Editing Damage

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{{Excerpt|Dice rolls|Damage rolls|subsections=yes|templates=SAI, InfoBlob, note}}
{{Excerpt|Dice rolls|Damage rolls|subsections=yes|templates=SAI, InfoBlob, note}}


==== Example ====
=== Example ===
A successful attack with a {{WeaponIcon|Daggers}} [[Daggers|Dagger]] does a base of {{DamageText|1d4|Piercing}} damage (1~4). This means a single four-sided die [[File:D4_Piercing.png|20px|link=]] is rolled to determine the damage, for a total of 1 to 4 piercing damage. Most weapons use a single damage die, but some two-handed weapons use two: a successful attack with a {{WeaponIcon|Greatswords}} [[Greatswords|Greatsword]] does {{DamageText|2d6|Slashing}} damage (2~12), rolling two six-sided dice [[File:D6_Slashing.png|20px|link=]] for a total of 2 to 12 slashing damage. Damaging spells typically roll more dice: for example, being caught in a {{SAI|Fireball}} will cause {{DamageText|8d6|Fire}} damage (8~48), though a successful [[Saving Throw]] can reduce it to half.
A successful attack with a {{WeaponIcon|Daggers}} [[Daggers|Dagger]] does a base of {{DamageText|1d4|Piercing}} damage (1~4). This means a single four-sided die [[File:D4_Piercing.png|20px|link=]] is rolled to determine the damage, for a total of 1 to 4 piercing damage. Most weapons use a single damage die, but some two-handed weapons use two: a successful attack with a {{WeaponIcon|Greatswords}} [[Greatswords|Greatsword]] does {{DamageText|2d6|Slashing}} damage (2~12), rolling two six-sided dice [[File:D6_Slashing.png|20px|link=]] for a total of 2 to 12 slashing damage. Damaging spells typically roll more dice: for example, being caught in a {{SAI|Fireball}} will cause {{DamageText|8d6|Fire}} damage (8~48), though a successful [[Saving Throw]] can reduce it to half.
=== Attacks ===
In order to damage a target when making an attack, creatures must first make an attack roll. Attack rolls are rolled against the target's AC. If the attempt is successful, the attack ''hit'', and the attacker rolls for damage. If the result was less than the target AC, the attack was a ''miss''.
==== Attack roll modifiers ====
{{Excerpt|Dice rolls|Attack roll modifiers|templates=SAI, InfoBlob, note}}
==== Critical hits ====
{{Excerpt|Dice rolls|Critical hits|templates=SAI, InfoBlob, note}}


== Damage types ==
== Damage types ==
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</gallery>
</gallery>


Bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage are sometimes collectively referred to as {{DamageColor|Physical|'''Physical damage'''}}. Almost all weapons, melee or ranged, deal one of the physical damage types, although there are exceptions such as the [[Ne'er Misser]].
Bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage are sometimes collectively referred to as '''Physical damage'''.
 
The wiki sometimes uses the term {{DamageColor|Physical|'''Weapon damage'''}} when the type of damage is based on the ''primary'' damage type of the weapon being used. This is almost always one of the physical damage types, but can be something else in rare cases. For example, after casting [[Hunter's Mark]] on an enemy, an attack with most longswords would deal additional slashing damage, and an attack with most hand crossbows would deal additional piercing damage. However, an attack with the [[Ne'er Misser]] would deal additional force damage, because the Ne'er Misser uses force as its primary damage type. Another example would be using [[Sneak Attack (Melee)|Sneak Attack]] with a [[Flame Blade (weapon)|Flame Blade]] or [[Shadow Blade (weapon)|Shadow Blade]], which would make the sneak attack deal fire or psychic damage, respectively.


