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Message: <blockquote data-quote="painted_klown" data-source="post: 6485405" data-attributes="member: 6785485">Please help me here. I am about to DM a game and just cannot seem to wrap my head around how combat works. I have read the PHB rules many, many times, but cannot get it to sink in my head as an understandable concept.I think I have partially figured it out, but am still up in the air about other things. I am mainly confused about the monster's attacks on the PCs.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 {melee or ranged}) + 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 REALLY 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.  (page 166 in the MM, or page 30 in 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. I am confused, because if the Goblin were to follow the same rules as the PCs, then shouldn't his attack roll be d20 + his STR modifier (-1) in this case?In skimming through the Monster Manual (Just got it today along with the PHB!!! <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /> ) I see some CRAZY HIGH "to hit" numbers for some monsters. For example Balor (page 55) has a "+14 to hit" listed for his two melee attacks. Shouldn't it be 1d20 + STR modifier (+8) in this case? If his attack roll is 1d20+14, then he is ridiculously tough, especially considering his AC of 19. That kinda means he essentially never misses, and is very difficult to actually hit. Unless, of course, I am mixed up here. Can anyone please explain "Combat for dummies"? Yes, I asked this question in my "running questions" thread, but still am not fully grasping it. I thought if I make a dedicated thread, then more people would see it, and hopefully chime in. My apologies for being so dense, but I have to get this figured out in preparation for next weekend. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f61b.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue    :p"  data-smilie="7"data-shortname=":p" /> </blockquote>

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