Am new back to DMing after too long a break (like decades!).
Question re Monster Stat Blocks.
According to the current Monster Manual a Zombie has Wis 6 (-2), and under Saving Throws it says Wis +0 (and I've seen various other examples like this).
So, er, huh?
If a monster needs to make a Saving Throw do you use the Ability modifier in all examples except where a specific Saving Throw exception is listed, and then use that in its place?
Or do you combine them to get a total figure? (Yes, in this example it would end up being the same, but if, for example, it has said Saving Throws Wis -1, does that replace the -2 against the ability score? Or would I add them together and get -3?).
If there's a ruling or explainer on this, great. Otherwise appreciate people's examples of how they do it.
The list of saves under saving throws replaces the basic stat modifier for saving throws in the 2014 monster manual. The 2024 MM has a separate column listing the ability score modifier and the saving throw for each stat.
The reason they are listed separately is that some monsters are proficient in one or more saving throws.
In the case of the Zombie stat block - it has a proficiency bonus of +2 and a wisdom modifier of -2. The listing for saving throws showing wis+0 is just showing the sum of these meaning the zombie has proficiency with wisdom saving throws so they add their proficiency bonus to the stat modifier the way any player character or NPC would do. This gives them a total of +0 modifier when making wisdom saving throws.
David42 is correct. I'll add that the skills in the stat block work the same way — the skills they are proficient with list their combined bonus (ability modifier + proficiency) and for other skills you just use the ability modifier.
I also had this question about zombies when I first started to DM, and a more seasoned DM offered this explanation as well as an insight. When these discrepancies occur reflect back to the creature. How he would look at it a Zombie is so non sentient that ideas of self don’t exist so any spiritual conflicts are null neither + or - it’s just mobile baser instinct and doesn’t make choices or decisions by itself.
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Hi DM brainstrust,
Am new back to DMing after too long a break (like decades!).
Question re Monster Stat Blocks.
According to the current Monster Manual a Zombie has Wis 6 (-2), and under Saving Throws it says Wis +0 (and I've seen various other examples like this).
So, er, huh?
If a monster needs to make a Saving Throw do you use the Ability modifier in all examples except where a specific Saving Throw exception is listed, and then use that in its place?
Or do you combine them to get a total figure? (Yes, in this example it would end up being the same, but if, for example, it has said Saving Throws Wis -1, does that replace the -2 against the ability score? Or would I add them together and get -3?).
If there's a ruling or explainer on this, great. Otherwise appreciate people's examples of how they do it.
Cheers.
The list of saves under saving throws replaces the basic stat modifier for saving throws in the 2014 monster manual. The 2024 MM has a separate column listing the ability score modifier and the saving throw for each stat.
The reason they are listed separately is that some monsters are proficient in one or more saving throws.
In the case of the Zombie stat block - it has a proficiency bonus of +2 and a wisdom modifier of -2. The listing for saving throws showing wis+0 is just showing the sum of these meaning the zombie has proficiency with wisdom saving throws so they add their proficiency bonus to the stat modifier the way any player character or NPC would do. This gives them a total of +0 modifier when making wisdom saving throws.
David42 is correct. I'll add that the skills in the stat block work the same way — the skills they are proficient with list their combined bonus (ability modifier + proficiency) and for other skills you just use the ability modifier.
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David42 is spot on.
I also had this question about zombies when I first started to DM, and a more seasoned DM offered this explanation as well as an insight. When these discrepancies occur reflect back to the creature. How he would look at it a Zombie is so non sentient that ideas of self don’t exist so any spiritual conflicts are null neither + or - it’s just mobile baser instinct and doesn’t make choices or decisions by itself.