Emergency Rules Question! ARRRHGGGHH!! - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Emergency Rules Question! ARRRHGGGHH!!

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
kngdavid01
Jun 13, 2008 18:24:23 I should know this, I have all the books, yet I don't understand what this 1[W] symbol means on some of the damage descriptions in the player's handbook. I should know, but I can't seem to find any explanation. Some kind of damage, but I can't tell how much. Please help!!
#2
Zherog
Jun 13, 2008 18:36:13 It's an abbreviation for "weapon damage." 1[W] means you do one times the weapon damage; 2[W] means you do two times the weapon damage.

For example, if your weapon does 1d8, for 1[W] you would do 1d8 and for 2[W] you would do 2d8. And so on, of course.
#3
mircoles
Jun 17, 2008 12:29:24 They explain it on p.276 in the PHB under weapon damage dice.
#4
shivafang
Jun 18, 2008 23:32:09 Oh there it is!

I figured out what it meant by context (I'm not the OP for those that don't look at names =P). I would expect it to be under the 'hit' description of 'how to read a power'. Why did they put it all the way over there. *sigh*
#5
Novacat
Jun 20, 2008 3:53:28 The Hit entry defines what hits and what doesn't, not what happens on a hit. It's followed by the Damage section, so it shouldn't be too hard to find. It is kinda easy to miss if you're just skimming through. If I hadn't known what it meant before the books even came out because of the excepts on the Wizards web site, I might have been confused as well.
#6
shivafang
Jun 20, 2008 9:25:16
The Hit entry defines what hits and what doesn't, not what happens on a hit.

Considering the entry is called "How to read a power" and even gives examples with [W] in them (I'm on page 57, btw), you'd think that they would use this area to explain what [W] means. It only takes one sentance!

It does say "See "Attacks and Defenses," page 269, for how to make attack rolls, how to deal damage..." ok so we turn to page 269. It dosn't tell you how to deal damage there, instead step 5 of 'making an attack' tells you to go to 276 for the answer.

Have you ever been in a store and asked an employee where to find something, and they direct you to a part of the store. You still can't find it and have to ask another employee, and they point you somewhere else? Thats what this feels like.

I guessed what [W] means based on context (I didn't even read the 'reading a power') but I've been playing D&D since 3e debuted. I don't think the PHB is very clearly laid out. That's all I'm saying.
#7
Shiftkitty
Jun 21, 2008 1:22:32 I have to agree about the layout of the books. In the MM, they have the "recharge" listing for some monster powers followed by icons of dice with various faces up. Took me awhile to track down what it meant, although I had guessed it. A comprehensive powers index would have been nice, too. One more thing, it would have been better for them to put the powers on the front of the character sheet, since they're going to be referred to a lot more often than "Race Features" "Class/Path/Destiny Features", and "Languages Known". During our first 4e sessions, they were complaining that they weren't hitting hard enough. "Out of sight, out of mind", they kept forgetting about the powers because they're on the back of the sheet. If there's a fan-made one with a sensible layout, could someone please direct me to it? Meanwhile, I guess I need power cards!
#8
josheva
Jun 24, 2008 13:45:48 The number is a coefficient. The "[W]" is a variable that denotes the damage dice of your weapon.

If you are weilding a 2d6 damage weapon:
1[W] = 2d6 damage
2[W] = 4d6 damage

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 kngdavid01 Jun 13, 2008 18:24:23	I should know this, I have all the books, yet I don't understand what this 1[W] symbol means on some of the damage descriptions in the player's handbook. I should know, but I can't seem to find any explanation. Some kind of damage, but I can't tell how much. Please help!!
#2 Zherog Jun 13, 2008 18:36:13	It's an abbreviation for "weapon damage." 1[W] means you do one times the weapon damage; 2[W] means you do two times the weapon damage. For example, if your weapon does 1d8, for 1[W] you would do 1d8 and for 2[W] you would do 2d8. And so on, of course.
#3 mircoles Jun 17, 2008 12:29:24	They explain it on p.276 in the PHB under weapon damage dice.
#4 shivafang Jun 18, 2008 23:32:09	Oh there it is! I figured out what it meant by context (I'm not the OP for those that don't look at names =P). I would expect it to be under the 'hit' description of 'how to read a power'. Why did they put it all the way over there. sigh
#5 Novacat Jun 20, 2008 3:53:28	The Hit entry defines what hits and what doesn't, not what happens on a hit. It's followed by the Damage section, so it shouldn't be too hard to find. It is kinda easy to miss if you're just skimming through. If I hadn't known what it meant before the books even came out because of the excepts on the Wizards web site, I might have been confused as well.
#6 shivafang Jun 20, 2008 9:25:16	The Hit entry defines what hits and what doesn't, not what happens on a hit. Considering the entry is called "How to read a power" and even gives examples with [W] in them (I'm on page 57, btw), you'd think that they would use this area to explain what [W] means. It only takes one sentance! It does say "See "Attacks and Defenses," page 269, for how to make attack rolls, how to deal damage..." ok so we turn to page 269. It dosn't tell you how to deal damage there, instead step 5 of 'making an attack' tells you to go to 276 for the answer. Have you ever been in a store and asked an employee where to find something, and they direct you to a part of the store. You still can't find it and have to ask another employee, and they point you somewhere else? Thats what this feels like. I guessed what [W] means based on context (I didn't even read the 'reading a power') but I've been playing D&D since 3e debuted. I don't think the PHB is very clearly laid out. That's all I'm saying.
#7 Shiftkitty Jun 21, 2008 1:22:32	I have to agree about the layout of the books. In the MM, they have the "recharge" listing for some monster powers followed by icons of dice with various faces up. Took me awhile to track down what it meant, although I had guessed it. A comprehensive powers index would have been nice, too. One more thing, it would have been better for them to put the powers on the front of the character sheet, since they're going to be referred to a lot more often than "Race Features" "Class/Path/Destiny Features", and "Languages Known". During our first 4e sessions, they were complaining that they weren't hitting hard enough. "Out of sight, out of mind", they kept forgetting about the powers because they're on the back of the sheet. If there's a fan-made one with a sensible layout, could someone please direct me to it? Meanwhile, I guess I need power cards!
#8 josheva Jun 24, 2008 13:45:48	The number is a coefficient. The "[W]" is a variable that denotes the damage dice of your weapon. If you are weilding a 2d6 damage weapon: 1[W] = 2d6 damage 2[W] = 4d6 damage