Okay, so I thought I understood this pretty thoroughly, but I guess I'm missing something. As I understand it, when a PC makes an attack with a melee weapon with proficiency, they add their strength modifier and their proficiency to the roll. So, if you are a level two character with a +3 strength, you get a +5 to hit. And for damage, you roll the weapon's die and add your strength. So, if you have a standard shortsword you roll your d6 and add 3 for your strength modifier. Does that sound right? Have I been doing this wrong all this time?
Here's why I'm questioning: We have a new-to-tabletop guy using a pregen Wood Elf Ranger from the official wizards DnD site. His strength is 12, so that's a +1. He has proficiency with his shortsword, so he gets his +2 bonus. He gets no other bonuses to melee attacks (his fighting style is archery, where he gets a +2 on ranged weapons). The pregen sheet shows his shortsword attack as having a +5, and his damage as being 1d6+3. What am I missing here? The rules say you just add your ability modifer, so it shouldbe 1d6+1.
I've been pouring over this sheet trying to find where the extra bonuses come from, and the only thing I can figure is that either the sheet is wrong and this is just a typo, or I'm misunderstanding this basic rule.
Edit: The Longbow attack adds up to what I'd expect: Dex modifier is +3, prof bonus is +2, and fighting style: Archery gives another +2. The sheet specifies an attack with the longbow gives a +7 bonus to hit, and 1d8+3 damage.
Shortsword has the Finesse property, which allows you to use either Strength or Dexterity for attack and damage rolls.
Holy crap. Thanks filcat. I totally forgot about finesse. Dude, I've been going nuts over this. I feel you like just scratched that itch in the middle of my back that I just couldn't get to no matter how hard I tried :) I feel a little like a dumbass, but the relief of knowing is greater than the shame of dumbassery lol
Okay, so I thought I understood this pretty thoroughly, but I guess I'm missing something. As I understand it, when a PC makes an attack with a melee weapon with proficiency, they add their strength modifier and their proficiency to the roll. So, if you are a level two character with a +3 strength, you get a +5 to hit. And for damage, you roll the weapon's die and add your strength. So, if you have a standard shortsword you roll your d6 and add 3 for your strength modifier. Does that sound right? Have I been doing this wrong all this time?
Here's why I'm questioning: We have a new-to-tabletop guy using a pregen Wood Elf Ranger from the official wizards DnD site. His strength is 12, so that's a +1. He has proficiency with his shortsword, so he gets his +2 bonus. He gets no other bonuses to melee attacks (his fighting style is archery, where he gets a +2 on ranged weapons). The pregen sheet shows his shortsword attack as having a +5, and his damage as being 1d6+3. What am I missing here? The rules say you just add your ability modifer, so it shouldbe 1d6+1.
I've been pouring over this sheet trying to find where the extra bonuses come from, and the only thing I can figure is that either the sheet is wrong and this is just a typo, or I'm misunderstanding this basic rule.
Edit: The Longbow attack adds up to what I'd expect: Dex modifier is +3, prof bonus is +2, and fighting style: Archery gives another +2. The sheet specifies an attack with the longbow gives a +7 bonus to hit, and 1d8+3 damage.
Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.
Shortsword has the Finesse property, which allows you to use either Strength or Dexterity for attack and damage rolls.
Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.
Oh man do not worry, that is what the forum is for;-)
Oh hey, you're a moderator now! Cool! You definitely deserve it. Thanks for all your help here and everywhere else!
Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.