Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Phunbabba 11-28-07, 05:42 PM	Is a fighter's damage based on weapon + strength modifier or weapon + attack roll? If I have a Greatsword and my strength modifier is +4, is my damage 2D6+4, or does my attack roll calculate into it as well? Thanks :)
Fatalis_902 11-28-07, 05:52 PM	For attacks: First make your attack roll. The formula is: 1d20+BAB+STR or DEX modifier. Compare to target's armor class. If your attack roll is equal to or greater than the target's AC, you hit. Now roll damage. The formula is: XdY, where X is the number of dice and Y is the type of die being rolled, +STR or DEX, depending on your weapon and feat selection. So, for your 18 STR greatsword wielding fighter, if he hits, he would roll 2d6+6, for the weapon's damage dice plus 1 1/2 his STR mod for using a two-handed weapon.
Phunbabba 11-28-07, 06:04 PM	For attacks: First make your attack roll. The formula is: 1d20+BAB+STR or DEX modifier. Compare to target's armor class. If your attack roll is equal to or greater than the target's AC, you hit. Now roll damage. The formula is: XdY, where X is the number of dice and Y is the type of die being rolled, +STR or DEX, depending on your weapon and feat selection. So, for your 18 STR greatsword wielding fighter, if he hits, he would roll 2d6+6, for the weapon's damage dice plus 1 1/2 his STR mod for using a two-handed weapon. Thanks you very much :) The 1.5 str modifier for a 2 handed weapon was where I was off.
Tovec 11-29-07, 03:47 PM	Melee: Attack: 1D20+BAB+STR+weapon bonus (or DEX instead of STR with weapon finesse applied) Damage: 2D6+1.5*STR+weapon bonuses (for Greatsword) Ranged: Attack: 1D20+BAB+DEX+weapon bonus Damage: 1D8(+STR)+weapon bonuses (for Longbow, +STR if Composite)
StevenO 11-29-07, 06:34 PM	Your attack roll doesn't contribute to damage beyond letting you hit the target in the first place. Using the Power Attack feat you may voluntarily lower your attack bonus when using some weapons (up to your full BAB) and add that reduction (or twice that penalty/reduction if using a two-handed weapon) to the damage dealt. A previous poster has provided some misleading information. There is only one narrow method (requires specific feat and weapon under certain conditions) that a DEX modifier is ever applied to damage so as a general rule DEX NEVER modifies damage. DEX can help your ranged attacks hit and with the Weapon Finesse feat benefit some melee attacks as well but its benefits stop before getting to actual damage.
Stormheim 11-30-07, 08:11 AM	Melee: Attack: 1D20+BAB+STR+weapon bonus (or DEX instead of STR with weapon finesse applied) Damage: 2D6+1.5*STR+weapon bonuses (for Greatsword) Ranged: Attack: 1D20+BAB+DEX+weapon bonus Damage: 1D8(+STR)+weapon bonuses (for Longbow, +STR if Composite) Please note, however, that a Composite Longbow will have a max STR bonus stat, which you can't exceed. For example, if the max STR bonus is +3, and your STR bonus is +4, you can ONLY add +3 to the damage roll. On the flip side, if your STR bonus is only +2 or +1, you only add +2 or +1 to the damage, not the full +3. It's sort of based on how strong you are compared to the how the bow was built/designed. If you need to be very strong to draw the bowstring back to its maximum potential, then it stands to reason that if you are weaker you can't draw it back as far and therefore the damage inflicted by the arrow is slightly less. Obversely, if you are stronger then the max STR bonus of the weapon, and you foolishly attempted to apply your full STR bonus, then you would run the grave risk of the bow breaking in your hand as you over-flexed it.
Tovec 12-01-07, 04:54 PM	Please note, however, that a Composite Longbow will have a max STR bonus stat, which you can't exceed. For example, if the max STR bonus is +3, and your STR bonus is +4, you can ONLY add +3 to the damage roll. On the flip side, if your STR bonus is only +2 or +1, you only add +2 or +1 to the damage, not the full +3. It's sort of based on how strong you are compared to the how the bow was built/designed. If you need to be very strong to draw the bowstring back to its maximum potential, then it stands to reason that if you are weaker you can't draw it back as far and therefore the damage inflicted by the arrow is slightly less. Obversely, if you are stronger then the max STR bonus of the weapon, and you foolishly attempted to apply your full STR bonus, then you would run the grave risk of the bow breaking in your hand as you over-flexed it. As always my suggestion is to read the actual description. Yes there is a max strength but I just wanted to include it as a variant as my bow using fighters tend to have some strength in their damage rolls with their bow. I may have missed this but there is also a penalty for using a composite bow that isn't attuned to your strength modifier. *cracks open the PHB* For example, Tordek has a +2 strength bonus. With a regular composite bow, he gains no modifier on damage rolls. For 200 gp, he can buy a composite longbow (+1 bonus), which lets him add a +1 to his damage rolls. For 300 gp, he can buy one that lets him add his entire +2 strength bonus. Even if he paid 400 gp for a composite longbow (+3 str bonus), he would still only get a +2 bonus on damage rolls and take a -2 penalty on attacks with it because his strength is insufficient to use the weapon to best advantage. The bow can't grant him a higher bonus then he already has.