[RPG] Do Race ability modifiers take over base mods

ability-scoresdnd-5e

I'm new to D&D and I'm playing with 5e. With creating a character I chose a half elf. So it says I get +2 Charisma and +1 to 2 other stats of my choosing. My base stat array was as follows:

Str: 8. Dex: 8. Con: 15. Int: 12. Wis: 15. Cha: 15

I understand you calculate the modifiers by subtracting 10 then dividing the difference by 2 and rounding the quotient down. So my question boils down to do my race modifiers completely negate the calculations thus overtaking them or are they simply added to the calculations.

Best Answer

No, it's added to your score first.

Your racial modifiers add (or subtract, in a few weird cases) to the ability score, which you use to find your ability modifier.

So, like, if you have that Con 15 and your race gives you +2 to Con, you have a Con 17, which you use to get the +/- that gets added to every Con roll.