How does a bat have +0 modifier to attack?












10












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I am quite new to playing DND and I'm struggling to understand how a bat has +0 to attack. I'm clearly missing something, but as per my calculations:



A bat has a strength of 2 (-4 Modifier).
This is countered by a +2 of proficiency.



Looking at the bite attack (emphasis mine):




Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +0 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: (1d1) piercing damage.




How is this calculated to +0? Should this not be -2?










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Jonnehz is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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  • $begingroup$
    Hello and welcome! You can take the tour to learn a bit more about how this site works. For future reference, the reason the dungeons-and-dragons tag was removed from your question is because it is used for D&D questions across editions (no big deal though don't worry). Thank you for participating and happy gaming!
    $endgroup$
    – Sdjz
    2 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    I edited your 'why' to 'how' to avoid the dev reasons connotation which would be off topic.
    $endgroup$
    – Slagmoth
    34 mins ago
















10












$begingroup$


I am quite new to playing DND and I'm struggling to understand how a bat has +0 to attack. I'm clearly missing something, but as per my calculations:



A bat has a strength of 2 (-4 Modifier).
This is countered by a +2 of proficiency.



Looking at the bite attack (emphasis mine):




Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +0 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: (1d1) piercing damage.




How is this calculated to +0? Should this not be -2?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Jonnehz is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Hello and welcome! You can take the tour to learn a bit more about how this site works. For future reference, the reason the dungeons-and-dragons tag was removed from your question is because it is used for D&D questions across editions (no big deal though don't worry). Thank you for participating and happy gaming!
    $endgroup$
    – Sdjz
    2 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    I edited your 'why' to 'how' to avoid the dev reasons connotation which would be off topic.
    $endgroup$
    – Slagmoth
    34 mins ago














10












10








10





$begingroup$


I am quite new to playing DND and I'm struggling to understand how a bat has +0 to attack. I'm clearly missing something, but as per my calculations:



A bat has a strength of 2 (-4 Modifier).
This is countered by a +2 of proficiency.



Looking at the bite attack (emphasis mine):




Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +0 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: (1d1) piercing damage.




How is this calculated to +0? Should this not be -2?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Jonnehz is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$




I am quite new to playing DND and I'm struggling to understand how a bat has +0 to attack. I'm clearly missing something, but as per my calculations:



A bat has a strength of 2 (-4 Modifier).
This is countered by a +2 of proficiency.



Looking at the bite attack (emphasis mine):




Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +0 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: (1d1) piercing damage.




How is this calculated to +0? Should this not be -2?







dnd-5e monsters attack proficiency






share|improve this question









New contributor




Jonnehz is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









New contributor




Jonnehz is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 35 mins ago









Slagmoth

17.8k15196




17.8k15196






New contributor




Jonnehz is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 2 hours ago









JonnehzJonnehz

534




534




New contributor




Jonnehz is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





Jonnehz is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Jonnehz is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












  • $begingroup$
    Hello and welcome! You can take the tour to learn a bit more about how this site works. For future reference, the reason the dungeons-and-dragons tag was removed from your question is because it is used for D&D questions across editions (no big deal though don't worry). Thank you for participating and happy gaming!
    $endgroup$
    – Sdjz
    2 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    I edited your 'why' to 'how' to avoid the dev reasons connotation which would be off topic.
    $endgroup$
    – Slagmoth
    34 mins ago


















  • $begingroup$
    Hello and welcome! You can take the tour to learn a bit more about how this site works. For future reference, the reason the dungeons-and-dragons tag was removed from your question is because it is used for D&D questions across editions (no big deal though don't worry). Thank you for participating and happy gaming!
    $endgroup$
    – Sdjz
    2 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    I edited your 'why' to 'how' to avoid the dev reasons connotation which would be off topic.
    $endgroup$
    – Slagmoth
    34 mins ago
















$begingroup$
Hello and welcome! You can take the tour to learn a bit more about how this site works. For future reference, the reason the dungeons-and-dragons tag was removed from your question is because it is used for D&D questions across editions (no big deal though don't worry). Thank you for participating and happy gaming!
$endgroup$
– Sdjz
2 hours ago






$begingroup$
Hello and welcome! You can take the tour to learn a bit more about how this site works. For future reference, the reason the dungeons-and-dragons tag was removed from your question is because it is used for D&D questions across editions (no big deal though don't worry). Thank you for participating and happy gaming!
$endgroup$
– Sdjz
2 hours ago














$begingroup$
I edited your 'why' to 'how' to avoid the dev reasons connotation which would be off topic.
$endgroup$
– Slagmoth
34 mins ago




$begingroup$
I edited your 'why' to 'how' to avoid the dev reasons connotation which would be off topic.
$endgroup$
– Slagmoth
34 mins ago










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















9












$begingroup$

I don't think there is a formula that will give us that +0.



