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What does the first number represent in the damage section of some monster/NPC attacks?
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I understand most of what each number represents, but monster/NPC statblocks often have a number in the damage section before the damage roll in parentheses. For example, for a Sahuagin Priestess (MM, p. 264), one of her attacks looks like this:
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) piercing damage.
What does the 3 in "3 (1d4 + 1)" mean?
dnd-5e monsters damage
edited 17 mins ago
V2Blast
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up vote
3
down vote
favorite
I understand most of what each number represents, but monster/NPC statblocks often have a number in the damage section before the damage roll in parentheses. For example, for a Sahuagin Priestess (MM, p. 264), one of her attacks looks like this:
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) piercing damage.
What does the 3 in "3 (1d4 + 1)" mean?
dnd-5e monsters damage
edited 17 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
asked 1 hour ago
Xander
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Welcome to the site! Take the tour for an easy badge. Great first question. I edited it a tiny bit to fit in with the site (for example, you don't need to put the game system in the title). Look forward to seeing you around!
– David Coffron
1 hour ago
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up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
I understand most of what each number represents, but monster/NPC statblocks often have a number in the damage section before the damage roll in parentheses. For example, for a Sahuagin Priestess (MM, p. 264), one of her attacks looks like this:
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) piercing damage.
What does the 3 in "3 (1d4 + 1)" mean?
dnd-5e monsters damage
edited 17 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
asked 1 hour ago
Xander
162
New contributor
Xander is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I understand most of what each number represents, but monster/NPC statblocks often have a number in the damage section before the damage roll in parentheses. For example, for a Sahuagin Priestess (MM, p. 264), one of her attacks looks like this:
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) piercing damage.
What does the 3 in "3 (1d4 + 1)" mean?
dnd-5e monsters damage
dnd-5e monsters damage
edited 17 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
asked 1 hour ago
Xander
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edited 17 mins ago
V2Blast
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asked 1 hour ago
Xander
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edited 17 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
edited 17 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
edited 17 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
14.8k23597
asked 1 hour ago
Xander
162
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Xander is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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asked 1 hour ago
Xander
162
asked 1 hour ago
Xander
162
162
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Xander is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor
Xander is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Xander is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Welcome to the site! Take the tour for an easy badge. Great first question. I edited it a tiny bit to fit in with the site (for example, you don't need to put the game system in the title). Look forward to seeing you around!
– David Coffron
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
1
Welcome to the site! Take the tour for an easy badge. Great first question. I edited it a tiny bit to fit in with the site (for example, you don't need to put the game system in the title). Look forward to seeing you around!
– David Coffron
1 hour ago
1
1
Welcome to the site! Take the tour for an easy badge. Great first question. I edited it a tiny bit to fit in with the site (for example, you don't need to put the game system in the title). Look forward to seeing you around!
– David Coffron
1 hour ago
Welcome to the site! Take the tour for an easy badge. Great first question. I edited it a tiny bit to fit in with the site (for example, you don't need to put the game system in the title). Look forward to seeing you around!
– David Coffron
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
It represents average damage
The Introduction to the Monster Manual discusses how to read the damage of attacks in the stat block:
Hit. Any damage dealt or other effects that occur as a result of an attack hitting a target are described after the “Hit†notation. You have the option of taking average damage or rolling the damage; for this reason, both the average damage and the die expression are presented.
The average result of 1d4 + 1 is 3.5, which rounds down to 3.
answered 58 mins ago
David Coffron
25.6k287178
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
The 3 is the average damage.
Some DMs prefer to save time by using average damage instead of rolling every time. The average is calculated as you'd expect: ([min damage] + [max damage]) / 2, and then rounded down. In the case of your example, this results in (2 + 5) / 2 = 3.5. The 3.5 is then rounded down to 3 to get the average damage.
edited 20 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
answered 58 mins ago
user48255
3675
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up vote
1
down vote
The 3 is the average damage done by her bite (rounded down). Inside the parentheses is the formula for rolling damage.
1d4 (one four sided die) + 1: For possible values of 2-5. (2+5)/2 = 3.5.
Depending on the size of the encounter, you may choose to use average damage instead of rolling damage for every instance.
answered 58 mins ago
ravery
5,0061841
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
That 3 represents the average value of the damage roll; i.e. on average if you roll 1d4+1 you'll get 3. It's for simplicity's sake and you can use it if you want less randomness as a DM.
answered 58 mins ago
Connington
111
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Connington is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
It represents average damage
The Introduction to the Monster Manual discusses how to read the damage of attacks in the stat block:
Hit. Any damage dealt or other effects that occur as a result of an attack hitting a target are described after the “Hit†notation. You have the option of taking average damage or rolling the damage; for this reason, both the average damage and the die expression are presented.
The average result of 1d4 + 1 is 3.5, which rounds down to 3.
answered 58 mins ago
David Coffron
25.6k287178
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
It represents average damage
The Introduction to the Monster Manual discusses how to read the damage of attacks in the stat block:
Hit. Any damage dealt or other effects that occur as a result of an attack hitting a target are described after the “Hit†notation. You have the option of taking average damage or rolling the damage; for this reason, both the average damage and the die expression are presented.
The average result of 1d4 + 1 is 3.5, which rounds down to 3.
answered 58 mins ago
David Coffron
25.6k287178
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
up vote
6
down vote
It represents average damage
The Introduction to the Monster Manual discusses how to read the damage of attacks in the stat block:
Hit. Any damage dealt or other effects that occur as a result of an attack hitting a target are described after the “Hit†notation. You have the option of taking average damage or rolling the damage; for this reason, both the average damage and the die expression are presented.
