, but then spells like that don’t usually target objects.
Yes they both do unless it specifically says they're immune to the damage type, for instance a lot of constructs are immune to psychic damage but would still take damage from other effects that require a WIS save
Like Xalthu and CunningSmile stated, yes all creatures, even constructs have a Wisdom Score, and thus need to make a Wisdom Save if the spell like Toll the Dead calls for it.
For our table, we attribute Construct's intelligence and wisdom comes from the Magic that creates them.
Hope this helps :)
Cheers!
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Breathe, dragons; sing of the First World, forged out of chaos and painted with beauty. Sing of Bahamut, the Platinum, molding the shape of the mountains and rivers; Sing too of Chromatic Tiamat, painting all over the infinite canvas. Partnered, they woke in the darkness; partnered, they labored in acts of creation.
Here's an idea that might suite your disposition. Give the non sentient creature appropriate condition immunities.
For example: if you are using a construct that thematically can't understand speech and acts on programmed orders. It makes since that you couldn't invade or dominate it's mind or force a suggestion (though I personally don't agree). Instead of homebrewing a "wisdom saves don't work" rule you can give it charmed condition immunity. And/or add the they can't hear wording as a feature. Look at other mindless creatures for inspiration, like zombies or slimes.
This way not only will you maintain the vesimilitude of the your world but you'll also catch other spell or effects that shouldn't work thematically that you haven't thought of yet.
Which leads me to my last piece of advice, this solution and no solution can both lead you to fun unexpected moments at the table. Suggestion on a preprogrammed construct could be roleplayed as reprograming the creature. Or an ever vigilant sentry that after some investigating the players realize that it can't hear them. Don't "fix" the rules to make it make sense, make sense of it through imagination and description whenever possible.
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If a monster doesn't have a BRAIN (cuz construct) should it still make wisdom saves from like toll the dead?
Yes. It should have a wisdom score no matter what. Even if the score is a 1 or a 3 (with the appropriate negative modifier), I’d say, as long as it’s a creature. Only an object might have no wis score, but then spells like that don’t usually target objects.
My question was do constructs and non sapient undead make wisdom saves
Yes they both do unless it specifically says they're immune to the damage type, for instance a lot of constructs are immune to psychic damage but would still take damage from other effects that require a WIS save
Greetings OccultantNate,
Like Xalthu and CunningSmile stated, yes all creatures, even constructs have a Wisdom Score, and thus need to make a Wisdom Save if the spell like Toll the Dead calls for it.
Here are some examples:
you can look at other Constructs in the Monster Manual as well:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters?filter-type=0&filter-type=4&filter-search=&filter-cr-min=&filter-cr-max=&filter-armor-class-min=&filter-armor-class-max=&filter-average-hp-min=&filter-average-hp-max=&filter-is-legendary=&filter-is-mythic=&filter-has-lair=&filter-source=147&filter-partnered-content=f&sort=cr
For our table, we attribute Construct's intelligence and wisdom comes from the Magic that creates them.
Hope this helps :)
Cheers!
Breathe, dragons; sing of the First World, forged out of chaos and painted with beauty.
Sing of Bahamut, the Platinum, molding the shape of the mountains and rivers;
Sing too of Chromatic Tiamat, painting all over the infinite canvas.
Partnered, they woke in the darkness; partnered, they labored in acts of creation.
Here's an idea that might suite your disposition. Give the non sentient creature appropriate condition immunities.
For example: if you are using a construct that thematically can't understand speech and acts on programmed orders. It makes since that you couldn't invade or dominate it's mind or force a suggestion (though I personally don't agree). Instead of homebrewing a "wisdom saves don't work" rule you can give it charmed condition immunity. And/or add the they can't hear wording as a feature. Look at other mindless creatures for inspiration, like zombies or slimes.
This way not only will you maintain the vesimilitude of the your world but you'll also catch other spell or effects that shouldn't work thematically that you haven't thought of yet.
Which leads me to my last piece of advice, this solution and no solution can both lead you to fun unexpected moments at the table. Suggestion on a preprogrammed construct could be roleplayed as reprograming the creature. Or an ever vigilant sentry that after some investigating the players realize that it can't hear them. Don't "fix" the rules to make it make sense, make sense of it through imagination and description whenever possible.