Are our attack bonuses too high? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Are our attack bonuses too high? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Jacl32
08-20-06, 06:51 PM (as an example), one of our players is a paladin. His base attack is 3. And his strength is a 17 we were, for a while, adding both his strength and base attack to his total attack bonus. Is his strength modifier only apply to damage or does it apply to both damage and attack bonus? (to have a plus 7 attack bonus a level 3 seems kind of high to me)
Nived
08-20-06, 06:54 PM You apply Str bonus to both attack and damage with melee weapons. In the above example a 3rd level paladin (BAB+3) with 17 Str (+3 modifier) would have a +6 to hit.

Lets say he's using a longsword That's be +6 melee Longsword 1d8+3 (19-20 x2).

That's fine for third level, they're supposed to be exceptional melee fighters.
CryoSilver
08-20-06, 06:56 PM Trust me, it's not high at all.

Melee attack bonus = BAB + Str mod + other bonuses.

At level 3, a fighter with a +1 sword and 16 Str can have:

+3 BAB, +5 Str (Bull's Strength), +1 sword, +1 Weapon Focus = +10 to-hit.
kelvinaw273
08-20-06, 06:59 PM He gets his BAB plus his Strength, plus enhancements for using masterwork/magical weapons, plus enhancements from buffs ... it all adds up.

So, 3rd level = +3 BAB
17 Strength = +3
Total Attack role so far: +6

Yes, at low level it makes the fighters with high strength really stand out. Monks, Rogues and Bards usually take Weapon Finesse at 3rd level and this brings them up a long way (allows them to add their dex bonus if using light or refined weapons like the rapier instead of their strength bonus). As your levels climb the bonus gets outweighed by the BAB itself, and the magical enhancements that you can also get. At 20th level your paladin may have a strength of 22 and a +5 Holy sword, so he would have:

20th level BAB = +20
22 Strength = +6
Sword = +5
Total = +31

At low level the strength was equal to the BAB, but at high level it's a third.
trolloc
08-20-06, 07:13 PM There's a feat from BoED that let you add wisdom to hit instead of strenght. good for monk and druids. just work for certain weapons tho.
StevenO
08-20-06, 09:21 PM That attack bonus is not too high as others have said. Remember that the number of attacks only looks at the BAB and not the net attack so he still only gets one attack. If a character finds they have a bigger attack than they need they can often trade it for damage (Power Attack) or AC (Combat Expertise/Fight Defensively).

Consider what Lv 1 Half-Orc barbarian could have for an attack bonus if you think that 3rd level character is high:
+1 BAB
+5 Str 20 (hard to get but legal)
+2 for Str +4 due to raging Barbarian
+1 for possible weapon focus
+1 for possible masterwork weapon (after first adventure)
+10 attack at first level
AnonymousInternets
08-20-06, 09:53 PM That attack bonus is not too high as others have said. Remember that the number of attacks only looks at the BAB and not the net attack so he still only gets one attack. If a character finds they have a bigger attack than they need they can often trade it for damage (Power Attack) or AC (Combat Expertise/Fight Defensively).

Consider what Lv 1 Half-Orc barbarian could have for an attack bonus if you think that 3rd level character is high:
+1 BAB
+5 Str 20 (hard to get but legal)
+2 for Str +4 due to raging Barbarian
+1 for possible weapon focus
+1 for possible masterwork weapon (after first adventure)
+10 attack at first level
You forget about Orc (not half-orc). Raise that 20 to 22. ;]
Findail
08-21-06, 08:24 AM Ah. I think I see the problem.
And his strength is a 17...

...(to have a plus 7 attack bonus a level 3 seems kind of high to me)
You were under the impression that the strength bonus for 17 strength was +7?

It's +3. Ability score bonuses are equal to (Ability - 10) HALVED (rounding down).

The same applies to all the other ability scores too.
Shaggy_Shaggs
08-21-06, 08:36 AM Ah. I think I see the problem.

You were under the impression that the strength bonus for 17 strength was +7?

It's +3. Ability score bonuses are equal to (Ability - 10) HALVED (rounding down).

The same applies to all the other ability scores too.
He mentioned the guy has BAB +3, too.