The average result of 1d4 + 1 is 3.5, which rounds down to 3.
answered 58 mins ago
David Coffron
25.6k287178
It represents average damage
The Introduction to the Monster Manual discusses how to read the damage of attacks in the stat block:
Hit. Any damage dealt or other effects that occur as a result of an attack hitting a target are described after the “Hit†notation. You have the option of taking average damage or rolling the damage; for this reason, both the average damage and the die expression are presented.
The average result of 1d4 + 1 is 3.5, which rounds down to 3.
answered 58 mins ago
David Coffron
25.6k287178
answered 58 mins ago
David Coffron
25.6k287178
answered 58 mins ago
David Coffron
25.6k287178
answered 58 mins ago
David Coffron
25.6k287178
25.6k287178
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
The 3 is the average damage.
Some DMs prefer to save time by using average damage instead of rolling every time. The average is calculated as you'd expect: ([min damage] + [max damage]) / 2, and then rounded down. In the case of your example, this results in (2 + 5) / 2 = 3.5. The 3.5 is then rounded down to 3 to get the average damage.
edited 20 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
answered 58 mins ago
user48255
3675
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
The 3 is the average damage.
Some DMs prefer to save time by using average damage instead of rolling every time. The average is calculated as you'd expect: ([min damage] + [max damage]) / 2, and then rounded down. In the case of your example, this results in (2 + 5) / 2 = 3.5. The 3.5 is then rounded down to 3 to get the average damage.
edited 20 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
answered 58 mins ago
user48255
3675
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
The 3 is the average damage.
Some DMs prefer to save time by using average damage instead of rolling every time. The average is calculated as you'd expect: ([min damage] + [max damage]) / 2, and then rounded down. In the case of your example, this results in (2 + 5) / 2 = 3.5. The 3.5 is then rounded down to 3 to get the average damage.
edited 20 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
answered 58 mins ago
user48255
3675
The 3 is the average damage.
Some DMs prefer to save time by using average damage instead of rolling every time. The average is calculated as you'd expect: ([min damage] + [max damage]) / 2, and then rounded down. In the case of your example, this results in (2 + 5) / 2 = 3.5. The 3.5 is then rounded down to 3 to get the average damage.
edited 20 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
answered 58 mins ago
user48255
3675
edited 20 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
edited 20 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
edited 20 mins ago
V2Blast
14.8k23597
14.8k23597
answered 58 mins ago
user48255
3675
answered 58 mins ago
user48255
3675
answered 58 mins ago
user48255
3675
3675
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
The 3 is the average damage done by her bite (rounded down). Inside the parentheses is the formula for rolling damage.
1d4 (one four sided die) + 1: For possible values of 2-5. (2+5)/2 = 3.5.
Depending on the size of the encounter, you may choose to use average damage instead of rolling damage for every instance.
answered 58 mins ago
ravery
5,0061841
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
The 3 is the average damage done by her bite (rounded down). Inside the parentheses is the formula for rolling damage.
1d4 (one four sided die) + 1: For possible values of 2-5. (2+5)/2 = 3.5.
Depending on the size of the encounter, you may choose to use average damage instead of rolling damage for every instance.
answered 58 mins ago
ravery
5,0061841
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
The 3 is the average damage done by her bite (rounded down). Inside the parentheses is the formula for rolling damage.
1d4 (one four sided die) + 1: For possible values of 2-5. (2+5)/2 = 3.5.
Depending on the size of the encounter, you may choose to use average damage instead of rolling damage for every instance.
answered 58 mins ago
ravery
5,0061841
The 3 is the average damage done by her bite (rounded down). Inside the parentheses is the formula for rolling damage.
1d4 (one four sided die) + 1: For possible values of 2-5. (2+5)/2 = 3.5.
Depending on the size of the encounter, you may choose to use average damage instead of rolling damage for every instance.
answered 58 mins ago
ravery
5,0061841
answered 58 mins ago
ravery
5,0061841
answered 58 mins ago
ravery
5,0061841
answered 58 mins ago
ravery
5,0061841
5,0061841
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
That 3 represents the average value of the damage roll; i.e. on average if you roll 1d4+1 you'll get 3. It's for simplicity's sake and you can use it if you want less randomness as a DM.
answered 58 mins ago
Connington
111
New contributor
Connington is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
That 3 represents the average value of the damage roll; i.e. on average if you roll 1d4+1 you'll get 3. It's for simplicity's sake and you can use it if you want less randomness as a DM.
answered 58 mins ago
Connington
111
New contributor
Connington is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
That 3 represents the average value of the damage roll; i.e. on average if you roll 1d4+1 you'll get 3. It's for simplicity's sake and you can use it if you want less randomness as a DM.
answered 58 mins ago
Connington
111
New contributor
Connington is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
That 3 represents the average value of the damage roll; i.e. on average if you roll 1d4+1 you'll get 3. It's for simplicity's sake and you can use it if you want less randomness as a DM.
answered 58 mins ago
Connington
111
New contributor
Connington is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 58 mins ago
Connington
111
New contributor
Connington is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 58 mins ago
Connington
111
answered 58 mins ago
Connington
111
111
New contributor
Connington is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Connington is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Connington is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
Xander is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Xander is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
Welcome to the site! Take the tour for an easy badge. Great first question. I edited it a tiny bit to fit in with the site (for example, you don't need to put the game system in the title). Look forward to seeing you around!
– David Coffron
1 hour ago