[W] - What exactly is in it?

[hvg3akaek]

I cannot find the answer in the PHB, so if anyone can point me to the section I have missed, that would be great! My question relates to the various modifiers that can be added to damage. For instance, the most obvious is ability damage. (eg, Strength modifier). Others include:

• versatile weapon damage bonus
• two-weapon-fighting damage bonus
• weapon focus
• magical enhancement bonus

There may be more.

Anyway, which of these are included in the [W], and which of these are meant to be grouped with the ability modifier?


This is particularly important with some of the ranger's powers (which deal [W], with no bonus), but might apply in other cases, as well.


A normal attack of [W] + Strength would deal:

1d8 (longsword) + 3 (strength modifier) + 1 (TWF) + 1 (weapon focus) + 1 (+1 magical weapon)

= 1d8 + 6 damage


When used in the "twin strike" power, does it deal a simple 1d8, or are any of the "other" powers added to it?

If any of them are added, do they also get multiplied by 2[W] powers?



Thanks!


hvg3

 

[small pumpkin man]

All of them say "bonus to weapon damage rolls", so they all get added. None of them get added to the str damage of cleave or reaping strike. This is why twin strike scales so very well.

 

[theredrobedwizard]

None of those are included. From what I can tell, it's just the base weapon damage. (PHB page 219, Damage). "For example, a falchion (which has a damage die of 2d4) deals 8d4 damage when used with a power that deals 4[W] damage on a hit."

-TRRW

 

[NMcCoy]

1[W], alone, is just the weapon die. After you roll the number of dice the power specifies, add in enhancement bonus, weapon focus, and so on - everything that applies to "damage rolls". Pretty much nothing is ever multiplied in 4e - some powers just have you roll more dice.

 

[hvg3akaek]

Thanks for the quick responces!


So, if I am understanding correctly, for my above example, a normal attack of [W] + Strength would deal:

1d8 (longsword) + 3 (strength modifier) + 1 (TWF) + 1 (weapon focus) + 1 (+1 magical weapon)

= 1d8 + 6 damage


And when used in the "twin strike" power, it deals:


1d8 (longsword) + 1 (TWF) + 1 (weapon focus) + 1 (+1 magical weapon)

= 1d8 + 3 damage


So, the only thing lost is strength? (in effect, all attacks are actually [W] + ability + everythign else, and things such as "Twin Strike" just drop the ability damage?)

 

[Ruin Explorer]

So, the only thing lost is strength? (in effect, all attacks are actually [W] + ability + everythign else, and things such as "Twin Strike" just drop the ability damage?)

That's correct in the case of Twin Strike, certainly.

 

[FadedC]

My understanding is that any attack that has the weapon keyword benefits from all your weapon bonuses. There include enchancement bonuses on the weapon, and feat bonuses or other abilities that apply to the use of the weapon.

There are also powers which just give you a +x power bonus to damage or something like this. This would apply to everything.

 

[hvg3akaek]

Wow, definitely a better power than I first thought!

Thanks again for the help!

 

[ash2dust]

My understanding is that any power with the weapon keyword gets all bonuses (other than ability) that apply to the weapon being wielded per attack, now per [W].

Thus, if your ranger that was getting the +3 from TWF, WF, and Enhancement, would deal 2d8+3 on a power that does 2[W] damage, rather than 2d8+6.

In other words, those bonuses aren't included in the [W], but rather the weapon keyword, which can be an important disticntion.

I could be wrong, and there may be text in he books that directly contradicts me, though. That's just the way I've been running it.

 

[FadedC]

Check page 276 in the PHB. It makes it clear that you roll all of the dice and then add the damage once.

My understanding is that any power with the weapon keyword gets all bonuses (other than ability) that apply to the weapon being wielded per attack, now per [W].

Thus, if your ranger that was getting the +3 from TWF, WF, and Enhancement, would deal 2d8+3 on a power that does 2[W] damage, rather than 2d8+6.

In other words, those bonuses aren't included in the [W], but rather the weapon keyword, which can be an important disticntion.

I could be wrong, and there may be text in he books that directly contradicts me, though. That's just the way I've been running it.