Damage for Small / Weak characters [Archive] - Wizards Community

Damage for Small / Weak characters [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lewin
07-15-05, 12:44 PM Let's say we have a Small character with a +4 dagger and 2 strength (-4 modifier). Do they do:

1d4 - 4 (minimum 1) plus 4 damage. (for 5 points of damage)
1d4 - 4 + 4 (minimum 1). (for 1d4 points of damage)

or something else? If I had to hazard a guess, I would assume that this is doing 5 points of damage.

Pertinent reading:
Player's Handbook P116 has dagger stats
Player's Handbook P134 has comments about minimum damage
Jaid
07-15-05, 12:47 PM as i understand it, it deals 1d4 damage (Assuming no other modifiers like specialisation etc).

although i think a small dagger does less than d4.
Lewin
07-15-05, 12:53 PM oops. You're right. a small dagger does 1d3. But the question makes sense either way. :)
SALDAR
07-16-05, 10:26 PM Magical weapon enhancements do just that, enhance the attack and damage. So you would calculate the weapon damage +/- strength modifer and then enhance that damage.

It would be 1d3-4 for the weapon damage (minimum of 1), then add the +4 enhancement bonus to damage.
Raven Dark
07-17-05, 12:25 AM Magical weapon enhancements do just that, enhance the attack and damage. So you would calculate the weapon damage +/- strength modifer and then enhance that damage.

It would be 1d3-4 for the weapon damage (minimum of 1), then add the +4 enhancement bonus to damage.

Can you back that up? That certainly is not how we play it.

I thought it was 1d3+0. If I'm wrong, I sure as heck would like to know since strength is rarely my character's strong point.
Colmarr
07-17-05, 05:33 PM I agree with Jaid and Raven.
Rulebook
07-17-05, 11:14 PM im pretty sure its 1d3-4 (min 1) for a small dager and 2 str.
Colmarr
07-17-05, 11:21 PM It is, but when the dagger is +4, it's important that the "minimum of 1" isn't applied in the middle of the equation.
Rulebook
07-17-05, 11:39 PM then its 1d4+4-4 (min 1)

whats the problem?
Raven Dark
07-18-05, 03:02 AM I believe that this is an important enough question that I have E-mailed the Sage on the matter.
Vaelan
07-18-05, 03:13 AM Take a look at how damage is written in statblocks.

Dice + net modifier

Not
Dice + bonus - penalty

In this example, the character deals 1d3 points of damage.
Colmarr
07-18-05, 03:35 AM Rule book, the problem is that some people seem to be suggesting that it's:

1d4 - 4 (min 1) + 4 = 5.

You and I (and others) agree that it is:

1d4 - 4 + 4 (min 1) = 1d4.

Ie. the placing of the "(min 1)" can make a large difference to the result.
Antioch
07-18-05, 04:04 AM I'm no Sage (outside of my playing group anyways), though looking over the lack of information regarding the oder of operations to modifier application, I would have to rule that you find out what the final modifier is (the net value, as it were) and add it to your roll.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lewin 07-15-05, 12:44 PM	Let's say we have a Small character with a +4 dagger and 2 strength (-4 modifier). Do they do: 1d4 - 4 (minimum 1) plus 4 damage. (for 5 points of damage) 1d4 - 4 + 4 (minimum 1). (for 1d4 points of damage) or something else? If I had to hazard a guess, I would assume that this is doing 5 points of damage. Pertinent reading: Player's Handbook P116 has dagger stats Player's Handbook P134 has comments about minimum damage
Jaid 07-15-05, 12:47 PM	as i understand it, it deals 1d4 damage (Assuming no other modifiers like specialisation etc). although i think a small dagger does less than d4.
Lewin 07-15-05, 12:53 PM	oops. You're right. a small dagger does 1d3. But the question makes sense either way. :)
SALDAR 07-16-05, 10:26 PM	Magical weapon enhancements do just that, enhance the attack and damage. So you would calculate the weapon damage +/- strength modifer and then enhance that damage. It would be 1d3-4 for the weapon damage (minimum of 1), then add the +4 enhancement bonus to damage.
Raven Dark 07-17-05, 12:25 AM	Magical weapon enhancements do just that, enhance the attack and damage. So you would calculate the weapon damage +/- strength modifer and then enhance that damage. It would be 1d3-4 for the weapon damage (minimum of 1), then add the +4 enhancement bonus to damage. Can you back that up? That certainly is not how we play it. I thought it was 1d3+0. If I'm wrong, I sure as heck would like to know since strength is rarely my character's strong point.
Colmarr 07-17-05, 05:33 PM	I agree with Jaid and Raven.
Rulebook 07-17-05, 11:14 PM	im pretty sure its 1d3-4 (min 1) for a small dager and 2 str.
Colmarr 07-17-05, 11:21 PM	It is, but when the dagger is +4, it's important that the "minimum of 1" isn't applied in the middle of the equation.
Rulebook 07-17-05, 11:39 PM	then its 1d4+4-4 (min 1) whats the problem?
Raven Dark 07-18-05, 03:02 AM	I believe that this is an important enough question that I have E-mailed the Sage on the matter.
Vaelan 07-18-05, 03:13 AM	Take a look at how damage is written in statblocks. Dice + net modifier Not Dice + bonus - penalty In this example, the character deals 1d3 points of damage.
Colmarr 07-18-05, 03:35 AM	Rule book, the problem is that some people seem to be suggesting that it's: 1d4 - 4 (min 1) + 4 = 5. You and I (and others) agree that it is: 1d4 - 4 + 4 (min 1) = 1d4. Ie. the placing of the "(min 1)" can make a large difference to the result.
Antioch 07-18-05, 04:04 AM	I'm no Sage (outside of my playing group anyways), though looking over the lack of information regarding the oder of operations to modifier application, I would have to rule that you find out what the final modifier is (the net value, as it were) and add it to your roll.