A silly question about how to read skills for animals in the MM [Archive] - Wizards Community

A silly question about how to read skills for animals in the MM [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rhia
05-11-04, 03:16 PM Hiya!

I'm specifically looking at Cat on page 270 of 3.5 MM. Under Skills, it says Hide +14*. Looking at the * descriptor, it reads, "In areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth, the Hide bonus rises to +8." Note: Italics added.

Now to me, +14 looks like a bigger bonus than +8, so I'm wondering what they mean by that. I'm in a PbP game right now where I'm hiding as a cat and I'm not sure which number to add to my 1d20 roll. :confused:

Thanks in advance! :)
d_nychus
05-11-04, 03:31 PM Read the above section in Skills.

They have a +4 racial bonus to Climb, Hide, and Move Silently.

In areas of of tall grass or heavy growth, the Hide bonus rises to +8.

The breakdown is 0 ranks + 8 size bonus + 2 Dex + 4 racial (increases to +8 in tall grass or heavy growth).

Normally, you get a + 14 normally.

In tall grass or whatever, you add +18 to the roll.
Rhia
05-11-04, 03:49 PM I knew I was just not getting how to apply things.

Thank you!
denomicon
05-11-04, 06:01 PM Random Gripe:
You would think it would be more intuitive for them to have written: "In tall grass that cat gains an additional +4 to their hide checks."

It seems awkward to have to take the circumstance modifier subtracting the racial modifier to figure out what the final modifier is. Yes 8 - 4 = 4 is tough math for me.
UZI
05-11-04, 07:15 PM It's not tough math, you just have to figure out the equation first.
d_nychus
05-11-04, 09:07 PM Originally posted by denomicon
Random Gripe:
You would think it would be more intuitive for them to have written: "In tall grass that cat gains an additional +4 to their hide checks."

It seems awkward to have to take the circumstance modifier subtracting the racial modifier to figure out what the final modifier is. Yes 8 - 4 = 4 is tough math for me.

Well, the thing is, it actually improves their racial bonus. Since it is a named bonus, the two effects would not stack. So it kind of has to be listed as 'increases to +8' in order to stack/overlap properly.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rhia 05-11-04, 03:16 PM	Hiya! I'm specifically looking at Cat on page 270 of 3.5 MM. Under Skills, it says Hide +14. Looking at the descriptor, it reads, "In areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth, the Hide bonus rises to +8." Note: Italics added. Now to me, +14 looks like a bigger bonus than +8, so I'm wondering what they mean by that. I'm in a PbP game right now where I'm hiding as a cat and I'm not sure which number to add to my 1d20 roll. :confused: Thanks in advance! :)
d_nychus 05-11-04, 03:31 PM	Read the above section in Skills. They have a +4 racial bonus to Climb, Hide, and Move Silently. In areas of of tall grass or heavy growth, the Hide bonus rises to +8. The breakdown is 0 ranks + 8 size bonus + 2 Dex + 4 racial (increases to +8 in tall grass or heavy growth). Normally, you get a + 14 normally. In tall grass or whatever, you add +18 to the roll.
Rhia 05-11-04, 03:49 PM	I knew I was just not getting how to apply things. Thank you!
denomicon 05-11-04, 06:01 PM	Random Gripe: You would think it would be more intuitive for them to have written: "In tall grass that cat gains an additional +4 to their hide checks." It seems awkward to have to take the circumstance modifier subtracting the racial modifier to figure out what the final modifier is. Yes 8 - 4 = 4 is tough math for me.
UZI 05-11-04, 07:15 PM	It's not tough math, you just have to figure out the equation first.
d_nychus 05-11-04, 09:07 PM	Originally posted by denomicon Random Gripe: You would think it would be more intuitive for them to have written: "In tall grass that cat gains an additional +4 to their hide checks." It seems awkward to have to take the circumstance modifier subtracting the racial modifier to figure out what the final modifier is. Yes 8 - 4 = 4 is tough math for me. Well, the thing is, it actually improves their racial bonus. Since it is a named bonus, the two effects would not stack. So it kind of has to be listed as 'increases to +8' in order to stack/overlap properly.