A Novice Pleads [Archive] - Wizards Community

A Novice Pleads [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
NightfireRaven
09-09-06, 10:15 PM Hello everyone, again (for some). My introductory post was made in the other forum related to this one, so again, I thank you all for receiving me into this community. My name is Daniel, I'm 21 years old, I hail from Portugal, and I'm a devoted RP'er and a starting (thus, novice) Dungeon Master. Today, I must ask you a series of questions related to Monsters, in particular. Before hand, I thank you all for asking, and taking the patience to help a young Dungeon Master start his first game.

For example only, I decided to take a simplistic creature I am using. Let us recur to out good friend, THE GOBLIN.

1º - The Goblin Statistics state in his AC:

AC:15 (+1 Size, +1 Dex, +3 Studded Leather)

My question is: The part that is contained within paranthesis is already included in the 15 AC, or is it added later? Is the total 20 AC with the adds, or are the adds already part of the presented AC?

2º - The Goblin Attacks Statistics claim:

Morningstar +1 Melee; or Javelin +3 Ranged

What the the +1 Melee and +3 mean? Is it part of the basic roll for the attack equation? For which part?

I am sorry for these questions, but they are leniant today in my group. Thank you for everything.
Psychoticpsymon
09-09-06, 10:19 PM Well, to answer your first question, the numbers explain how they got to that.

Edit: More on the first question: Everyone starts with an automatic +10 AC before modifiers. The modifiers presented in the paranthesis explain the final number.

As for the second one, that is the bonus to the roll. Ranged is from a distance, melee is within reach.
Nived
09-09-06, 10:20 PM Every creature has a base AC of 10 that's modified by dex, sizem and armor. The goblin's entry is just telling you why his AC is 15... in this case base 10 + 1 size +1 Dex +3 Armor = 15.

The number before weapons entry is a quick note of what number to add to a d20 roll for their to hit.
Norsesmithy
09-09-06, 10:24 PM The AC is 15, not 20. It is divided inside the parethesis to help you compute the touch and flatfooted AC.

The numbers in the attack entry means that that particular goblin warrior adds the +2 and the +3 to his melee and ranged attack roles, respectively.

The morningstar's +2 is +1 for the Base Attack Bonus for a warrior, and the +1 to hit all small creatures get.

The javelin's +3 is the +1 BAB, the +1 size bonus, and the +1 dex bonus for a range attack with Dex 12 or 13.

Happy DMing
Brotha_T
09-10-06, 12:36 AM I'm pretty much just reiterating what everyone else has already said, but here it goes:

Melee attack bonus = base attack bonus (BAB) + strength modifier + size modifier + miscellanous modifiers (such as competance bonuses granted by spells, etc.)

For a melee weapon, a goblin has BAB +1, strength modifier +0, size modifier +1 on attack roll, so his attack modifier with a melee weapon, in this case a morningstar, is 1 + 0 + 1 = +2. Add this to the d20 roll for an attack. This number must match or exceed the target's armor class to succeed on a hit.

For a ranged attack, the formula is the same, but you use your dexterity modifier, which is +1. Hence +3 on attack with the javelin. Modifiers for ability scores are on page 8 of the Player's Handbook (PHb).

The modifiers presented for monsters gives the sum of all bonuses and pentalies, so you don't have to figure them out yourself. What I find helpful is to look up a relatively simple creature in the Monster Manual (MM) and try to figure out where all the bonuses come from. For instance, we just figured out why a goblin has +2 to melee attack rolls, but +3 to ranged attacks. Do this with armor class (AC), attack bonus, and saves. It really helps to further your understanding of combat mechanics, which will come in extremely handy when you have to come up with modfiers on the fly. Most of all, read through the PHB and DM's giude fully. Good luck.
cog_and_taz
09-10-06, 12:54 AM I'm not any more skilled at DMing than your average goldfish, but I'll try and answer any future questions, good luck!

P.S. dump the goblin, kobolds are better:D
Nived
09-10-06, 02:09 AM You are clearly delusional. Goblins are superior... or haven't you read Goblins: Life Through Their Eyes (http://goblinscomic.com/)
cog_and_taz
09-10-06, 06:04 AM read some, which is why goblins get the coveted 2nd place. (1st place is kobolds by default.).

