What does the first number represents in the damage section of some attacks?

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I understand most of what each number represents, but for example a Sahuagin Priestess 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?










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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!
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up vote
3
down vote

favorite












I understand most of what each number represents, but for example a Sahuagin Priestess 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?










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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
    41 mins ago












up vote
3
down vote

favorite









up vote
3
down vote

favorite











I understand most of what each number represents, but for example a Sahuagin Priestess 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?










share|improve this question









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I understand most of what each number represents, but for example a Sahuagin Priestess 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 damage






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edited 38 mins ago









David Coffron

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asked 44 mins ago









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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
    41 mins ago












  • 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
    41 mins 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
41 mins 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
41 mins ago










4 Answers
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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.






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    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.






    share|improve this answer





























      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.






      share|improve this answer



























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        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.






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          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes








          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

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          up vote
          5
          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.






          share|improve this answer
























            up vote
            5
            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.






            share|improve this answer






















              up vote
              5
              down vote










              up vote
              5
              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.






              share|improve this answer












              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.







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered 39 mins ago









              David Coffron

              25.6k287178




              25.6k287178






















                  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.






                  share|improve this answer


























                    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.






                    share|improve this answer
























                      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.






                      share|improve this answer














                      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.







                      share|improve this answer














                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer








                      edited 1 min ago









                      V2Blast

                      14.8k23597




                      14.8k23597










                      answered 39 mins ago









                      user48255

                      3675




                      3675




















                          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.






                          share|improve this answer
























                            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.






                            share|improve this answer






















                              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.






                              share|improve this answer












                              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.







                              share|improve this answer












                              share|improve this answer



                              share|improve this answer










                              answered 39 mins ago









                              ravery

                              5,0061841




                              5,0061841




















                                  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.






                                  share|improve this answer








                                  New contributor




                                  Connington is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                                    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.






                                    share|improve this answer








                                    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.



















                                      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.






                                      share|improve this answer








                                      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.







                                      share|improve this answer








                                      New contributor




                                      Connington is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                                      share|improve this answer



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                                      answered 39 mins ago









                                      Connington

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                                      111




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