Also, would anyone be willing to help me with further questions?
Edit: Halfling Rogue using a Dagger
And I'd be more than willing to help you with any other questions, man. Just post them in this thread, or PM me. Either's good
.Edit: Halfling Rogue using a Dagger
Ok, here's how you work it out for a Halfing Rogue using a dagger. I'll start with the Rogue at level 1, and no magical equipment.
Basically it goes like this:
Ability Modifier + 1/2 level + enhancement bonuses (from magical weapons) + weapon proficeny bonus (given in Chapter 7 of the PHB in the basic weapon tables) + other bonuses.
So let's say you have an 18 in your ability score that you're using to attack. That's a +4 modifier.
So your + to hit would be:
4 (Ability score) + 0 (1/2 level rounded down) + 0 (it's not a magical dagger, so it has no enhancment bonus) + 3 (Proficiency bonus of a dagger) +1 (Rouges get a special class ability that gives them a +1 bonus on attack rolls when they use daggers).
So, 4+0+0+3+1= +8 to hit.
If the rogue were level 2, that bonus would increase to +9, since your "1/2 level bonus" is now at +1.
Also, at level 2, if you pick up a +1 magical dagger, that gives you a +1 enhancement bonus to your attack rolls, so your bonus would then increase to +10.
Make much sense?
No, I mean when I make attack rolls against a target... the AC check. Say I roll a 4 on a d20 and add my DEX modifier, which would make it 7. How do I know how much to add from my weapon? I've seen numerous references to short swords having a +7 to AC rolls and I'm confused about this. I'm also pretty sure that most weapons do have a bonus to attack rolls against AC. If I'm wrong, please tell me.
Weapons give bonuses to attack rolls, and attack rolls are rolled against a defence. So, that +7 vs AC is called an attack roll, not an AC check.
You know how much of a bonus a weapon gives from the weapon table in the PHB. The table can be found on Page 218. The bonus listed under the "Prof." heading is a bonus you add to your attack rolls if you're proficient with the weapon. So, a dagger would give a +3 bonus to attack rolls, and so would a long sword, but a handaxe would only grant a +2 bonus on attack rolls.
To use your example of a Shortsword having a +7 attack bonus, this is possible. When you're making an attack roll, you always use an ability modifier. So if the power you're using says "Dexterity vs Reflex", you roll a d20, add your Dexterity modifier (and half your level rounded down) and compare it to your opponents static reflex defence.
If your dexterity is 18, you'll have an ability modifier of +4. Add the shortswords profiency bonus, and you end up with a total of +7 to hit, as you've heard.
Yes, thank you. But I have the Weapon Focus for Light Blades as my first feat. Wouldn't that add another +1?
Not to the attack roll, that would be added to the damage roll.
Yes, thank you. But I have the Weapon Focus for Light Blades as my first feat. Wouldn't that add another +1?
[EDIT] Ok, I need to read weapon focus. It doesn't add to your attack rolls, but it DOES add to your damage rolls.[/EDIT]
(Note that I'm assuming you have an 18 in your dexterity score. If, for example, you only have 17 or 16, the ability modifier bonus would go down to +3).
AC is a defense, there is no roll involved.
Attack roll is made against the AC defense to determine if you hit or not.
Weapons have a prof score, this is the proficiency bonus to your Attack roll.
Magic weapons have an enhancement bonus which applies to both Attack and Damage rolls.
Attack rolls are modified by anything that has a + or - to Attack rolls as part of there description.
http://www.zshare.net/download/59539043676de941/
You can download it here:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/insider/characterbuilder
Also, since I have weapon focus, do I get the proficiency bonus to my dagger?
You get your proficiency bonus from what weapons your trained in for your class and if you take weapon proficiency feats. The weapon focus just gives a +1 (an additional +2 per tier) to your damage roll.
Yes, I have the character builder, but making my own seems like more fun.
Well it is even if you prefer making it by hand a good way to compare your math to make sure you got it all right by duplicating your character in the character builder.
- Your AC should be 16, not 15. Leather Armor gives you +2 AC, and your Dex modifier is 4, giving you a total of 16. Same with Reflex, actually - your reflex should be one higher as well. You seem to be only giving yourself a +3 mod for 18 dex.
- In the Skills section, the box on the left is for writing in your TOTAL bonus, for ease of reference. If you want, just do what I do and write your racial +2s in the Misc. tab to the right. You would, in this case, have an Acrobatics check (for example) of 11. Here again, actually, you're only giving yourself a +3 Dex bonus.
