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Message: <blockquote data-quote="painted_klown" data-source="post: 6478172" data-attributes="member: 6785485">Ok all, I think I finally rolled up my first complete character a couple of days ago, and am now trying to learn exactly how combat works. I think I understand the basics, please correct me, or fill in things I am missing. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />1. Roll for initiative. This means everyone rolls a d20 + DEX Modifier. Then you order everyone from highest to lowest. Each monster group (of identical monsters) gets their own check.2. Movement by speed. Each square = 5 ft. (or)3. Attack. For attacking, the PC rolls a d20 + STR or DEX modifier (dependent on weapon type) + the appropriate proficiency modifier for the PCs level if the PC is proficient with the weapon being used. For example, a level 1 PC has a proficiency bonus of +2, so that will add to the total. If that rolled total adds up to be equal to or greater than the monsters AC, then you hit and roll for damage.Rolling for damage is done with the appropriate die for the weapon being used (d6, d8, etc), then you add the weapons ATK bonus to give you the total amount of damage the monster takes. If that damage is equal to or greater than the monsters remaining hit points, then the monster dies. If not, then the monster gets to attack the PCs once it's their turn in the initiative order. This is where I get lost. When the monster makes his attack roll, how do you figure out if he hits the PC?I think it's a d20 + their STR modifier or DEX modifier (depending on type of attack)? Not sure on this...is it the +X "to hit" number?To make this easy, I will use a Goblin from the free PDF:GoblinSmall humanoid (goblinoid), neutral evilArmor Class 15 (leather armor, shield)Hit Points 7 (2d6)Speed 30 ft.STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA8 (−1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 8 (−1) 8 (−1)Skills Stealth +6Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9Languages Common, GoblinChallenge 1/4 (50 XP)Nimble Escape. The goblin can take the Disengage or Hideaction as a bonus action on each of its turns.ActionsScimitar. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., onetarget. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) slashing damage.Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 80/320 ft.,one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.Goblins are small, black-hearted humanoids that lairin despoiled dungeons and other dismal settings.Individually weak, they gather in large numbers totorment other creatures.So, if a goblin was attacking one of my PCs using his Scimitar, would that be a d20 + -1?What does the "to hit" number represent? ie "Scimitar. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit" or "Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit" for our goblin buddy. Please help! I feel like an idiot, but I cannot figure this out. I have read the PDF over and over to try to get it, tried searching for the answer on youtube, google, etc. As a new player, I think having a sample Character Sheet with a breakdown of all of the boxes, and how to fill them in, would be VERY nice. Honestly, I am not 100% confident that I have correctly rolled up my character. I would also like to see a "how to read a stat block guide" of some sort. I think these two things would go a LONG way in helping to explain what we are looking at, when we are trying to determine "what is what".Anyway, I appreciate all of your help so far, and I hope I am not making myself look like too big of an idiot. I just want to know what I am doing as we have our first game session scheduled, and as the DM, I will need to know what I am talking about. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

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