Beginner Box +1 Short Sword

[Hudz]

I was leading some new players through the beginners box this weekend and we had some confusion about how to treat the +1 Short Sword.

Should it be treated with +1 to hit and damage? Should it be +1 to either hit or damage?

Same question for the Smoking Sword. Should this be treated as +1 to hit and damage with an additional +1 fire damage?

To me, it seems that +1 is indicating plus to both hit and damage.

Is there a general principle we can consider to help new players understand how to treat these magical bonuses?

[Captain Morgan]

It is just to hit. Potency runes do not add damage. Instead, Striking Runes add additional damage dice, but you won't find those in the beginner box.

https://2e.aonprd.com/Equipment.aspx?ID=281

[breithauptclan]

Hudz wrote:

To me, it seems that +1 is indicating plus to both hit and damage.

That is how Pathfinder 1st edition did it.

Pathfinder 2nd edition tries to get away from adding an excessive amount of bonus damage to an attack. Even things like Power Attack add extra dice rather than adding a fixed amount of damage.

[Hudz]

breithauptclan wrote:

Hudz wrote:

To me, it seems that +1 is indicating plus to both hit and damage.

That is how Pathfinder 1st edition did it.

Pathfinder 2nd edition tries to get away from adding an excessive amount of bonus damage to an attack. Even things like Power Attack add extra dice rather than adding a fixed amount of damage.

Very helpful! Sounds like we should consider the standard to be +1 striking, unless otherwise noted.

[Super Zero]

It's just +1, like it says in the descriptions for those items.

[breithauptclan]

Yes. There is a difference between a +1 weapon and a +1 Striking weapon. a +1 weapon is a level 2 item. A +1 Striking weapon is a level 4 item.

There is also a helpful table of when each item bonus is needed by.

[The Gleeful Grognard]

Hudz wrote:

breithauptclan wrote:

Hudz wrote:

To me, it seems that +1 is indicating plus to both hit and damage.

That is how Pathfinder 1st edition did it.

Pathfinder 2nd edition tries to get away from adding an excessive amount of bonus damage to an attack. Even things like Power Attack add extra dice rather than adding a fixed amount of damage.

Very helpful! Sounds like we should consider the standard to be +1 striking, unless otherwise noted.

No? If it means +1 striking it will say +1 striking

A +1 longsword is just a +1 longsword, it gets +1 to attack, can add 1 property rune, is level 2 and counts as magical for the purposes of immunity, weakness and resistance.

You can also have +1 greater striking weapons and even +2 striking weapons. Heck, a no bonus to hit major striking weapon is possible :p

[Claxon]

Hudz wrote:

breithauptclan wrote:

Hudz wrote:

To me, it seems that +1 is indicating plus to both hit and damage.

That is how Pathfinder 1st edition did it.

Pathfinder 2nd edition tries to get away from adding an excessive amount of bonus damage to an attack. Even things like Power Attack add extra dice rather than adding a fixed amount of damage.

Very helpful! Sounds like we should consider the standard to be +1 striking, unless otherwise noted.

Please note otherwise. Damage bonuses are pretty hard to come by, the Beginner's Box does not mean +1 striking. It means just +1 (to hit). If you gave them a +1 striking weapon (a 4th level item) it would be way stronger than the Beginner Box anticipated.

[TomParker]

This is also explicitly covered on page 51 of the Beginner's Box GM Guide. It explains that +1 weapons are different than +1 striking weapons.