I think what's happening is he's using a two-handed weapon, and adding 1-1/2 Str mod (round down) to hit, rather than only to damage like he's supposed to. +3 BAB, +4 Str, +7 total, which is wrong. With a two-hander he should add +3 BAB, +3 Str (+6 total) and +4 damage from Str, and be all good.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Jacl32 08-20-06, 06:51 PM	(as an example), one of our players is a paladin. His base attack is 3. And his strength is a 17 we were, for a while, adding both his strength and base attack to his total attack bonus. Is his strength modifier only apply to damage or does it apply to both damage and attack bonus? (to have a plus 7 attack bonus a level 3 seems kind of high to me)
Nived 08-20-06, 06:54 PM	You apply Str bonus to both attack and damage with melee weapons. In the above example a 3rd level paladin (BAB+3) with 17 Str (+3 modifier) would have a +6 to hit. Lets say he's using a longsword That's be +6 melee Longsword 1d8+3 (19-20 x2). That's fine for third level, they're supposed to be exceptional melee fighters.
CryoSilver 08-20-06, 06:56 PM	Trust me, it's not high at all. Melee attack bonus = BAB + Str mod + other bonuses. At level 3, a fighter with a +1 sword and 16 Str can have: +3 BAB, +5 Str (Bull's Strength), +1 sword, +1 Weapon Focus = +10 to-hit.
kelvinaw273 08-20-06, 06:59 PM	He gets his BAB plus his Strength, plus enhancements for using masterwork/magical weapons, plus enhancements from buffs ... it all adds up. So, 3rd level = +3 BAB 17 Strength = +3 Total Attack role so far: +6 Yes, at low level it makes the fighters with high strength really stand out. Monks, Rogues and Bards usually take Weapon Finesse at 3rd level and this brings them up a long way (allows them to add their dex bonus if using light or refined weapons like the rapier instead of their strength bonus). As your levels climb the bonus gets outweighed by the BAB itself, and the magical enhancements that you can also get. At 20th level your paladin may have a strength of 22 and a +5 Holy sword, so he would have: 20th level BAB = +20 22 Strength = +6 Sword = +5 Total = +31 At low level the strength was equal to the BAB, but at high level it's a third.
trolloc 08-20-06, 07:13 PM	There's a feat from BoED that let you add wisdom to hit instead of strenght. good for monk and druids. just work for certain weapons tho.
StevenO 08-20-06, 09:21 PM	That attack bonus is not too high as others have said. Remember that the number of attacks only looks at the BAB and not the net attack so he still only gets one attack. If a character finds they have a bigger attack than they need they can often trade it for damage (Power Attack) or AC (Combat Expertise/Fight Defensively). Consider what Lv 1 Half-Orc barbarian could have for an attack bonus if you think that 3rd level character is high: +1 BAB +5 Str 20 (hard to get but legal) +2 for Str +4 due to raging Barbarian +1 for possible weapon focus +1 for possible masterwork weapon (after first adventure) +10 attack at first level
AnonymousInternets 08-20-06, 09:53 PM	That attack bonus is not too high as others have said. Remember that the number of attacks only looks at the BAB and not the net attack so he still only gets one attack. If a character finds they have a bigger attack than they need they can often trade it for damage (Power Attack) or AC (Combat Expertise/Fight Defensively). Consider what Lv 1 Half-Orc barbarian could have for an attack bonus if you think that 3rd level character is high: +1 BAB +5 Str 20 (hard to get but legal) +2 for Str +4 due to raging Barbarian +1 for possible weapon focus +1 for possible masterwork weapon (after first adventure) +10 attack at first level You forget about Orc (not half-orc). Raise that 20 to 22. ;]
Findail 08-21-06, 08:24 AM	Ah. I think I see the problem. And his strength is a 17... ...(to have a plus 7 attack bonus a level 3 seems kind of high to me) You were under the impression that the strength bonus for 17 strength was +7? It's +3. Ability score bonuses are equal to (Ability - 10) HALVED (rounding down). The same applies to all the other ability scores too.
Shaggy_Shaggs 08-21-06, 08:36 AM	Ah. I think I see the problem. You were under the impression that the strength bonus for 17 strength was +7? It's +3. Ability score bonuses are equal to (Ability - 10) HALVED (rounding down). The same applies to all the other ability scores too. He mentioned the guy has BAB +3, too. I think what's happening is he's using a two-handed weapon, and adding 1-1/2 Str mod (round down) to hit, rather than only to damage like he's supposed to. +3 BAB, +4 Str, +7 total, which is wrong. With a two-hander he should add +3 BAB, +3 Str (+6 total) and +4 damage from Str, and be all good.