Hi there,
I am new to Dungeons and Dragons and recently bought the 5th edition Starter Kit. I had a question about modifiers when using ability checks.
Do you apply all the modifiers to an ability check? For example using one of the pre-created characters:
His Strength says +2, it also says his proficiency bonus is +2 and his skills say that the athletics skill is +2.
So during a strength ability check (like climbing) is this a roll of a d20 plus the +2 Strength modifier, and +2 for the athletic modifier? Or is it one or the other?
The same goes for proficiency. If he used his strength modifer of +2 with a weapon he was proficient in would you also add the +2 proficency bonus on top?
Thanks!
~Dara
Skill checks always use the relevant ability modifier, and also add the proficiency bonus if the character has proficiency in that skill.
If you are using one of the starter set pregens, the arithmetic has already been done for you. You roll d20 and add (or subtract) whatever it says against that skill.
Thus, if your character has a strength of 14 or 15, giving a Strength Ajustment of +2, but doesn't have proficiency in Athletics, then he would have just the +2 from Strength for Athletics checks.
Hope this helps.
(edit -added)
For attacks, the same applies. To Hit adjustment is ability modifier (either Str or Dex) + prof bonus (unless it's a weapon you're not proficient with). Damage adjustment is the same ability modifier but without proficiency bonus. You don't get proficiency bonus on damage rolls.
Ability modifier + Proficiency, so it'd be +4. ;)
BoldItalic wrote:
Ok I see,
But looking at the pre-generated character as an example (Fighter 1), He has a strength of 14 so his ability modifier is +2. However, in his skill list it says +2 for the Athletics (str) skill.
Does this mean if he had to make an Atheltics (str) check then would you use both the strength modifer and skill modifer to make +4? Or would you use one or the other for a simple +2?
~Dara
Is Athletics one of his proficient skills? If so, it should be a 4. If not, it'll be a 2, from soley the STR modifier.
Synjin wrote:
What is the fighter's Dex score/modifier? From the looks there I would assume black circle is proficient. AS stated above, the skills and weapons should be tallied with the proficiency and attributes already.
Darastrixx wrote:
Yeah any black circles filled in indicate that character has Proficiency in that Skill/Save. Your character is non-proficient in Athletics, so you'd roll 1d20+2 for that check.
Thanks very much guys! That has cleared it up nicely for me 
~Dara
I see a Excel Spreadsheet, is there one that has all the coding made to automatically configure the skills, etc...
Athinar1 wrote: