#attack rolls

This is a little system I use for narrating attacks that miss. There is nothing explicitly stated on how an attack might miss, and it can be a bit confusing to narrate at times, so this is how I match up mechanics and narration of hits. 

If an attack roll is:

1 - Attackers hand slips, drops weapon, trips over, etc. Attack is negated and/or the attacker hurts them self. 2-10 - Attack is made, but misses the target 10+ Dex Mod (if not in heavy armor) - the defender dodges out of the way. This can be from a sidestep, duck, etc. 10+ Armor Bonus - the attack connects, but the defenders armor / shield protects them from the blow Each of these thresholds can be explained in a narrative way. 1-10 can be a comical failure, dex can seem like a Matrix Dodge moment, and armor bonus can seem like a very tense crashing of metal. 

There are also some edge cases, and while I think there are a lot of ways to go about them, here is how I deal with a couple of them:

rolling a 20 on a skill check isn’t an auto success. Some checks, players can’t win. Also, rolling a 1 on a skill check isn’t an auto fail (yea, it might fail more often, but rogues and bards get pretty dumb modifiers and rolling a 1 still might equal 11 or 12, which beats a medium difficulty DC). 

I get that it adds hilarity sometimes (and that’s ok when it’s crucial to the story or a player surviving), but stop letting players break physics because of a dice roll.

When the outcome of an action is uncertain the game uses a d20 roll to determine success or failure. These rolls are called d20 tests and they come in 3 kinds: Ability Checks Saving Throws and attack rolls. They Follow these steps

1 Roll 1d20: You always want to roll high. If the roll has Advantage or Disadvantage you roll 2 d20s but you use the number from only one of them the higher one if you have Advantage or the lower one if you have Disadvantage.

2 Add Modifiers: Add these modifiers to the number rolled on the d20:

The Relevant Ability Modifier

Your Proficiency Bonus if Relevant: Each Creature has a Proficiency Bonus a number added when making a D20 test that uses something such as a skill in which the creature has proficiency

Circumstantial Bonuses and Penalties: A class feature a spell or another rule might give a bonus or penalty to the die roll.

3 Compare the Total to a Target Number: If the total of the d20 and its modifiers equals or exceeds the target number it succeeds. Otherwise it fails. The DM determines target numbers and tells players whether their rolls are successful. The target number for an ability check or a saving throw is called a Difficulty class or DC. The target number for an attack roll is called an Armor Class or AC which appears on a character sheet or in a stat block.

Ability Checks: An Ability Check represents a creature using talent and training to try to overcome a challenge such as forcing open a stuck door picking a lock entertaining a crowd or deciphering a cipher. The DM and the rules often call for an ability check when a creature attempts something other than an attack that has a chance of meaningful failure. When the outcome is uncertain and narratively interesting the dice determine the result.

Ability Modifier: An ability check is named for the ability modifier it uses a Strength check an Intelligence check and so on. Different ability checks are called for in different situations depending on which ability is most relevant.

Ability Check Examples

Ability Make a Check to

Strength Lift push pull or break something

Dexterity Move nimbly quickly or quietly

Constitution Push your body beyond normal limits

Intelligence Reason or remember

Wisdom Notice things in the environment or in creatures behavior

Charisma Influence entertain or deceive

Proficiency Bonus: Add your Proficiency Bonus to an ability check when the DM determines that a skill or Tool proficiency is relevant to the check and you have that proficiency. For example if a rule refers to a Strength (Acrobatics or Athletics) check you can add your Proficiency Bonus to the check if you have proficiency in the Acrobatics or Athletics skill.

Difficulty Class: The Difficulty Class of an ability check represents the task's difficulty. The more difficult the task the higher its DC. The rules provide DC's for certain checks but the DM ultimately sets the info below presents a range of possible DC's for ability checks.

Typical Difficulty Classes

Task Difficulty DC

Very Easy 5

Easy 10

Medium 15

Hard 20

Very Hard 25

Nearly Impossible 30

Saving Throws: A saving throw (also called a save) represents an attempt to evade or resist a threat such as a fiery explosion a blast of poisonous gas or a spell trying to invade your mind. You don't normally choose to make a save you must make one because your character or a monster (if you're the DM) is at risk. A save's result is detailed in the effect that caused it. If you don't want to resist the effect you can choose to fail the save without rolling.