The bat is a very weak creature, with a CR 0. Most likely, the D&D designers just didn't want him to have a negative attack modifier, so they set it at 0, despite having -4 STR and +2 DEX.




  • If the attack was strength-based, the bat would need a +4 Proficiency (a bit high for a CR0 creature).

  • If it were Dexterity-based, the bat would have -2 Proficiency (negative proficiency?).


It was a balance decision. The bat also does 1-damage with that attack, which is not derived from any formula. An unarmed strike is usually 1+STR, and a natural attack 1d4+STR, so both would deal non-positive damage.



From the DMG, on Creating Monsters (credit to Sdjz):




You can start with the monster's expected Challenge Rating table to determine an appropriate attack bonus for all the monster's attacks, regardless of its ability scores. [...] Feel free to adjust the attack bonus as you see fit to match whatever concept you have in mind.




Also, AFAIK, there aren't monsters with negative attack modifiers, are there?






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Okay that explains it, not everything goes through the formula players follow. Thanks for the reply :)
    $endgroup$
    – Jonnehz
    1 hour ago












  • $begingroup$
    There are places where a creature has exptertise in skills if you calculate them out. They no longer call such things out. It could be possible with its echolocation that the PB could be +4 which would justify it. It would, admittedly, break convention though, but would be within precident for skills. In this case skill in catching bugs :)
    $endgroup$
    – Slagmoth
    37 mins ago











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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









9












$begingroup$

I don't think there is a formula that will give us that +0.



The bat is a very weak creature, with a CR 0. Most likely, the D&D designers just didn't want him to have a negative attack modifier, so they set it at 0, despite having -4 STR and +2 DEX.




  • If the attack was strength-based, the bat would need a +4 Proficiency (a bit high for a CR0 creature).

  • If it were Dexterity-based, the bat would have -2 Proficiency (negative proficiency?).


It was a balance decision. The bat also does 1-damage with that attack, which is not derived from any formula. An unarmed strike is usually 1+STR, and a natural attack 1d4+STR, so both would deal non-positive damage.



From the DMG, on Creating Monsters (credit to Sdjz):




You can start with the monster's expected Challenge Rating table to determine an appropriate attack bonus for all the monster's attacks, regardless of its ability scores. [...] Feel free to adjust the attack bonus as you see fit to match whatever concept you have in mind.




Also, AFAIK, there aren't monsters with negative attack modifiers, are there?






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Okay that explains it, not everything goes through the formula players follow. Thanks for the reply :)
    $endgroup$
    – Jonnehz
    1 hour ago












  • $begingroup$
    There are places where a creature has exptertise in skills if you calculate them out. They no longer call such things out. It could be possible with its echolocation that the PB could be +4 which would justify it. It would, admittedly, break convention though, but would be within precident for skills. In this case skill in catching bugs :)
    $endgroup$
    – Slagmoth
    37 mins ago
















9












$begingroup$

I don't think there is a formula that will give us that +0.



The bat is a very weak creature, with a CR 0. Most likely, the D&D designers just didn't want him to have a negative attack modifier, so they set it at 0, despite having -4 STR and +2 DEX.




  • If the attack was strength-based, the bat would need a +4 Proficiency (a bit high for a CR0 creature).

  • If it were Dexterity-based, the bat would have -2 Proficiency (negative proficiency?).


It was a balance decision. The bat also does 1-damage with that attack, which is not derived from any formula. An unarmed strike is usually 1+STR, and a natural attack 1d4+STR, so both would deal non-positive damage.



From the DMG, on Creating Monsters (credit to Sdjz):




You can start with the monster's expected Challenge Rating table to determine an appropriate attack bonus for all the monster's attacks, regardless of its ability scores. [...] Feel free to adjust the attack bonus as you see fit to match whatever concept you have in mind.




Also, AFAIK, there aren't monsters with negative attack modifiers, are there?






