Dex Modifer?

[Nina Blain]

Hi guys,sorry if this is covered elsewhere I looked but my search fu is weak.
I'm new to Starfinder and Pathfinder in general having never played either my background is pretty much solely in that other games 5th edition.
so my question is why do you not add your Dexterity stat bonus to ranged weapon damage?

Thanks in advance

[theheadkase]

Page 241, Basic Attack and Damage Bonuses sidebar:

"Ranged Damage
Weapon damage

Ranged Damage with a Thrown Weapon
Weapon damage + Strength modifier"

Ranged weapons do a set amount of damage based on its entry in the weapon table. For example a laser pistol, azimuth deals 1d4 points of Fire damage and a laser pistol, zenith deals 8d4 points of Fire damage. The book doesn't come right out and say it but all of the projectile weapons are things that only require you to pull a trigger...no reason to add your Dex (nor your Str).

Ranged Weapons with the Thrown modifier uses Str mod as extra damage because you are using your muscles to throw the weapon.

I would imagine that in future releases there will be something that allows you to use Dex for a thrown ranged weapon.

[kaid]

Possibly but given how much ranged combat happens in starfinder compared to pathfinder nearly every class seems to invest a fair amount into dex so I am not sure adding yet more power to that attribute is a good idea.

In pathfinder it is generally okay because most are just using dex for some AC boost as most people focus on melee weapons so dex based bonuses are mostly to offset not investing heavily in strength for rogues and the like.

Starfinder nearly everybody is both going to want the AC as well as the bonus to shooting weapons. Even pure melee monsters are going to find situations where it may be wise to pull out a gun and soften things up a bit before charging into the fray.

[Matthew Downie]

In game design terms, there are a couple of reasons:
(1) Tradition: Gary Gygax didn't include Dex-To-Damage in D&D first edition, and everything was balanced around that.
(2) Balance: It makes Dexterity too good. Want to hit enemies reliably? You need high Dex. Want to hit hard? High Dex. Want to fire first? High Dex. Want to avoid being shot back? High Dex.

[Darkling36]

The why would probably be game balance. And while you could argue that you're able to hit more sensitive places and inflict more damage that really seems to be what Weapon Specialization is.

[Gary Bush]

Keep in mind that weapon specialization is gained at 3rd level for all weapons that the class gives proficiency in. This added a flat amount to damage that scales with level.

[Claxon]

Nina Blain wrote:

Hi guys,sorry if this is covered elsewhere I looked but my search fu is weak.

I'm new to Starfinder and Pathfinder in general having never played either my background is pretty much solely in that other games 5th edition.
so my question is why do you not add your Dexterity stat bonus to ranged weapon damage?

Thanks in advance

This is the incorrect attitude to have for this game switching from 5E to Starfinder. If you have this attitude you're going to be asking a ton of "Why isn't *this thing* like it is in 5E?". And the answer is going to be "Why should it be?"

You probably only think it should because you played 5E, which has only a passing similarity to Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 which Pathfinder is based off of, and Starfinder is loosely based on Pathfinder.

Basically what I'm saying is don't assume anything in Starfinder should be anything like it is in 5E, it will get you much father than questioning why they're not the same.