4e rules help please

[Sorcerer Of Rhiannon]

Hi I have no idea if this is already answered somewhere in here but...
I am reading the PH and so far everything seems fairly simple (asids healing surges but thats a discusion for later). The problem I'v run into is the following.

Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage.
I may have missed the explination but i can not find anything to explain what [W] means.

Increase damage to 2[W] + Strength modifier at 21st level.
Now I take this to mean at 21st level damage increases to 2[W](whatever that means)

Miss: Half Strength modifier damage. If you’re wielding
a two-handed weapon, you deal damage equal to your
Strength modifier.
Please explain this. If I miss a target it takes damage anyway? As I read it it means that all i have to do is wave my weapon in the general direction of the enemy and he takes damage? :p:D

[Kordeth]

Hi I have no idea if this is already answered somewhere in here but...
I am reading the PH and so far everything seems fairly simple (asids healing surges but thats a discusion for later). The problem I'v run into is the following.

Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage.
I may have missed the explination but i can not find anything to explain what [W] means.

Weapon damage die.

Increase damage to 2[W] + Strength modifier at 21st level.
Now I take this to mean at 21st level damage increases to 2[W](whatever that means)

Correct.

Miss: Half Strength modifier damage. If you’re wielding
a two-handed weapon, you deal damage equal to your
Strength modifier.
Please explain this.

Exactly what it says on the tin. If you miss with the attack, you inflict the damage indicated.

As I read it it means that all i have to do is wave my weapon in the general direction of the enemy and he takes damage? :p:D

No, you have to make an actual attack roll against an enemy within melee range, and if you miss, he still takes damage anyways. "Miss" doesn't inherently mean "completely fail to even touch the target," it means "didn't roll high enough to penetrate the target's defenses." In the case of this particular attack, maybe your blow bounced off his armor but was still forceful enough to inflict some bruising, or maybe he dodged at the last second but you still grazed him, or maybe he blocked the blow but the effort fatigued him. Attack rolls and hit points are abstracts, and you should describe the results however makes the most sense and is the most cinematically cool.

[Jonas Albrecht]

Yeah, now I have a question.

A lot of the druid powers say "Aftereffect:"

When does Aftereffect trigger?

[Fresh Ninja]

[W] is a placeholder for "the die you roll for your weapon's damage".

[Schwarzenegger]

Hi I have no idea if this is already answered somewhere in here but...
I am reading the PH and so far everything seems fairly simple (asids healing surges but thats a discusion for later). The problem I'v run into is the following.

Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage.
I may have missed the explination but i can not find anything to explain what [W] means.

Player's Handbook, page 219 under "Reading the Weapon Tables". It really should have been explained earlier in the book.

[Fallen Seraph]

W = Weapon. So say your weapon does 1d6. Then 1[W] + Strength = 1[d6] + Strength. 2[W] + Strength = 2[d6] + Strength.

Yup, you deal damage. HP doesn't mean just straight on hits. It is what keeps you up and fighting, luck, fatigue, skill, resolve, etc. So a Hit on a Miss can be fatigue or a lesser hit, etc.

[Kordeth]

Yeah, now I have a question.

A lot of the druid powers say "Aftereffect:"

When does Aftereffect trigger?

PHB2 p. 219:

Aftereffect: An aftereffect automatically occurs after another effect ends. An “Aftereffect” entry is beneath the effect it applies to, which is typically in a “Hit” or an “Effect” entry.

A target is sometimes subject to an aftereffect after a save. If that save occurs when the target is making multiple saving throws, the aftereffect takes effect after the target has made all of them.

[Fallen Seraph]

Yeah, now I have a question.

A lot of the druid powers say "Aftereffect:"

When does Aftereffect trigger?
An aftereffect automatically occurs after another effect ends. In a power description, an “Aftereffect” entry follows the effect it applies to.

A target is sometimes subject to an aftereffect after a save. If that save occurs when the target is rolling multiple saving throws, the aftereffect takes effect after the target has rolled all of them.

[Jonas Albrecht]

Thanks Kordeth!

Damn PHB2 needs an index.

[Jonas Albrecht]

Hmm, okay. So...

Daily Implement, Primal, Radiant
Standard Action Area 1 within 10 squares

Target: Each enemy in burst

Attack: Wisdom vs. Will

Hit: The target is blinded (save ends).

Aftereffect: 1d10 + Wisdom modifier radiant damage.

Miss: 1d10 + Wisdom modifier radiant damage.


............................
The Aftereffect triggers once they make a successful saving throw?

[Sorcerer Of Rhiannon]

Exactly what it says on the tin. If you miss with the attack, you inflict the damage indicated.



No, you have to make an actual attack roll against an enemy within melee range, and if you miss, he still takes damage anyways. "Miss" doesn't inherently mean "completely fail to even touch the target," it means "didn't roll high enough to penetrate the target's defenses." In the case of this particular attack, maybe your blow bounced off his armor but was still forceful enough to inflict some bruising, or maybe he dodged at the last second but you still grazed him, or maybe he blocked the blow but the effort fatigued him. Attack rolls and hit points are abstracts, and you should describe the results however makes the most sense and is the most cinematically cool.

Ahhhhh Soooooo!!! Yes that makes far more sence. Thanks!!!

[Sorcerer Of Rhiannon]

Player's Handbook, page 219 under "Reading the Weapon Tables". It really should have been explained earlier in the book.

Yes they should have. Thanks!!!!

[Flawless Glory of Silence]

Hmm, okay. So...

Daily Implement, Primal, Radiant
Standard Action Area 1 within 10 squares

Target: Each enemy in burst

Attack: Wisdom vs. Will

Hit: The target is blinded (save ends).

Aftereffect: 1d10 + Wisdom modifier radiant damage.

Miss: 1d10 + Wisdom modifier radiant damage.


............................
The Aftereffect triggers once they make a successful saving throw?

Correct.

[Jonas Albrecht]

Hooray!

[Sorcerer Of Rhiannon]

Ok one quick question. To clarify an item that is listed with a level say 5 that means to use it a character must be level 5. Right?

[Jonas Albrecht]

Ok one quick question. To clarify an item that is listed with a level say 5 that means to use it a character must be level 5. Right?

No, a character can use an item regardless of the item's level.

[Akodo Daimyo]

Magic item level is a rough estimation of the items power; you can obviously ignore it, it's so you aren't throwing out items that are either too strong or too weak accidentally.

[Topher]

Ok one quick question. To clarify an item that is listed with a level say 5 that means to use it a character must be level 5. Right?

Nope. A level 1 character can use a level 30 item if they get their hands on one. The item level is mostly there to say "this item is appropriate and balanced for a character of level x."

Most of the items you get as rewards during play are going to be between 1 and 4 levels higher than your character, if your DM is following the recommended treasure guidelines. Items characters make themselves with the enchant magic item ritual must be equal to or less than their own level.

Topher

[Sorcerer Of Rhiannon]

Nope. A level 1 character can use a level 30 item if they get their hands on one. The item level is mostly there to say "this item is appropriate and balanced for a character of level x."

Most of the items you get as rewards during play are going to be between 1 and 4 levels higher than your character, if your DM is following the recommended treasure guidelines. Items characters make themselves with the enchant magic item ritual must be equal to or less than their own level.

Topher

OK then!

[1of3]

Also a character cannot create a magic item of a level higher than his own.