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Okay that explains it, not everything goes through the formula players follow. Thanks for the reply :)
    $endgroup$
    – Jonnehz
    1 hour ago












  • $begingroup$
    There are places where a creature has exptertise in skills if you calculate them out. They no longer call such things out. It could be possible with its echolocation that the PB could be +4 which would justify it. It would, admittedly, break convention though, but would be within precident for skills. In this case skill in catching bugs :)
    $endgroup$
    – Slagmoth
    37 mins ago














9












9








9





$begingroup$

I don't think there is a formula that will give us that +0.



The bat is a very weak creature, with a CR 0. Most likely, the D&D designers just didn't want him to have a negative attack modifier, so they set it at 0, despite having -4 STR and +2 DEX.




  • If the attack was strength-based, the bat would need a +4 Proficiency (a bit high for a CR0 creature).

  • If it were Dexterity-based, the bat would have -2 Proficiency (negative proficiency?).


It was a balance decision. The bat also does 1-damage with that attack, which is not derived from any formula. An unarmed strike is usually 1+STR, and a natural attack 1d4+STR, so both would deal non-positive damage.



From the DMG, on Creating Monsters (credit to Sdjz):




You can start with the monster's expected Challenge Rating table to determine an appropriate attack bonus for all the monster's attacks, regardless of its ability scores. [...] Feel free to adjust the attack bonus as you see fit to match whatever concept you have in mind.




Also, AFAIK, there aren't monsters with negative attack modifiers, are there?






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$



I don't think there is a formula that will give us that +0.



The bat is a very weak creature, with a CR 0. Most likely, the D&D designers just didn't want him to have a negative attack modifier, so they set it at 0, despite having -4 STR and +2 DEX.




  • If the attack was strength-based, the bat would need a +4 Proficiency (a bit high for a CR0 creature).

  • If it were Dexterity-based, the bat would have -2 Proficiency (negative proficiency?).


It was a balance decision. The bat also does 1-damage with that attack, which is not derived from any formula. An unarmed strike is usually 1+STR, and a natural attack 1d4+STR, so both would deal non-positive damage.



From the DMG, on Creating Monsters (credit to Sdjz):




You can start with the monster's expected Challenge Rating table to determine an appropriate attack bonus for all the monster's attacks, regardless of its ability scores. [...] Feel free to adjust the attack bonus as you see fit to match whatever concept you have in mind.




Also, AFAIK, there aren't monsters with negative attack modifiers, are there?







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 1 hour ago

























answered 2 hours ago









BlueMoon93BlueMoon93

13.1k969135




13.1k969135












  • $begingroup$
    Okay that explains it, not everything goes through the formula players follow. Thanks for the reply :)
    $endgroup$
    – Jonnehz
    1 hour ago












  • $begingroup$
    There are places where a creature has exptertise in skills if you calculate them out. They no longer call such things out. It could be possible with its echolocation that the PB could be +4 which would justify it. It would, admittedly, break convention though, but would be within precident for skills. In this case skill in catching bugs :)
    $endgroup$
    – Slagmoth
    37 mins ago


















  • $begingroup$
    Okay that explains it, not everything goes through the formula players follow. Thanks for the reply :)
    $endgroup$
    – Jonnehz
    1 hour ago












  • $begingroup$
    There are places where a creature has exptertise in skills if you calculate them out. They no longer call such things out. It could be possible with its echolocation that the PB could be +4 which would justify it. It would, admittedly, break convention though, but would be within precident for skills. In this case skill in catching bugs :)
    $endgroup$
    – Slagmoth
    37 mins ago
















$begingroup$
Okay that explains it, not everything goes through the formula players follow. Thanks for the reply :)
$endgroup$
– Jonnehz
1 hour ago






$begingroup$
Okay that explains it, not everything goes through the formula players follow. Thanks for the reply :)
$endgroup$
– Jonnehz
1 hour ago














$begingroup$
There are places where a creature has exptertise in skills if you calculate them out. They no longer call such things out. It could be possible with its echolocation that the PB could be +4 which would justify it. It would, admittedly, break convention though, but would be within precident for skills. In this case skill in catching bugs :)
$endgroup$
– Slagmoth
37 mins ago




$begingroup$
There are places where a creature has exptertise in skills if you calculate them out. They no longer call such things out. It could be possible with its echolocation that the PB could be +4 which would justify it. It would, admittedly, break convention though, but would be within precident for skills. In this case skill in catching bugs :)
$endgroup$
– Slagmoth
37 mins ago










Jonnehz is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










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