Dice rolls: Difference between revisions

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Random variables in Baldur's Gate 3 are determined by '''dice rolls'''. Whenever a creature makes an attack roll, an ability check or a saving throw, virtual dice are rolled by the game to determine whether the action was a success or failure.

Dice rolls are also used to roll for [[Initiative|initiative]] and [[Damage rolls|damage]].

When a creature rolls dice to determine success, they roll a twenty-sided die ({{D20}}) and add the relevant [[Ability score modifier|ability score modifier]] and, if applicable, their [[Proficiency bonus|proficiency bonus]] to the result of the roll. Additional potential modifiers include a creature's equipment, spells, potions, or other effects.

Attack rolls are rolled against the target's [[Armour Class]] (AC). If the final result of the attack roll is equal to or exceeds the target's AC, the roll is successful.

Ability checks and saving throws are rolled against the Difficulty Class (DC) of the relevant ability check or saving throw. If the final result of the roll exceeds the DC, the roll is successful. Special abilities, spels and certain conditions often have a DC that the target must roll against.

Rolling a 1 or 20 on a d20 roll is referred to as a "natural 1" or "natural 20". A natural 1 is always an automatic miss, while a natural 20 is always an automatic success, and if the roll was an attack roll, it is also a "critical hit".

== Damage rolls ==

{{hatnote|For more information, see [[Damage rolls]].}}

Damage rolls are determined by rolling the weapon's damage dice and adding the relevant ability score modifier to the result of the roll, as well as any other applicable modifiers.

{{hatnote|For more information, see [[Initiative]].}}

Initiative rolls are determined by rolling a d4 and adding the creature's {{Ability|Dexterity}} modifier to the result, as well as any other applicable modifiers.

=== Dice notation ===

Types of dice are referred to by the number of sides they have: {{DieIcon|d4|Force}} d4, {{DieIcon|d6|Radiant}} d6, {{DieIcon|d8|Cold}} d8, {{DieIcon|d10|Poison}} d10, {{DieIcon|d12|Psychic}} d12, and d20. Abbreviations are used to refer to the total number of dice used in a roll, such as 1d6 for rolling one d6 die, 2d4 for rolling two d4 dice, 8d6 for rolling eight d6 dice and so on.

 

The results on multiple dice rolled in this way are added together to give a final total. This notation can also include modifiers, and the range of results is usually given in parentheses. For example, a single dart from a {{SAI|Magic Missile}} spell does 1d4+1 (2-5) Force damage, meaning it rolls 1d4 and adds 1 to the result, giving a possible total of between 2 and 5 points of damage.

 

[[File:karmic dice setting.png|200px|thumb|The optional Karmic Dice setting, located in Gameplay Options]]

When the '''Karmic Dice''' option is enabled (the default), the game will avoid frustrating streaks of very low rolls in a row.

 

However, Karmic Dice influence all rolls – including those of enemies – and the results will only ever skew toward a positive result for the dice roller. In short, '''the Karmic Dice setting makes combat encounters quicker and deadlier''' for both you and your enemies.  

The exact algorithm for Karmic Dice is not presently known and may be changed between versions of the game.

 

Karmic Dice was previously referred to as 'Loaded Dice'.

 

 

In various situations, a creature can have {{Advantage}} or {{Disadvantage}} on a D20 roll.

 

 

 

[[Attack Roll]]s, [[Saving Throw]]s and [[Ability Check]]s all use a {{D20}}, and result in either success or failure. All are modified by a relevant [[Ability Score Modifier]] and [[Proficiency Bonus]], and can be made with {{Advantage}} or {{Disadvantage}}.

{{hatnote|Main page: [[Attack roll]].}}

An Attack roll is a {{D20}} roll made when one creature attacks another. The Difficulty Class for the roll is the [[Armour Class]] (AC) of the target; if it meets or exceeds the AC, then the attack is a hit. Otherwise, it's a miss. (Fictionally, this need not mean a literal miss; it just means the target will not take any damage from the attack.)

<div style="text-align: center;">'''Result = {{InfoBlob|{{D20}} + Ability Score Modifier + Proficiency Bonus}}'''</div>

Attacks made with [[Weapons]] always use an attack roll to determine success. Some [[spells]] also use an attack roll, usually those that involve beams or projectiles that need to be aimed at a target (such as {{SAI|Fire Bolt}} or {{SAI|Eldritch Blast}}). Creatures or objects conjured by spells (such as {{SAI|Spiritual Weapon}} or {{SAI|Flaming Sphere}}) can often attack on their own turns, and make an Attack Roll to do so.

Spells which directly affect a target (such as {{SAI|Hold Person}}) or which cause an effect at a point in space (such as {{SAI|Silence}} or {{SAI|Fireball}}) don't require an Attack Roll, but usually allow affected creatures to make a Saving Throw instead (see below).

A successful attack roll results in a separate damage roll to determine the amount of damage done to the target.

==== Criticals ====

On Attack Rolls, a Natural 1 means the attack fails regardless of bonuses or the target's Armour Class. This is called a '''Critical Miss'''. 

 

Likewise, a Natural 20 means the attack succeeds regardless of the target's Armour Class. This is called a '''Critical Hit.''' A Critical Hit also affects the result of the Damage Roll: it doubles the normal number of damage dice rolled (including additional dice such as those from Smites or Combat Manoeuvers). Flat damage bonuses from modifiers or other sources (such as {{SAI|Great Weapon Master: All In}}) are not affected by a critical hit.

