Hi so I'm new to Pathfinder (and PnP RPGs altogether) and am preparing to run my first adventure as GM.
I was looking at some of the creatures in the bestiary and noticed that higher level creatures have ACs higher than 20. If you make an attack roll with a d20 to see if you hit something, how is it possible to hit something with an AC of say 23? I realize that rolling a 20 always means you hit, but does this mean that the only way to hit them is by rolling a 20?
Thanks so much!
Characters get a bonus (or penalty) to attack based on their level and ability scores. A PC with a +5 bonus to attack can hit that 23 AC on anything higher than an 18. And, yes, even if a PC has a penalty to attack, they still hit on a natural 20.
EDIT: You can check out the combat rules here.
Attack Roll
An attack roll represents your attempt to strike your opponent on your turn in a round. When you make an attack roll, you roll a d20 and add your attack bonus. (Other modifiers may also apply to this roll.) If your result equals or beats the target's Armor Class, you hit and deal damage.Automatic Misses and Hits: A natural 1 (the d20 comes up 1) on an attack roll is always a miss. A natural 20 (the d20 comes up 20) is always a hit. A natural 20 is also a threat—a possible critical hit (see the attack action).
Attack Bonus
Your attack bonus with a melee weapon is the following:Base attack bonus + Strength modifier + size modifier
With a ranged weapon, your attack bonus is the following:
Base attack bonus + Dexterity modifier + size modifier + range penalty
Hi so I'm new to Pathfinder (and PnP RPGs altogether) and am preparing to run my first adventure as GM.
I was looking at some of the creatures in the bestiary and noticed that higher level creatures have ACs higher than 20. If you make an attack roll with a d20 to see if you hit something, how is it possible to hit something with an AC of say 23? I realize that rolling a 20 always means you hit, but does this mean that the only way to hit them is by rolling a 20?
Thanks so much!
the result of the d20 roll is added to the attack bonus, that is the Base Attack Bonus from the class + the relevant ability modifier (in general Strength modifier for melee and Dexterity for ranged attack, some option can alter this) and other bonus depending on your abilities and equipment.
For example a level 3 Fighter with a strength score of 18 and a Masterwork Longsword has an attack bonus of 3 (BAB from the Fighter levels) + 4 (Str modifier) + 1 (masterwork weapon) = 8, so to hit an enemy with an AC of 23 you need to roll 15 or more.
Thanks so much guys! I hate to bother you with such simple questions. I appreciate it a lot.
Very new to Pathfinder.
Not a problem.
You're (nearly always) going to be adding something to that d20 roll. For example, a 5th-level Fighter with a Strength score of 17, a +1 Magic Longsword, and the Weapon Focus (longsword) feat would be rolling a d20 and adding +5 (for the base attack bonus that he gets from his Fighter levels) +3 (the modifier for his Strength) +1 (for the magic enhancement of his weapon) +1 (for the special training represented by that feat).
Or, a d20 +10, meaning he can hit an AC of 23 even if he rolls as low as 13.
That's one example. There are lots of different rolls and lots of different things that might get added to a roll.
Do yourself a favor (and this is what I did when I first got my 3.5 Player's Handbook, my introduction to tabletop RPGs). Take an afternoon and read the Core Rulebook front to back. Then do it again. Don't try to use the system to do anything (write up a character you might want to play, piece together a campaign setting, etc.) until you have a working knowledge of the game. It is not crucial that you be playing right away. You can afford to take the time to understand some of how it all fits together, and you'll be better off for the time you spent.
Don't worry about it at all. A new player with honest questions is a breath of fresh air. ;)
Ask whatever you need to, or want to know.
So two threads go up. Neither has a post besides the OP, and every poster here has a 50/50 chance of picking one or the other.
So how did I end up in one whereas (at last count) six posters end up in the other?
I'll repost my response in the other thread. Could a Mod delete this one?
Very new to Pathfinder.
Not a problem.
You're (nearly always) going to be adding something to that d20 roll. For example, a 5th-level Fighter with a Strength score of 17, a +1 Magic Longsword, and the Weapon Focus (longsword) feat would be rolling a d20 and adding +5 (for the base attack bonus that he gets from his Fighter levels) +3 (the modifier for his Strength) +1 (for the magic enhancement of his weapon) +1 (for the special training represented by that feat).
Or, a d20 +10, meaning he can hit an AC of 23 even if he rolls as low as 13.
That's one example. There are lots of different rolls and lots of different things that might get added to a roll.
Do yourself a favor (and this is what I did when I first got my 3.5 Player's Handbook, my introduction to tabletop RPGs). Take an afternoon and read the Core Rulebook front to back. Then do it again. Don't try to use the system to do anything (write up a character you might want to play, piece together a campaign setting, etc.) until you have a working knowledge of the game. It is not crucial that you be playing right away. You can afford to take the time to understand some of how it all fits together, and you'll be better off for the time you spent.
I intentionally avoided a Level 5 Fighter because it's when he gets Weapon Training 1 and it would have complicated the example