It's a fantasy role-playing game.

DM: You are Tiberius Stormwind, a dragonborn sorcerer . You are the member of the famous group of adventurers. Previously, Hotis then attempts to flee but is held back by you. As the team assault him, a suit of armor animates and comes to his aid, hitting them all with a stored Fireball.
DM: I'm clarifying this because the spell says this. They make a dex saving throw, or they're lifted by the pillar. If they make a save, they are not touched by the pillar.
Player: Right. That means they don't get pinned by it.
DM: No, they don't take any damage. If they make their save, they dodge out of the way. That's how the spell is designed.
Player: All right.
DM: It's primarily intended to be a defensive spell that can occasionally be used offensively, if they fail their save. The shield guardian takes the damage.
Player: And he's pinned.
DM: And he's pinned, currently. Yep.