- It's not listed, but to help you out - your attack bonus with your Rogue skills would be +8 (4 Dex + 3 proficiency + 1 rogue weapon talent) and your damage would be +5 (4 Dex + 1 Weapon Focus.) Bear in mind this is only for Rogue powers, as those go off Dex and not Strength.
Did you forget to take into account your +2 Dex bonus as a halfling? That could account for your +3 Dex modifier instead of +4 - perhaps you added in the racial +2 after adding everything else up?
http://www.zshare.net/download/59541451aee68e99/
Copy it, open the builder. Then go to import and it will have your PC, stats, weapons, attacks and all. Math done and all you need to do is pick a background if you are allowed to have one.
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&DI Character Builder ======
Merric, level 1
Halfling, Rogue
Build: Brawny Rogue
Rogue Tactics: Brutal Scoundrel
FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 15, Con 13, Dex 18, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 15.
STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 15, Con 13, Dex 16, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 13.
AC: 14 Fort: 12 Reflex: 16 Will: 12
HP: 25 Surges: 7 Surge Value: 6
TRAINED SKILLS
Stealth +9, Thievery +11, Dungeoneering +6, Perception +6, Acrobatics +11, Athletics +7
UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana, Bluff +2, Diplomacy +2, Endurance +1, Heal +1, History, Insight +1, Intimidate +2, Nature +1, Religion, Streetwise +2
FEATS
Level 1: Weapon Focus (Light Blade)
POWERS
Rogue at-will 1: Piercing Strike
Rogue at-will 1: Riposte Strike
Rogue encounter 1: Torturous Strike
Rogue daily 1: Easy Target
ITEMS
Leather Armor, Dagger, Adventurer's Kit, Torch (5), Thieves' Tools, Shuriken (25)
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&DI Character Builder ======
I thought it was +9? Doesn't weapon focus apply to ATTACK rolls, not just DAMAGE rolls?
Nope, two different feats.
Weapon Focus adds to the damage roll and Weapon Expertise adds +1 to the Attack roll.
But you seem to be confusing some very basic game rules, which leads me to believe you've only just skimmed the book. To really understand the rules you should read the book. At the least read the section before races, how powers work, and read the combat section and read them thuroughly.
Once you have the rules down solid, you can thuroughly enjoy the game without having to ask small questions.
If after you have read the book better, if you still have questions, (everyone does at one point or another,) by all means, ask away.
I'm simply saying that because your initial post seemed to suggest not just mistakes but a lack of knowledge of the system. So I assumed you hadn't really read the PHB very thoroughly. My appologies of you have.
Reading Page 267 about Initiative will help.
Reading Page 275 about Defenses will help.
The entire Combat section about attacks and such will help.
Oh, and Page 11 has the "Three Basic Rules" but they're... really basic. :D
- Those are some high stats you have there. Would you be able to swap your Strength and Charisma scores since you're a Brutal Scoundrel? I doubt it, but you can always ask the DM.
- No Streetwise? While it certainly sounds cool on paper, Dungeoneering doesn't really have much going for it unless you intend to be in dungeons or underground a good deal.
- Toughness is a highly recommended feat at level 1. It effectively lets you live for another round.
- I suggest having the sheet state clearly that your daggers are considered to have +4 proficiency bonus and that your shurikens do 1d6 damage. It's easy to forget simple things like that in the heat of the battle, and looking up things in the PHB can hinder the pace of the game.
- Place Second Chance amongst your encounter powers. It'll help you remember it when you need it most.
- I don't believe you need that many shuriken unless they break like regular ammunition. However, feel free to keep 25 shuriken for style!
I read the book for over 5 hours last night... I do not just skim through things like this. I'm a newbie... you really think that we don't make mistakes? No matter how much you read on a subject, you can still make mistakes.
Amen to that.
I can't really add much to helping you with the rules, since others here have pretty much already done that. I did want to say welcome to the game! :D Happy to see that there are still so many people picking it up.
Just be glad that you didn't get introduced to it 15-20 years ago. At that time, there were a great many players who would have told you that your inability to immediately understand how to add up your attacks meant that you weren't smart enough to be allowed to play. I've heard the phrase "you must be this tall to ride" to explain that phenomenon more times than I care to remember.
If nothing else, the game has improved drastically in its mentality of inclusiveness, as opposed to exclusiveness.
But yes, welcome to D&D, Brenzil. I hope it brings you as many years of happy hobbying as it has many of us here. :D
P.S. - A fine class choice by the way. My first character was a rogue too (called a thief way back then), and they're a blast to play!