2. Determine modifiers. The DM determines whether the target has cover and whether you have advantage or disadvantage against the target. In addition, spells, special abilities. and other effects can apply penalties or bonuses to your attack roll.
I'm wondering, when do you apply modifiers (+/-) to a roll and when do you assign dis/advantage? is there a modifier threshold? Like a +2 is okay, but a +4 should use advantage instead? Someone please explain this to me.
Thanks.
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Modifiers and advantage/disadvantage are two completely different things that are not interchangeable.
Modifiers are fixed values to add to a roll, for example, when you make an attack with a weapon you are proficient with, you add proficiency bonus + ability modifier (STR or DEX, depending on the case). If the DM says you have also advantage, you roll the d20 twice and take the highest value.
As a general rule in 5th edition, just about everything in game tells you how it works without you needing to cross-reference anything, and you don't have to assume anything, either.
Gone are the days of "it's raining, so -2, and it's windy, so another -2, but the target is standing still, so +2, and he's looking at a 78 degree angle away from you, so another +2, so..."
The overwhelming majority of "circumstance" is assigned by the DM as Advantage or Disadvantage.
Anything that would give a numerical benefit or penalty is granted specifically either by the basic rules (like Cover), or by a game trait (like a class trait or a spell).
So, the general order of things is: "what is your attack bonus (calculated by the relevant ability modifier and whether you have proficiency)? Is there a spell/ability that is affecting the roll (something like a class ability giving you +2 to ranged attacks, or a spell like Bless)? Do circumstances (or a game trait) warrant Advantage or Disadvantage?" That's it.
As above, you always add the appropriate modifier for your intrinsic capability (ability score) plus your aptitude on the task (proficiency, if appropriate). Dis/advantage covers all circumstantial effects outside of those, generally. Any exceptions, like cover, are explicitly defined.
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From the PHB:
I'm wondering, when do you apply modifiers (+/-) to a roll and when do you assign dis/advantage? is there a modifier threshold? Like a +2 is okay, but a +4 should use advantage instead? Someone please explain this to me.
Thanks.
::: Smellhole
::: It's better to have loved and lost than to never have had a good pair of speakers.
Modifiers and advantage/disadvantage are two completely different things that are not interchangeable.
Modifiers are fixed values to add to a roll, for example, when you make an attack with a weapon you are proficient with, you add proficiency bonus + ability modifier (STR or DEX, depending on the case). If the DM says you have also advantage, you roll the d20 twice and take the highest value.
As a general rule, if I remember right, dis/advantage is the equivalent to a +/- 5 to a roll.
For cover there's a few states you'll have to take into consideration:
Hiding behind something: 1/4, 1/2, full cover are modifiers that are added to the roll
Invisibility/darkness/fog cloud/etc: These are conditions that obscure visibility, these would incur dis/advantage.
Those are general states, but should give you an idea of how I work out when to use what.
As a general rule in 5th edition, just about everything in game tells you how it works without you needing to cross-reference anything, and you don't have to assume anything, either.
Gone are the days of "it's raining, so -2, and it's windy, so another -2, but the target is standing still, so +2, and he's looking at a 78 degree angle away from you, so another +2, so..."
The overwhelming majority of "circumstance" is assigned by the DM as Advantage or Disadvantage.
Anything that would give a numerical benefit or penalty is granted specifically either by the basic rules (like Cover), or by a game trait (like a class trait or a spell).
So, the general order of things is: "what is your attack bonus (calculated by the relevant ability modifier and whether you have proficiency)? Is there a spell/ability that is affecting the roll (something like a class ability giving you +2 to ranged attacks, or a spell like Bless)? Do circumstances (or a game trait) warrant Advantage or Disadvantage?" That's it.
As above, you always add the appropriate modifier for your intrinsic capability (ability score) plus your aptitude on the task (proficiency, if appropriate). Dis/advantage covers all circumstantial effects outside of those, generally. Any exceptions, like cover, are explicitly defined.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.