ability modifier vs ability bonus


Rules Questions

Grand Lodge

1 person marked this as FAQ candidate.

I was wondering reading smite evil and a celestial creature with Cha = 4:

based on

Core RuleBook pg 16 wrote:
A positive modifier is called a bonus, and a negative modifier is called a penalty
and on
Smite Evil, Core RuleBook pg 60-61 wrote:
...the paladin adds her Charisma bonus (if any) to her attack roll ... the paladin gains a deflection bonus equal to her Charisma modifier (if any) to her AC ...

1- you don't have a penalty to your attack, as it mentions charisma bonus

2- Do you get a penalty to your AC ? it says "deflection bonus" but "Charisma modifier"

3- for a low Cha-paladin PC, lay on hands (1/2 level plus Charisma modifier)
it can be =0 (no minimum 1) ?


I don't have a direct reference to RAW but I don't believe the Smite Evil ability is intended to do harm to the Player at any time. Also, while the passage does indicate applying CHA MOD as a deflection bonus, if that leaves your deflection in the negative, then it is no longer a bonus, and should not be counted toward armor class. Additionally, similar bonuses do not stack, only the better applies. So if you had a ring of protection +1 that would take priority over any lesser (or negative) bonuses.

As for lay on hands the RAW seems pretty clear that you would subtract a CHA penalty (and while I think it is silly, I do see the argument for that). I would probably house rule that min 1 if it came up in one of my games.


Rules/abilities/effects that specify "bonus" rather than "modifier" only apply to bonuses, not penalties, while abilities that specify "modifier" apply either way.

For instance, you add your Dex "modifier" to AC (positive or negative), but when flat-footed you lose your Dex "bonus" (positive only). This is to avoid people with negative Dex modifiers getting a higher AC when flat-footed.

That said, it looks like the paladin's smite evil should say "bonus" in both cases. Especially because it says "Charisma modifier (if any)". You always have a Charisma modifier, so this sentence only makes sense if it's supposed to say "bonus".

By the way, since you mentioned a celestial creature's smite: Keep in mind that a celestial creature's smite is not the same thing as a paladin's smite. It only gets the version of smite specified by the template.

Sczarni

Are wrote:

By the way, since you mentioned a celestial creature's smite: Keep in mind that a celestial creature's smite is not the same thing as a paladin's smite. It only gets the version of smite specified by the template.

This.

Celestial Smite ≠ Paladin Smite

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