It appears to be Bugged. I might be wrong, but it should be a save versus fear, then a fortitude save versus death. Two saves or die.
It was a save versus 'death', when I experienced it. One save versus death!
Date report 12/24/11
Character: Gregory Beastson
Account: I Made This Account for AllMyBudgies
The Will save is save or die, if that fails , you make a Fort save or die. A made fort save results in 3d6 Damage.. if i recall the spell text.
That is correct, it was, "save or die" for me, might of been finger of death, however...
But the DC would of been higher then I am fairly certain!
It's actually Will save first to disbelieve the spell or not, and then if you fail that a fortitude save vs death. Passing the save still makes you take 3d6 damage.
The way it's supposed to work (http://nwn.wikia.com/wiki/Phantasmal_killer) is that you make the Will Save first. If you succeed that, there should be NO ill effects.
If you fail it, THEN you make the Fortitude check as OWN describes. There should always be two saves before any ill effects are applied. If you only made one save, it was because you passed the Will. One instance of this happening could be a number of things, if there isn't a general trend of this going on, then chalk it up to an odd fluke.
The way he's phrased it in the second post seems to indicate that he didn't actually see anything in the log which said "Phantasmal Killer".
Could be any number of spells then depending upon his level. Finger of Death, Circle of Death, Slay Living, etc.
Take a screenshot of your log next time!