The "1d4" is the die you roll for damage, and the "+1" is indeed added to the die roll.
The "x3" is the critical multiplier, which is how many times you roll the total damage if the goblin rolls an actual 20 on the die. If the result is exactly a 20 on the die, you'll end up rolling 3d4+3 (since the damage modifier is multiplied on the critical), and add the result together for total damage.
Hope this helped!
I am part of a gaming group, and we have started to work on setting up a pathfinder campaign (we'll be playing Rise of the Runelords). As a newbie who was selected to be the first GM, I read through every Pathfinder product I could get my hands on, watched instructional videos, and read question and answer boards.
Here is my first question:
The Goblin Warchanter (RotR, pg 12) has a Ranged shortbow that reads"+5 (1d4+1/X3)"
I kn ow the +5 is added to the attack roll. The equation in the parenthesis corresponds to damage? So say I roll a 2, I would add 1 and then it would look like this, "(3/X3) Does the X mean to multiply? I'm so confused. Thank you for your time!
The x3 is the multiplier if you roll a critical hit. So if you roll a 20 with your shortbow, and then confirm the crit by hitting with a second attack roll, you damage would be 1d4+1x3 or 3d4+3.
Now if your weapon had a bigger critical threat range than 20 your weapon could read:
+5 (1d4+1/19-20x2)
Which means you threaten a critical hit whenever you roll (number on the die) a 19 or 20, and your critical hit damage would be (in this case) 2d4+2.
Correct, the +5 is added to the attack roll. The part in parenthesis gives you damage. This Goblin Warchanter's shortbow does 1d4+1 damage. The x3 is your critical hit modifier.
Example 1:
Goblin Warchanter (GW) attacks the fighter.
You roll a 12 on your d20. That hits an AC of 17 (12+5) or less. If she hits, you roll your 1d4 and get a 2 causing 3 (2+1) damage.
Example 2:
GW attacks the fighter. You roll a 20 on your d20, that's an auto hit and threatens a critical! You roll your d20 again and get a 5 which hits an AC of 10 (5+5). That's not enough to hit the fighter's AC, but you STILL HIT. You roll 1d4 and get a 2 doing 3 (2+1) damage.
Example 3:
GW attacks the fighter. You roll a 20 on your d20, that's an auto hit and threatens a critical! You roll your d20 again and get a 15 which hits an AC of 20 (15+5). That's enough to hit the fighter's AC, confirming the critical hit! You roll 1d4 THREE TIMES and add the +1 damage to EACH ROLL. You roll a 1, a 3 and a 4 doing a total of 11 damage (1+1)+(3+1)+(4+1)
Edit:double ninja'd! I'd recommend reading the combat section of the Core Rulebook twice before your first session. Also, go to the PRD and print out copies of any feats or spells used by the NPC combatants so that you can be sure to have them on hand.