Don't know if anyone answered or if you've figured it out, but the +4 is the monster's "to hit" bonus. When you roll the d20 to attack, you add 4 to the roll to try and beat the opponent's armor class. Its generally found by adding the monster's strength or dexterity modifier with its proficiency bonus. In this case, the bugbear has 15 strength for a +2 modifier, and a +2 proficiency bonus for a total of +4.

bugbear

Quote from 201d >>

So... 2d8+2 damage for the Morningstar? A regular morningstar does 1d8 damage.

I'm guessing this is not an error (it'd have come up a long time ago) but... How do I explain to a fighter who just looted this morningstar that it's only going to do half the damage in his capable hands?

 The Bugbear gets a feature that lets it roll 2x dice with a melee weapon (as noted in the stat block).

Bugbear has brute and it automatically adds the extra die for you

It's not even an extra d8, it's an extra dice of damage (so a greataxe would deal 2d12). These creatures a dangerous (and fun to play when combined with a Barbarian)

Had one of these and a pack of three or four goblins in our very first encounter. All level 1, and despite my artificer turning out relatively tanky, it just domed me in one hit. Average 11 damage would be a lot more balanced against a level 2 party most definitely. Brute alone makes this guy put out a lot of damage. Definitely do let your players figure out their balance at least beforehand, all you need is one unlucky roll against a wizard or sorcerer for someone to have to roll a new character.

Would Bugbears's lead goblins?

bugbears, am i right?

If it helps, I'm actually making homebrew specialist goblins and bugbears (hobgoblins have enough already) to fill those rules. So far I've got goblins whips (clerics) and I'm working on paladins called Hands of Hruggek. 

What kind of damage is the Surprise Attack damage? Same type as the weapon or source of the damage, I assume? 

Yeah

Read the stat block?

Bugbear tried to kill us...

So we went into this cave thing cause Dr. Spider asked us to and then this bugbear king made us eat bad food (we threw it out). Now the bugbear is angry.. So yeah.

Holy man! Dude that bugbear was so amazing! 

Act 1 haos Contestir Volume 1. Chapter 9th 

New enemies:

"Acrane Mage Bug Wizard." (Mage Type - Goblinoid)

"Undead Bugbear." (Zombie Goblinoid)

definitely my favorite species to play with a barbarian

Could you flavor a bug bear as a lobster

just started a game with friends bugbears appeared the8nformation here helps me immerse into the game