Spell Resistance

[Arz]

Do you roll for spell resistance before the saving throw or can the target choose which gets rolled first?

Important for spellthieves who might want to roll the save to absorb, rather than negate the spell.

[FlaminCows]

While it doesn't explicitly say so, you can infer that Spell Resistance is rolled first because the target needn't be aware of the spell to resist it, while some kinds of saving throws involve being aware (like Reflex). So the most logical order is Caster Begins to Cast > Counterspells > Spell Failure > Spell is Cast > Spell Resistance > Saving Throws > Effect.

[Arz]

Understood and I'd agree except the player normally decides the order of things and when you read a spell description the save is listed first. Also awareness for ref saves is a very niche case.

[Stratovarius]

I know when WotC approved the rules for Neverwinter Nights (definitely not core, I know), they made SR come before Saves. I think the other computer games are all in the same order, so clearly it's the order WotC believes everything should be. That's much more RAI end of things though.

[FlaminCows]

I think the solution is to roll for save even if the spell has been negated by spell resistance or spell immunity. That way the order does not matter, and the spellthief can use his class features regardless of what Spell Resistance he has.

[NunoM]

SR is an "outer layer" of defense against magical attacks, the "inner" ones being saves and eventual energy resistances the creature may have. It's usually a natural defense that works even when the creature isn't aware of a magical attack.
Therefore, Spell Resistance check must be rolled first. The spell resistant target can drop the SR as a standard action, in which case any spell cast on it will function normally, possibly allowing saves.

For a spellthief to absorb a spell, the spell must be on the verge of affecting the character, which it won't, if the spell doesn't penetrate the Spell Resistance.