Can someone run me through a combat sequence involving 3 PCs and 4 goblins? PCs have martial weapons 2 have melee and 2 have ranged same for goblins. armor class for characters are all 15 and goblins are 16. just for reference. please go into as much detail as possible as I often get confused during combat as the dm with order of play and i want to use this as a "study materials"
First you have initiative by rolling dexterity checks for every one.
Then in order each creature can attack by rolling a d20 and adding the attack modifier (usually STR+Proficiency for melee, DEX+Prof for ranged) and if it is equal or higher than the target's AC it hits.
On a hit roll damage + damage modifier (the same ability used for attack roll, but not proficiency).
If a 20 is rolled it always hits and you roll twice as many dice, but add the modifier only once still.
A 1 always (just) misses.
Repeat for each creature.
There is also (dis)advantage and cover if you want to get into more. And spells and features you pretty much just follow what they say.
"STR+Proficiency for melee, DEX+Prof for ranged" is quite a generalisation a rogue using a short sword or dagger is very likely to be using Dex throwing a weapon like a javelin has to use strength.
There is a difference between a ranged attack and a ranged weapon. Ranged weapons can only be used for ranged attacks and usually fire a projectile. Firing a bow or crossbow uses Dex. Whiler by default melee weapons use strength, quite a lot have the finesse property, that allows yoou to use dex instead (you will nearly always use whichever ability is higher). The the weapon has the thrown proprty you can maker a ranged attack by throwing it, this would use strength unless the weapon also has the finesse property in which case you can use either dex or strength.
You can only add your proficiency if you are proficient with the weapon. Some weapons are more difficult to wield so can not be used effectivelty unless you havethe training to do so, this will come from from your class features or, occassionally, your race. Generally if you should only use weapons you are proficient in,
I realise that but enough creatures use Dex to attack melee that to say usually you use strength to attack melee might confuse a beginner because they have to. In the 3 PC v 4 goblins the poster mentioned the at least all the goblins will use dex to attack melee if not the players (though I admit to realise that you have to know how their +4 to attack is obtained)
I realise that but enough creatures use Dex to attack melee that to say usually you use strength to attack melee might confuse a beginner because they have to. In the 3 PC v 4 goblins the poster mentioned the at least all the goblins will use dex to attack melee if not the players (though I admit to realise that you have to know how their +4 to attack is obtained)
NPCs and Monsters use their own stat block, so deciding which stat to use with their abilities is irrelevant.
I realise that but enough creatures use Dex to attack melee that to say usually you use strength to attack melee might confuse a beginner because they have to. In the 3 PC v 4 goblins the poster mentioned the at least all the goblins will use dex to attack melee if not the players (though I admit to realise that you have to know how their +4 to attack is obtained)
Yes, probably 60% of players and 10% of monsters will use finesse weapons to use DEX for melee attacks. But again, I was only going over general rules (there is a lot of little details and exceptions in combat). I didn't want to rewrite the entire combat chapter and overwhelm them, and I have every intention of covering it later if they have a question about it.
You don't teach a first grade math class by talking about exponents.
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Can someone run me through a combat sequence involving 3 PCs and 4 goblins? PCs have martial weapons 2 have melee and 2 have ranged same for goblins. armor class for characters are all 15 and goblins are 16. just for reference. please go into as much detail as possible as I often get confused during combat as the dm with order of play and i want to use this as a "study materials"
I'd be happy to help as much as I can.
Combat in general is pretty simple.
There is also (dis)advantage and cover if you want to get into more. And spells and features you pretty much just follow what they say.
There is a lot of situational stuff, so go through this chapter and if you have a question ask. https://www.dndbeyond.com/compendium/rules/basic-rules/combat
thank you!
"STR+Proficiency for melee, DEX+Prof for ranged" is quite a generalisation a rogue using a short sword or dagger is very likely to be using Dex throwing a weapon like a javelin has to use strength.
There is a difference between a ranged attack and a ranged weapon. Ranged weapons can only be used for ranged attacks and usually fire a projectile. Firing a bow or crossbow uses Dex. Whiler by default melee weapons use strength, quite a lot have the finesse property, that allows yoou to use dex instead (you will nearly always use whichever ability is higher). The the weapon has the thrown proprty you can maker a ranged attack by throwing it, this would use strength unless the weapon also has the finesse property in which case you can use either dex or strength.
You can only add your proficiency if you are proficient with the weapon. Some weapons are more difficult to wield so can not be used effectivelty unless you havethe training to do so, this will come from from your class features or, occassionally, your race. Generally if you should only use weapons you are proficient in,
Yes. Generalized rules is the premise of my post. I'm easing them into it and didn't cover weapon properties or anything deeper than the basics.
I realise that but enough creatures use Dex to attack melee that to say usually you use strength to attack melee might confuse a beginner because they have to. In the 3 PC v 4 goblins the poster mentioned the at least all the goblins will use dex to attack melee if not the players (though I admit to realise that you have to know how their +4 to attack is obtained)
NPCs and Monsters use their own stat block, so deciding which stat to use with their abilities is irrelevant.
Yes, probably 60% of players and 10% of monsters will use finesse weapons to use DEX for melee attacks. But again, I was only going over general rules (there is a lot of little details and exceptions in combat). I didn't want to rewrite the entire combat chapter and overwhelm them, and I have every intention of covering it later if they have a question about it.
You don't teach a first grade math class by talking about exponents.