Besides, which is cuter?:P

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
NightfireRaven 09-09-06, 10:15 PM	Hello everyone, again (for some). My introductory post was made in the other forum related to this one, so again, I thank you all for receiving me into this community. My name is Daniel, I'm 21 years old, I hail from Portugal, and I'm a devoted RP'er and a starting (thus, novice) Dungeon Master. Today, I must ask you a series of questions related to Monsters, in particular. Before hand, I thank you all for asking, and taking the patience to help a young Dungeon Master start his first game. For example only, I decided to take a simplistic creature I am using. Let us recur to out good friend, THE GOBLIN. 1º - The Goblin Statistics state in his AC: AC:15 (+1 Size, +1 Dex, +3 Studded Leather) My question is: The part that is contained within paranthesis is already included in the 15 AC, or is it added later? Is the total 20 AC with the adds, or are the adds already part of the presented AC? 2º - The Goblin Attacks Statistics claim: Morningstar +1 Melee; or Javelin +3 Ranged What the the +1 Melee and +3 mean? Is it part of the basic roll for the attack equation? For which part? I am sorry for these questions, but they are leniant today in my group. Thank you for everything.
Psychoticpsymon 09-09-06, 10:19 PM	Well, to answer your first question, the numbers explain how they got to that. Edit: More on the first question: Everyone starts with an automatic +10 AC before modifiers. The modifiers presented in the paranthesis explain the final number. As for the second one, that is the bonus to the roll. Ranged is from a distance, melee is within reach.
Nived 09-09-06, 10:20 PM	Every creature has a base AC of 10 that's modified by dex, sizem and armor. The goblin's entry is just telling you why his AC is 15... in this case base 10 + 1 size +1 Dex +3 Armor = 15. The number before weapons entry is a quick note of what number to add to a d20 roll for their to hit.
Norsesmithy 09-09-06, 10:24 PM	The AC is 15, not 20. It is divided inside the parethesis to help you compute the touch and flatfooted AC. The numbers in the attack entry means that that particular goblin warrior adds the +2 and the +3 to his melee and ranged attack roles, respectively. The morningstar's +2 is +1 for the Base Attack Bonus for a warrior, and the +1 to hit all small creatures get. The javelin's +3 is the +1 BAB, the +1 size bonus, and the +1 dex bonus for a range attack with Dex 12 or 13. Happy DMing
Brotha_T 09-10-06, 12:36 AM	I'm pretty much just reiterating what everyone else has already said, but here it goes: Melee attack bonus = base attack bonus (BAB) + strength modifier + size modifier + miscellanous modifiers (such as competance bonuses granted by spells, etc.) For a melee weapon, a goblin has BAB +1, strength modifier +0, size modifier +1 on attack roll, so his attack modifier with a melee weapon, in this case a morningstar, is 1 + 0 + 1 = +2. Add this to the d20 roll for an attack. This number must match or exceed the target's armor class to succeed on a hit. For a ranged attack, the formula is the same, but you use your dexterity modifier, which is +1. Hence +3 on attack with the javelin. Modifiers for ability scores are on page 8 of the Player's Handbook (PHb). The modifiers presented for monsters gives the sum of all bonuses and pentalies, so you don't have to figure them out yourself. What I find helpful is to look up a relatively simple creature in the Monster Manual (MM) and try to figure out where all the bonuses come from. For instance, we just figured out why a goblin has +2 to melee attack rolls, but +3 to ranged attacks. Do this with armor class (AC), attack bonus, and saves. It really helps to further your understanding of combat mechanics, which will come in extremely handy when you have to come up with modfiers on the fly. Most of all, read through the PHB and DM's giude fully. Good luck.
cog_and_taz 09-10-06, 12:54 AM	I'm not any more skilled at DMing than your average goldfish, but I'll try and answer any future questions, good luck! P.S. dump the goblin, kobolds are better:D
Nived 09-10-06, 02:09 AM	You are clearly delusional. Goblins are superior... or haven't you read Goblins: Life Through Their Eyes (http://goblinscomic.com/)
cog_and_taz 09-10-06, 06:04 AM	read some, which is why goblins get the coveted 2nd place. (1st place is kobolds by default.). Besides, which is cuter?:P