Ability Modifier: Saving throws are named for the ability modifiers they use: a Constitution saving throw a Wisdom saving throw and so on. Different saving throws are used to resist different kinds of effects as shown below.

Saving Throw Examples

Ability Make a Save to

Strength Physically resist direct force

Dexterity Dodge out of harm's way

Constitution Endure a toxic hazard

Intelligence Recognize an illusion as fake

Wisdom Resist a mental assault

Charisma Assert your identity

Proficiency Bonus: You add your Proficiency Bonus to you saving throw if you have proficiency in that kind of save.

Difficulty Class: The Difficulty Class for a saving throw is determined by the effect that causes it or by the DM. For example if a spell forces you to make a save the DC is determined by the caster's spellcasting ability and Proficiency Bonus. Monster abilities that call for saves specify the DC.

Attack Rolls: An attack roll determines whether an attack hits a target. An attack roll hits if the roll equals or exceeds the target's Armor Class. Attack Rolls usually occur in battle but the DM might also ask for an attack roll in other situations such as an archery competition.

Ability Modifier: Below shows which ability modifier to use for different types of Attack Rolls

Attack Roll Abilities

Ability Attack Type

Strength Melee attack with a weapon or an Unarmed Strike

Dexterity Ranged attack with a weapon

Varies Spell attack (the ability used is determined by the spellcaster's spellcasting feature)

Some features let you use different ability modifiers from those listed. For example the Finesse property lets you use Strength or Dexterity with a weapon that has that property.

Proficiency Bonus: You add your Proficiency Bonus to your attack roll when you attack using a weapon you have proficiency with as well as when you attack with a spell.

Armor Class: A creature's Armor Class represents how well the creature avoids being wounded in combat. The AC of a character is determined at character creation whereas the AC of a monster appears in its stat block

Calculating AC: All creatures start with the same base AC calculation:

Base AC=10 + the creature's Dexterity modifier

A creature's AC can then be modified by armor magic items spells and more.

Only one base AC: Some spells and class features give characters a different way to calculate their AC. A character with multiple features that give different ways to calculate AC must choose which one to use only one base calculation can be in effect for a creature.

Rolling 20 or 1: If you roll a 20 on the d20 (called a natural 20) for an attack roll the attack hits regardless of any modifiers or the target's AC. This is called a critical hit. If you roll a 1 on the d20 (a natural 1) for an attack roll the attack misses regardless of any modifiers or the target's AC.

Advantage/Disadvantage: Sometimes a d20 test is modified by Advantage or Disadvantage. Advantage reflects the positive circumstances surrounding a d20 roll while Disadvantage reflects negative circumstances. You usually acquire Advantage or Disadvantage.

Roll 2 d20s: When a roll has either Advantage or Disadvantage roll a second d20 when you make the roll. Use the higher of the 2 rolls if you have advantage and use the lower roll if you have Disadvantage. For example if you have Disadvantage and roll a 18 and a 3 use the 3 If you instead have Advantage and roll those numbers use the 18.

They Don't Stack: If multiple situations affect a roll and they all grant Advantage on it you still roll only 2 d20's. Similarly if multiple situations impose Disadvantage on a roll you roll only 2 d20's. If circumstances cause a roll to have both Advantage and Disadvantage the roll has neither of them and you roll 1 d20. This is true even if multiple circumstances impose Disadvantage and only 1 grants Advantage or vice versa. In such a situation you have neither Advantage nor Disadvantage.

1) How do I attack? aka WHY IS IT SO FUCKING COMPLICATED TO HIT A BITCH?

  Yeah, not joking with the "aka", bit. It can be really fucking complicated just to throw a punch, or swing a sword. So, I better take it slow. You too. read slowly, take notes, cross yourself and pray a Hail Mary, cuz this shit gets ridiculous.

First of all: you need a base attack bonus. When you choose a class, you'll see a chart. It shows up to... 20? levels, I think, and has all the basic stats of your class. It'll say "Base Attack Bonus", "Fortitude, Reflex, Will", some class features you pick up every level, and a number of spells chart if your class ever picks up spells. Everything else is gravy right now. Our mashed potatoes is that first one. The Base Attack Bonus, also called "BAB", or just "att bonus."

Every class has its own BAB. Fighters normally start with +1, but some classes start at +0, so make sure you check. It also might not increase EVERY level, so keep an eye on it.