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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MoonSong" data-source="post: 6068076" data-attributes="member: 6689464">I'm more on the field "ranged attacks get no extra bonus damage from dex, except for thrown weapons which do from str". Though I conisder 3rd edtiion got it mostly right in this regard:-All melee weapon attacks use Str bonus to hit and damage, certain weapons can be used with dexterity to hit but all melee weapons cause damage based on strength, no exceptions. (The only difference that I think Next has gotten right is to allow everyone to use dex with finesseable weapons without a feat, but using dex to damage looks wrong)-Thrown weapons use str bonus to hit and damage-Other ranged weapons use Dex to hit, but not to damage:** Use dex to hit with slings (I don't agree on the str mod to damage with slings though, it is completely unconsecuential, the only thing that affects the power wihich with a sling bullet strikes is terminal speed, which is affected by the length of the sling and the ability of the shooter, perhaps the only case where it is plausible to apply dex to damage)** Use dex to hit with bows, having a strength penalty results on a weakened shot, composite bows cause more damage since they concentrate more energy on the shot, but they need more strength to be used propperly (This is a good nod to how it works in real life, except that for real bows if you don't have the required strength to tense the bow you cannot use it at all, and if you aren't strong enough to tense it comfortably your aiming ability gets compromised)** Use dex to hit with crossbows, no bonus to damage. Strength is unconsequential to using a crossbow ( except that in real life having a low strength prevents you from reloading a crossbow, unless it has a reload lever to make your life easier -though it would take more time to reload, and it is very foolish adn dangerous to carry around a loaded crossbow-, and of course it affects your ability to aim when using a heavy crossbow, specially for more carefully aimed shots, unless it is partially stationary)However in order to have a simpler yet somewhat satisfactory core:-Melee weapons Str (or Dex) to hit, Str to damage -Thrown weapons Str to hit, str to damage-Ranged weapons Dex to hit, none to damage.It helps to balance the naturally safer nature of attacking at range with the more dangerous melee combat, and it gives an incentive for Dex based fighters and rogues not to dump Str. (As seen previously, Dex has a big tendency to become a godstat among mundane characters) Not ot mention the nod at realism (the only thing that makes a missile more destructive from other exactly equal is it's terminal speed, which is a result of the energy and force used to fire it -of course the landing spot of said missile is a nother big factor, but that is already abstracted away on the weapon damage roll and the attack roll, as informed by crtitical hits, no need to put it twice- most missile weapons fire using a very consistent amount of force, from bows, to crossbows, to guns)</blockquote>

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