Basilisk gaze checks Save vs. Death rather than Save vs. Petrification
The Petrification effect requires a save vs. petrification/polymorph. There is also a Lightning Effects effect and a Hold Creature effect, these require a save vs. death/poison. No, I do not have any idea why they want two different saves.
With the Helm, Cloak, and Ring, it's possible to get Kagain's Save vs. Death down to 0 or 1, while his Save vs. Petrify/Polymorph is about 4 or 5. Now send him wandering around the Basilisk map: He can stare them in the eye until the cows come home and not feel a thing, and every time he does so, the text box will say that he's made his Save vs. Death. Save vs. Petrify/Polymorph is
never mentioned. And of course, no anti-Petrification spells or scrolls are required.
STR affects melee ApR
Could you describe this in greater detail? I am wondering how it is even possible.
I believe the Manual of Gainful Exercise has an undocumented +1 bonus to ApR, with a duration of 3 days or so. Only problem is, it only affected Desmond's
melee ApR. I archived the Save, but I still don't understand precisely what happened, or why.