 

 

 

 

A {{SavingThrow}} (or "save" for short) is a {{D20}} roll made to avoid or reduce the harm from a source of danger. This could mean dodging a dart or burst of flame from a sprung trap, resisting the effects of poisons or mind-altering magic, or trying to take cover to reduce damage from an explosion.

<div style="text-align: center;">'''Result = {{InfoBlob|{{D20}} + Ability Score Modifier + Proficiency Bonus (if Proficient)}}'''</div>

The Difficulty Class (DC) is determined by the source of danger. Traps, dialogue events and other sources of danger controlled by the game have a DC defined by the game, depending on how serious the danger is. '''[[Spells]]''' and '''[[Weapon Actions]]''' use specific formulas to determine the DC:

* '''[[Spells|Spell]]''' saves have a DC determined by the creature's '''[[Spells|Spellcasting Ability Modifier]]''':

A successful Save can mean completely avoiding negative effects, reducing the damage received (usually by half), or both. For example, successfully saving against a spike trap could mean that a creature takes no damage at all, because it successfully evaded the spikes. On the other hand, if it's caught in the area of effect of a {{SAI|Fireball}}, then a successful save will merely halve the damage. Saving against {{SAI|Thunderwave}} both halves the damage taken, and prevents a creature from being pushed by the spell.

=== Ability check ===

{{hatnote|Main page: [[Ability check]]}}

Various actions, other than attacking or making a save, still require the creature to make an attempt that may fail.  The creature rolls a D20, and adds its [[Ability Score Modifier]] and possibly its [[Proficiency Bonus]]. The attempted action has a specific [[Difficulty Class]] which the result of the roll must match or exceed.

<div style="text-align: center;">'''Result = {{InfoBlob|{{D20}} + Ability Score Modifier + Proficiency Bonus}}'''</div>

==== Skill check ====

{{hatnote|For more information, see [[Skills]].}}

Most ability checks are associated with a specific [[Skills|skill]]. If a creature is proficient with an ability check's associated skill, they may add their proficiency bonus to the results of that roll, in addition to the relevant ability score modifier. These rolls are often referred to as "skill checks" by the community, although they are not referred to as such in-game.

[[Expertise]] in a skill allows a creature to add double its proficiency bonus. Expertise usually comes from specific class features.

Some ability checks are automatic. For example, when a creature approaches an unactivated trap, the game rolls a [[Perception]] ability check to determine whether the creation notices the trap. Perception is a Wisdom Skill, so the character adds their Wisdom modifier and, if proficient in Perception, their proficiency bonus to the ability check. Once the trap is discovered, the character can interact with it to attempt to [[Disarm]] it, which requires a successful [[Sleight of Hand]] check, a Dexterity Skill.

Ability checks are also common during dialogue, where some responses require a ability check to determine the outcome. Examples include using Charisma-based skills like [[Persuasion]], [[Deception]] or [[Intimidation]] to influence others, or Intelligence-based Skills like [[Investigation]], [[History]] or [[Religion]] to determine or remember facts.

A '''Contest''' is a special type of ability check in which two creatures both roll an ability check to oppose each other, and one wins over the other. The creatures don't necessarily roll the same type of check.

An example of this is the {{SAI|Shove}} action. The creature attempting the Shove rolls Athletics, and the defending creature rolls either Athletics or Acrobatics (the game chooses the Skill with the highest bonus) to contest the Shove. If the attacker's roll is higher than the defender's, the Shove succeeds; otherwise it fails.

== Other rolls ==

''Main page: [[Damage roll]]''

A '''Damage Roll''' is made when an attack is successful, a spell hits a target, a trap is activated, and so on. The result determines the damage dealt to an affected creature or object, measured in [[Hit Points]]. This roll can involve any size (up to D12) and number of dice, determined by the source of the damage. When a creature takes damage, its current Hit Points are reduced by the result of the roll. Damage rolls also have a [[Damage Types|Damage Type]].

For example, a [[Dagger]] deals {{DamageText|1d4|Piercing}} damage. When used by a character with a Strength or Dexterity modifier of +3, the game expresses this as "1d4+3 (4-7) damage - {{DamageType|Piercing}}". Most weapons use a single die, though [[Greatswords]] and some other weapons deal 2d6 damage. Spells usually deal multiple dice of damage but without any modifiers; for example, being caught in a {{SAI|Fireball}} will cause {{DamageText|8d6|Fire}} damage, though a successful Saving Throw (see above) can reduce the total taken to half the result of the roll.

Scoring a Critical Hit with an Attack Roll doubles the number of dice rolled to determine damage.

A '''Healing Roll''' works basically the same way, but targets of spells, potions and other sources of healing add the rolled total to their current Hit Points. They are denoted as "healing" instead of having a damage type; for example the spell {{SAI|Healing Word}} restores {{DamageText|1d4|Healing}}.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Creatures with the highest rolls act first. Allied player-controlled characters with the same Initiative result effectively act simultaneously; the player can switch between them to coordinate their actions, and the game waits until all such characters have ended their turns to move on to the next creature.

Some class features, spells and other, usually magical effects are selected randomly from a list of possibilities. The dice rolled for these varies, but is usually a single die, meaning each option has equal chance of occuring. Effects that work this way include:

* The [[Wild Magic (Subclass Feature)|Wild Magic]] feature of the {{Class|Wild Magic}}

* The [[Rage: Wild Magic]] feature of the {{Class|Wild Magic Barbarian}}