Ability scores and attack bonus
Devast8or
a few questions on ability scores and attack bonuses (or is it boni?).
Ability Scores:
On the character sheet, next to the ability scores (on the right) there are
other numbers. I believe these are referred to as "modifiers" but what do
they modify? I took a look in the manual but it only has a chart that deals
with spells. What does the modifier mean for a score that's not related to
spells? In particular, I want to know if it's a horrible thing that my
wizard has a -1 on his strength (he has a strength of 9)?
Attack Bonuses:
In the character sheet there is a line that says To Hit:
+something/+something/+something (it's the one right beneath where your
equipped weapon is listed). What exactly are these numbers? I've been able
to work out that they are added to you attack roll (which of course is prety
obvious :). The things I don't understand are how it determines what number
to use, what determines what these number should be (except for your weapon
enhancement) and why there is different amounts of number on different
characters (my ranger/cleric has three numbers, but my wizard has only two)?
TIA for any help.
Devast8or
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John Twernbold
> On the character sheet, next to the ability scores (on the right)
> there are other numbers. I believe these are referred to as
> "modifiers" but what do they modify?
They modify a number of things, depending on the ability. For example your
DEX modifies your AC, your ranged weapon to-hit, and your Reflex save.
Furthermore, it also modifies all the skills which have dexterity listed as
their corresponding "Ability" in the Skills section of the NWN manual. For
example, both Hide and Move Silently list dexterity in their description,
so you'll use your DEX modifier when using these skills.
> In particular, I want to know if it's a horrible thing that my wizard
> has a -1 on his strength (he has a strength of 9)?
Strength modifies your "to hit" and "damage" of all melee attacks, the
"damage" of certain thrown weapons (e.g. dart), the amount of equipment
you can carry, and it modifies your Discipline skill.
> Attack Bonuses:
> In the character sheet there is a line that says To Hit:
> +something/+something/+something (it's the one right beneath where
> your equipped weapon is listed). What exactly are these numbers?
It sounds like it's the bonuses for each of the attacks you get per round.
All characters start out with a single attack per round, and the bonuses
increase as you gain levels. Once the base attac bonus gets to +6, you gain
an additional attack at +1. Once these bonuses get to +11/+6, you gain an
additional attack at +1, and so on. For example, a 13th-level fighter has
three attacks per round, and the base attack bonus for these are +13/+8/+3.
That means the first attack in the round as a base bonus of +13, the second
attack has +8, and the third attack has +3. If you're using a +1 sword,
then the +1 modifier is added to each of the base attacks bonuses.
> why there is different amounts of number on different characters (my
> ranger/cleric has three numbers, but my wizard has only two)?
Different classes gain base attack bonuses at different rates. Fighter-type
classes gain an additional +1 each level. Cleric-types gain more slowly,
with a total of +3 gained over about 4 levels. Wizards gain bonuses even
more slowly, about +1 every other level. You can see the entire base attack
bonus chart on page 179 of your NWN manual.
--
Bold
aka John Twernbold
jtwernbold (at) yahoo.com
Kish
>
> Hi all,
>
> a few questions on ability scores and attack bonuses (or is it boni?).
>
> Ability Scores:
> On the character sheet, next to the ability scores (on the right) there are
> other numbers. I believe these are referred to as "modifiers" but what do
> they modify? I took a look in the manual but it only has a chart that deals
> with spells. What does the modifier mean for a score that's not related to
> spells? In particular, I want to know if it's a horrible thing that my
> wizard has a -1 on his strength (he has a strength of 9)?
Your wizard has a -1 to attack and damage with melee weapons, a fairly
low carrying capacity...eh...lousy at forcing locks and using
Strength-based skills. : shrug:
>
> Attack Bonuses:
> In the character sheet there is a line that says To Hit:
> +something/+something/+something (it's the one right beneath where your
> equipped weapon is listed). What exactly are these numbers? I've been able
> to work out that they are added to you attack roll (which of course is prety
> obvious :). The things I don't understand are how it determines what number
> to use, what determines what these number should be (except for your weapon
> enhancement) and why there is different amounts of number on different
> characters (my ranger/cleric has three numbers, but my wizard has only two)?
First attack in a round uses the number on the left. Second uses the
next number, and so on until you run out of numbers.
That means your ranger/cleric has three attacks per round and your
wizard has two.
cavebear
>On the character sheet, next to the ability scores (on the right) there are
>other numbers. I believe these are referred to as "modifiers" but what do
>they modify?
Lots of things. Dexterity modifies AC, To Hit rolls for ranged weapons
and Reflex saving throws. Strength modifies To Hit and Damage rolls
for melee weapons. Dexterity can also modify melee To Hit rolls if you
have the Weapon Finesse feat and are using a light weapon. Wisdom
modifies monk's AC and all character's Will saving throw. Constitution
adds to hit points each level up and modifies your Fortitude saving
throw. Each skill is modified by an ability (Charisma modifies
Persuade, Intelligence modifies Disable Trap, etc.)
>In particular, I want to know if it's a horrible thing that my
>wizard has a -1 on his strength (he has a strength of 9)?
Not particularly. Strength mostly modifies melee combat rolls, and
wizards really shouldn't be hacking and slashing. :-)
>Attack Bonuses:
>In the character sheet there is a line that says To Hit:
>+something/+something/+something (it's the one right beneath where your
>equipped weapon is listed). What exactly are these numbers?
