help with Understanding Tables - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

help with Understanding Tables

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
strikestorm
Sep 15, 2008 11:26:45 Hello , I look all over the web for this answer and yet to find it . So hopefully you all here can help me . 1d6 +1 what does it mean ? I assume it is some kind of damage modifier description for a item . What does the "1", "d" , "6" and +1 mean( note : i realize if what ever 1d6 mean +1 adds to it ). You can find tables and charts all over the web , but not one that I came across explain what it mean ( they all assume you know how to read that strange language).
#2
nightwalker450
Sep 15, 2008 11:50:24 1d6+1 = 1 six-sided dice and add 1 to the roll.

VERY new player? Welcome :D
#3
strikestorm
Sep 15, 2008 12:08:54 Yes I'm new , But that doesn't seem correct. In the chart i'm looking at i see all kinds of description's 2D4 +3, 1d10 + 4, etc .
Maybe you or someone else can explain it better .
#4
beaverbowman
Sep 15, 2008 12:14:04 2d4= 2 four sided die
1d10= 1 ten sided dice

the first number is always the amount of dice you roll. d always stands for dice and the last number is how many sides the individual dice have.

so another example would be 1d20=1 twenty sided dice
#5
strikestorm
Sep 15, 2008 12:18:34 Ok that make alot more sense strangely enough, But which example is better ? As this chart is about weapons. How do i go about telling which is better ?
#6
nightwalker450
Sep 15, 2008 13:57:39 You can figure average damage
1d4 = 2.5
1d6 = 3.5
1d8 = 4.5
etc...

If its 4th Edition, you should also take note of Proficiency bonuses. These make the weapon more likely to hit.

If its 3rd Editition, Crit Ranges, and Multipliers are what you should look at in addition. These make your weapon deal more damage on high rolls. 18-20 x2 means that if your 1d20 (20-sided dice) comes up 18, 19, or 20, you will deal double damage. A crit multiplier of x4, means that if your 1d20 comes up 20, you will deal 4 times the damage.
#7
saintkeeleon
Sep 16, 2008 5:47:43 Remember too, that some weapons take two hands to wield so you cannot equip a shield as well; you may end up trading a few points of damage dealt for a few points of damage deflected.

Welcome to the game!
#8
kaldo
Sep 16, 2008 8:43:49 Read Player's Handbook, whole book. You can find almost everything there if you read carefully... and also, take care about special weapon properties, like Versatile, Throwing or similar
#9
Shiftkitty
Sep 16, 2008 14:56:44 And if you see a power listing that it hits for 1[W] + Strength modifier, that means you do the normal damage for that weapon and add your Strength modifier (all explained in teh Player's Handbook). Likewise, if you see 2[W], then you do two times the damage for that weapon, plus any modifiers they tell you to add. the same for 3[W], 4[W], etc.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 strikestorm Sep 15, 2008 11:26:45	Hello , I look all over the web for this answer and yet to find it . So hopefully you all here can help me . 1d6 +1 what does it mean ? I assume it is some kind of damage modifier description for a item . What does the "1", "d" , "6" and +1 mean( note : i realize if what ever 1d6 mean +1 adds to it ). You can find tables and charts all over the web , but not one that I came across explain what it mean ( they all assume you know how to read that strange language).
#2 nightwalker450 Sep 15, 2008 11:50:24	1d6+1 = 1 six-sided dice and add 1 to the roll. VERY new player? Welcome :D
#3 strikestorm Sep 15, 2008 12:08:54	Yes I'm new , But that doesn't seem correct. In the chart i'm looking at i see all kinds of description's 2D4 +3, 1d10 + 4, etc . Maybe you or someone else can explain it better .
#4 beaverbowman Sep 15, 2008 12:14:04	2d4= 2 four sided die 1d10= 1 ten sided dice the first number is always the amount of dice you roll. d always stands for dice and the last number is how many sides the individual dice have. so another example would be 1d20=1 twenty sided dice
#5 strikestorm Sep 15, 2008 12:18:34	Ok that make alot more sense strangely enough, But which example is better ? As this chart is about weapons. How do i go about telling which is better ?
#6 nightwalker450 Sep 15, 2008 13:57:39	You can figure average damage 1d4 = 2.5 1d6 = 3.5 1d8 = 4.5 etc... If its 4th Edition, you should also take note of Proficiency bonuses. These make the weapon more likely to hit. If its 3rd Editition, Crit Ranges, and Multipliers are what you should look at in addition. These make your weapon deal more damage on high rolls. 18-20 x2 means that if your 1d20 (20-sided dice) comes up 18, 19, or 20, you will deal double damage. A crit multiplier of x4, means that if your 1d20 comes up 20, you will deal 4 times the damage.
#7 saintkeeleon Sep 16, 2008 5:47:43	Remember too, that some weapons take two hands to wield so you cannot equip a shield as well; you may end up trading a few points of damage dealt for a few points of damage deflected. Welcome to the game!
#8 kaldo Sep 16, 2008 8:43:49	Read Player's Handbook, whole book. You can find almost everything there if you read carefully... and also, take care about special weapon properties, like Versatile, Throwing or similar
#9 Shiftkitty Sep 16, 2008 14:56:44	And if you see a power listing that it hits for 1[W] + Strength modifier, that means you do the normal damage for that weapon and add your Strength modifier (all explained in teh Player's Handbook). Likewise, if you see 2[W], then you do two times the damage for that weapon, plus any modifiers they tell you to add. the same for 3[W], 4[W], etc.