Additional Damage from a power...

[Kaledor]

This question came up in our last game, one player had been playing it one way the entire time, the DM never questioned, but then a new player joined and he had a different interpretation.

If a power has an additional effect that causes variable damage later in the round, would that power gain all of the traditional power bonuses the player is normally entitled to?

Take for instance the sorcerer power, Explosive Pyre:

Hit: 2d8 + Charisma modifier fire damage. Until the start of your next turn, any enemy that enters a square adjacent to the target or starts its turn there takes 1d6 fire damage.

Let's say the Sorcerer in question has a high Cha, a +2 magic implement, and a feat that gives them +1 to damage.

On their initial roll, they of course get every bonus to attack and to damage. But later in the round, when they are supposed to roll 1d6 for other creatures, would they get their +2 implement bonus? What about their +1 feat bonus? Obviously no Cha bonus here b/c it doesn't say so in the effect, but would all the other bonuses apply?



(And then the real bulk of the disagreement at our table) Would your answer change if the power listed a flat amount or a non-roll amount, like:
"The creature takes 5 fire damage." or
"The creature takes fire damage equal to your charisma modifier."



Just curious and looking for a consensus from the community.

 

[Kingreaper]

If you roll dice, it's a damage roll, you add all the modifiers.

If you don't roll dice, it's not a damage roll. Given as every damage bonus I can think of applies only to damage rolls, you don't add any modifiers.

 

[DracoSuave]

Pretty much this.

Damage rolls do not require attack rolls, necessarily.

If the damage is presented as a flat damage amount, it's not a damage roll, and you don't apply the bonus.

Arcane powers that apply damage rolls other than merely attack results are very potent as a result.

 

[Aulirophile]

Addressing these in reverse order, flat damage doesn't get a bonus that applies to "damage rolls" because you're not rolling damage. There is a minor issue there that I won't get into because I don't think it is RAI and it doesn't address your issue. ^.^ For the rest....

RC, bottom of page 222. "If a power has a bonus to a damage roll, all damage rolls in the power get the bonus."

Also the official FAQ on a similar power says yes.

5. With a power like Explosive Pyre do I add my implement bonus to extra damage rolled when and enemy enters a square adjacent to the target?

Yes, each time you for roll damage with an implement power you add your enhancement bonus.
​

 

[Kaledor]

That was how our sorcerer had been playing it, and how we (and the DM) understood it... but the new player had us questioning our resolve So, I figured I'd get the group's thoughts.

Thanks!

 

[Dalamar]

Note that in the case of the sorcerer, you do get to add your secondary stat to the damage (i.e. Str for dragon sorcerers). At least, that's what I recall, haven't actually played one yet, nor played with one.