Damage: Difference between revisions

The base damage dealt by a [[weapons|weapon]], [[spells|spell]], class action or condition is usually determined by a ''damage roll''. Damage rolls are [[dice rolls]] made using the dice specified in the harmful source's description.

=== Notation ===

Damage rolls are expressed in the game using both dice notation: {{math|xdN + y}}, where ''x'' is the number of dice rolled, and ''N'' is the number of sides of those dice. ''y'' is the sum of all modifiers added to the damage roll.

 

The game also expressed damage using a range: {{math|a \sim b}}, where ''a'' is the minimum damage possible and ''b'' is the maximum damage possible.

 

Dice used when making damage rolls is usually any number of dice with a minimum size of d4 and a maximum size of d12.

 

When a creature deals damage,they make a damage roll and add any applicable modifiers to the results.{{note|Unlike d20 rolls, creatures normally do not add their [[proficiency|proficiency bonus]] to the results of their damage rolls.}} Modifiers are only added {{em|once}} per source, even multiple dice are rolled.

 

Damage rolls typically have an associated [[abilities|ability]], and creatures add their corresponding ability score modifier to the results of those rolls.

 

When making weapon attacks, the attacking creature's usually add their [[Strength]] or [[Dexterity]] modifier to the results of their damage roll.

 

Whether Strength or Dexterity is used depends on the weapon: usually Strength for melee weapons and Dexterity for ranged weapons.  The exceptions to this rule are [[Finesse]] weapons, which automatically select Strength or Dexterity, whichever score is higher; and [[Thrown]] weapons, which use Strength for both melee and ranged attacks.  If a weapon is both Thrown and Finesse, it uses the higher of Strength and Dexterity for both melee and ranged attacks.

 

 

* Using a [[Rapier]] (Finesse) for a melee attack uses Strength or Dexterity; whichever the attacking creature has a higher score in.

* Shooting a [[Longbow]] for a ranged attack always uses Dexterity.

* Throwing a [[Handaxe]] (Thrown) for a ranged attack uses Strength.

* Throwing a [[Dagger]] (Finesse & Thrown) for a ranged attack uses Strength or Dexterity, whichever is higher.

Whether it's Strength or Dexterity that ends up being used, the following table defines the value of the modifier:

==== Spells ====

Casters typically do not add their ability score modifier to the damage rolls of spells, unless a [[Features|class feature]] allows it. For example, [[Warlock|warlocks]] with the {{SAI|Agonising Blast}} Invocation can add their [[Charisma]] modifier to {{SAI|Eldritch Blast}} damage rolls.

=== 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 creature's [[Resistances|resistances]] determine what damage types is immune, resistant or vulnerable towards.

Damage dealt to resistant creatures is halved, whereas damage dealt to vulnerable creatures is doubled.

If a creature is immune to a damage type, they take no damage to it.

If a source of damage mixes different sizes of dice or damage types, they will be listed separately with a plus sign between them.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+ Possible results of a 2d4 roll, highlighting the number of possibilities resulting in a total value of 5

! First roll !! Second roll !! Total value

| 1 || 3 || 4

| 1 || 4 || {{color|red|'''5'''}}

| 2 || 3 || {{color|red|'''5'''}}

| 2 || 4 || 6

| 3 || 1 || 4

| 4 || 1 || {{color|red|'''5'''}}

| 4 || 2 || 6

| 4 || 3 || 7

| 4 || 4 || 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.