Each class gets one or more attacks per round. There are tables in the
back of the manual that detail the # of attacks per round for each
class. (Page 179 for all classes, monks have a separate table on pg
186.) For example, monks top out at 5/round, fighters at 4, clerics at
3, wizards at 2, etc. In addition, each class gets a base attack bonus
(BAB) that increases at each level. These are also detailed in the
back of the manual. BAB is further modified by STR or DEX, weapon
bonuses, whether or not you're using two weapons, etc.
The first number is your BAB with all known modifiers taken into
account. (Certain feat-related modifiers, such as the -5 for Power
Attack will only show when those feats are active. Also, I don't think
special bonuses show, such as extra AB against undead, etc.) Every
attack after the first is at a cumulative -5, so you should show
something like +10/+5 or +12/+7/+2, etc.
--
YAWNS (Yet Another neverWinter Nights fan Site)
http://home.attbi.com/~cavebear/
Devast8or
John Twernbold <jtwer...@remove-this.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9278B9C09F...@24.94.165.87...
> Devast8or wrote:
> > On the character sheet, next to the ability scores (on the right)
> > there are other numbers. I believe these are referred to as
> > "modifiers" but what do they modify?
>
> They modify a number of things, depending on the ability. For example your
> DEX modifies your AC, your ranged weapon to-hit, and your Reflex save.
> Furthermore, it also modifies all the skills which have dexterity listed
as
> their corresponding "Ability" in the Skills section of the NWN manual. For
> example, both Hide and Move Silently list dexterity in their description,
> so you'll use your DEX modifier when using these skills.
>
> > In particular, I want to know if it's a horrible thing that my wizard
> > has a -1 on his strength (he has a strength of 9)?
>
> Strength modifies your "to hit" and "damage" of all melee attacks, the
> "damage" of certain thrown weapons (e.g. dart), the amount of equipment
> you can carry, and it modifies your Discipline skill.
Ok, I see. Apart from looking at the skill descriptions, is there a place to
learn more about what the different modifiers modify? (What I mean is, I
haven't seen it written anywhere that your dex modifier is used for ranged
weapons for example. I already knew that, but I might be missing out on
something else :)
> > Attack Bonuses:
> > In the character sheet there is a line that says To Hit:
> > +something/+something/+something (it's the one right beneath where
> > your equipped weapon is listed). What exactly are these numbers?
>
> It sounds like it's the bonuses for each of the attacks you get per round.
> All characters start out with a single attack per round, and the bonuses
> increase as you gain levels. Once the base attac bonus gets to +6, you
gain
> an additional attack at +1. Once these bonuses get to +11/+6, you gain an
> additional attack at +1, and so on. For example, a 13th-level fighter has
> three attacks per round, and the base attack bonus for these are
+13/+8/+3.
> That means the first attack in the round as a base bonus of +13, the
second
> attack has +8, and the third attack has +3. If you're using a +1 sword,
> then the +1 modifier is added to each of the base attacks bonuses.
Ah, that makes sense. It also clears up another thing I've been thinking
about: what happened to your number of attacks per round I know form BG2? :)
> > why there is different amounts of number on different characters (my
> > ranger/cleric has three numbers, but my wizard has only two)?
>
> Different classes gain base attack bonuses at different rates.
Fighter-type
> classes gain an additional +1 each level. Cleric-types gain more slowly,
> with a total of +3 gained over about 4 levels. Wizards gain bonuses even
> more slowly, about +1 every other level. You can see the entire base
attack
> bonus chart on page 179 of your NWN manual.
No, page 179 in my manual is grey and says "Quick Starts". Probably because
it's the UK version (I think it is the UK version :).
Anyway, I found the table you're talking about, it's on page 157 and it's
full of spelling errors. In one single chart they have managed to misspell
Druid (spelled Druild), Wizard (spelled Wizars) and Sorcerer (spelled
Sorcere). Don't they proof this stuff?
>
> --
> Bold
> aka John Twernbold
> jtwernbold (at) yahoo.com
Thanks for clearing these things up for me.
John Twernbold
> Apart from looking at the skill descriptions, is there a place to
> learn more about what the different modifiers modify?
Unfortunately, all of that info wasn't included in the NWN manual. However,
it's listed in the 3rd Ed. D&D "Player's Handbook". It may also be
available as part of the d20 system; check out this page for more info:
http://www.opengamingfoundation.org/srd.html
> [snip UK/US manual differences]
Did your UK copy of NWN include the manual in .PDF format on the CD? I've
found that more helpful than the printed version when discussing the game
here in this forum since I can do searches, cut & paste, etc. In the event
your electronic version is also of the UK manual (or if you didn't get one
at all), you could probably find the US version of this manual online via
Kazaa, etc. It sounds like it would have fewer errors than the UK version,
and given the difference in page numbers for that table, I suspect the US
version may be longer, too.
It's a 2.8MB .PDF file, if you're going to look for it online.
Devast8or
printet one. But I found the US version for download on a website (and there
is no spelling errors in that chart in this one :)
Devast8or
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John Twernbold <jtwer...@remove-this.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9278C42625...@24.94.165.88...