If a source of damage mixes different sizes of dice or damage types, they will be listed separately with a plus sign between them, e.g. {{DamageText|1d8|piercing}} + {{DamageText|1d4|fire}}. Each type is dealt separately, though see [[damage mechanics]] for more details.
If a source of damage mixes different sizes of dice or damage types, they will be listed separately with a plus sign between them, e.g. {{DamageText|1d8|piercing}} + {{DamageText|1d4|fire}}. Each type is dealt separately, though see [[damage mechanics]] for more details.
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Note that due to the mathematics of dice rolls, the difference between, say, 1d8 and 2d4 is more than just the higher minimum value of 2 on the 2d4 roll. With the d8, you have an equal chance of getting, say, a 5 and an 8.  On the other hand, the 2d4 roll is statistically more likely to lead to a total value of 5, than a total value of 8. This is most easily explained with a table of all possible outcomes:
Note that due to the mathematics of dice rolls, the difference between, say, 1d8 and 2d4 is more than just the higher minimum value of 2 on the 2d4 roll. With the d8, you have an equal chance of getting, say, a 5 and an 8.  On the other hand, the 2d4 roll is statistically more likely to lead to a total value of 5, than a total value of 8. This is most easily explained with a table of all possible outcomes:


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width: 15em;"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Possible results of a 2d4 roll, highlighting the outcomes resulting in a total value of 5
|+ Possible results of a 2d4 roll, highlighting the number of possibilities resulting in a total value of 5
|-
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="2" | +
! First roll !! Second roll !! Total value
! colspan="4" scope="col" | 2<sup>nd</sup> roll  
|-
|-
! scope="col" | '''1'''
| 1 || 1 || 2
! scope="col" | '''2'''
|-   
! scope="col" | '''3'''
| 1 || 2 || 3
! scope="col" | '''4'''
|-   
|-
| 1 || 3 || 4
! rowspan="4" scope="row" | '''1<sup>st</sup> roll'''
|-   
! scope="row" | '''1'''  
| 1 || 4 || {{color|red|'''5'''}}
| 2 || 3 || 4 || {{colour|red|'''5'''}}
|-   
| 2 || 1 || 3
|-   
| 2 || 2 || 4
|-   
| 2 || 3 || {{color|red|'''5'''}}
|-  
| 2 || 4 || 6
|-   
| 3 || 1 || 4
|-   
| 3 || 2 || {{color|red|'''5'''}}
|-   
| 3 || 3 || 6
|-   
| 3 || 4 || 7
|-   
| 4 || 1 || {{color|red|'''5'''}}
|-     
|-     
! scope="row" | '''2'''
| 4 || 2 || 6
| 3 || 4 || {{colour|red|'''5'''}} || 6
|-     
|-     
! scope="row" | '''3'''
| 4 || 3 || 7
| 4 || {{colour|red|'''5'''}} || 6 || 7
|-     
|-     
! scope="row" | '''4'''
| 4 || 4 || 8
| {{colour|red|'''5'''}}|| 6 || 7 || 8
|}
|}


Notice how often the 5 appears in the possibilities for the '''total value''' (4 out of 16 possibilities) vs. how often the 8 appears (1 out of 16).  This means a 2d4 roll has a 25% chance of resulting in 5 points of damage, but only a 6.125% chance of resulting in 8 points of damage.  Meanwhile, the 1d8 roll actually has a higher chance of resulting in the maximum damage value of 8, since 1 out of 8 possibilities (12.5%) result in an 8. However, the average roll of 2d4 is 5 damage, while the average roll of 1d8 is only 4.5, because 2d4 can never roll a 1. Therefore, 2d4 is generally more consistent in damage output and will result in higher rolls in the long run.
Notice how often the 5 appears in the possibilities for the '''total value''' (4 out of 16 possibilities) vs. how often the 8 appears (1 out of 16).  This means a 2d4 roll has a 25% chance of resulting in 5 points of damage, but only a 6.125% chance of resulting in 8 points of damage.  Meanwhile, the 1d8 roll actually has a higher chance of resulting in the maximum damage value of 8, since 1 out of 8 possibilities (12.5%) result in an 8. However, the average roll of 2d4 is 5 damage, while the average roll of is only 4.5, because 2d4 can never roll a 1. Therefore, 2d4 is generally more consistent in damage output and will result in higher rolls in the long run.  


== See also ==
== See also ==
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