Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Remnes Oct 17, 2014 0:34:04	Hi there, I have been looking though the stat blocks for the various monsters in 5e and keep comming across this notation I don't quite understand. It's always attached to a monsters attack, it's the part thats reads "+X to hit"   Here is an example:   Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage   I understand everything except that little "+3 to hit" part.    Thank you in advance.
#2 Goober4473 Oct 17, 2014 1:52:17	The to hit bonus is the number you add to the d20 roll to determine if the attack hits and deals damage. If the result is equal to or greater than the target's AC, the attack hits and damage is rolled. Otherwise, it misses.
#3 Danny_Montanny Oct 17, 2014 5:19:20	Just like the PCs, the + to hit bonus comes from the monster's proficiency and stat modifier.
#4 mellored Oct 17, 2014 8:09:11	1d20 +3 vs AC. So if a fighter was wearing ringmail (14)and a shield (2), he would have 16 AC.   When the creature attacks, it would need to roll a 13  (+3 = 16) or higher to hit the fighter.  Who would then take either 5, or 1d6+2 damage (depending on weather you want to spend the time to roll or not).
#5 Remnes Oct 17, 2014 11:40:36	Danny_Montanny wrote:
#6 Timborama Oct 17, 2014 11:38:51	Read the stuff in the beginning of the book or guide. It's all explained there (including proficiencies).   Or, alternatively, until you read/understand it, just trust the numbers (if only for the fact that monsters ARE NOT PCs!).
#7 mellored Oct 17, 2014 11:44:13	Remnes wrote:
(Reply to #6) Remnes	Timborama wrote:
(Reply to #7) Remnes	mellored wrote:
#10 OoftaMeg Oct 17, 2014 11:56:35	More detail about how bonuses are derived may be released in the DMG, but for now it's kind of a mystery.
(Reply to #9) Timborama	Remnes wrote:
#12 Danny_Montanny Oct 17, 2014 12:44:56	It doesn't seem to have anything to do with CR either. It seems to be all over the place, even just from looking at the two pages the Black Bear is on. A 1/8 CR Blood Hawk gets +4 to hit, and uses it's +2 Dexterity for damage. So that's 1/4th the CR of the Black Bear but it has a +1 better chance to hit. The Boar has the same to hit bonus as the Black Bear with less Strength and half the CR. It all seems almost arbitrary the way they figured the bonus. Maybe it's just for beasts, though?
#13 mellored Oct 17, 2014 12:53:07	There's other factors.  Like damage, flying, multi-attack, AC, hit points, or other special abilities.   i.e. +4 to hit; 1d4+1 damage vs 2 attacks  +3 to hit; 1d8+2 damage.   Dispite the lower to-hit, the second is more dangerous.
#14 Timborama Oct 17, 2014 12:54:29	Proficiency is based off of CR, with a few exceptions (it appears the bear is one of them) and not Hit Dice like older editions (though, interestingly, HD is a factor of CR!).   CR 0-1 are considered to have +2 proficiency
#15 Strill Oct 17, 2014 18:29:46	Danny_Montanny wrote:
#16 mellored Oct 17, 2014 18:39:22	It's semi-arbitrary. The chart is a guideline, not a mandate. If there's a reason to increase, or decrease it, then they do so.. Bears aren't known for their accuracy but rather thier enduranece. Hawks are known for accurate strikes if low damage. ect..