Better Language


Homebrew and House Rules


Honestly, I feel like pathfinder could do with some better language for rolls. With tabletop gaming, you can't have a computer run all the die rolls for you. You need to make the die rolls efficient so as to not to take too much time and bog down combat, and the easier the rolls are to name and say, the more natural it becomes. Roll to X, or Check your {skill}, that sort of thing. The game and it's terms can be confusing, and is supposed to be simplified (for the player) through rolls. Having easy names for these rolls is key.

to Hit: Attack roll
to Hurt: Damage roll
to Resist: Will save
to Endure: Fortitude save
to Dodge: Reflex save
to Cast: Concentration check
to Crit: Crit Confirm roll

Mine on the left, current on the right. I also like Defense Class over Armor Class, but I know it could potentially be mistaken for Difficulty Class. Thanks for your time.


'Roll to hit' is already pretty much standard slang as far as I know.

Past that, I think it's far simpler and easier to simply say 'Roll (name of game element).' Adding an extra mental step to convert your terms into the game terms complicates things, not simplifies them. I don't see how saying 'roll to cast' is any more natural or simpler than 'roll concentration'. Instead, you'll have new players saying 'I don't have a 'cast' stat on my sheet', then you have to tell them it's concentration.

This is more confusing, not less.

Liberty's Edge

I fully agree with Zhayne. The terminology is already in place and in use (for plenty of years now), you would have to put forth a VERY good case to get people to even consider changing it, and "I feel" isn't it.

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