[RPG] Help w/Character Sheet: What are ability modifiers and how to calculate them

character-creationcharacter-sheetsdnd-4e

So I was filling out the character sheet and suddenly I saw an "ability modifier". I'm confused, and am asking these questions for clarification:

  • Where do you put your "Standard Array" number. In score? Abil Mod? Mod + 1/2 Lvl?

  • What is MOD? (As my concern, Abil Mod is the table of chart from -5 to +5)

  • In Fort, Ref, Will, do I put my total of score, abil mod, or mod + 1/2 lvl

  • How many healing surges do I have? It says Ability Modifier, but in the score table, abil mod or mod + 1/2 lvl?

  • Finally. In skill, what do I write in the Abil Mod + 1/2 lvl?

(Yes, you can tell me that I'm confused :p )

Follow up question:

  • I'm human. I can add +2 to one ability. Where should I put it, will it modify the score and the ability modifier?

  • Since I'm human, my healing surge is 6 + constitution modifier. My Cons abil mod is 1, will it means that I got 7?

Best Answer

First, for Reference, a zoomed-in segment of the 4e character sheet available for download on WoTC's site.

4e character sheet excerpt

Your Stats from your Standard array Go in the Score box

The Score is the number coming from the Array (or total via pointbuy) such as 16, 12, 8 etc. By RAW rules you cannot have more than 1 stat lower than 10 and that one stat can only go as low as 8.

Ability MOD is short for Modifier. It is derived from the ability score.

To calculate an Ability mod: (Ability Score - 10) / 2 = Mod. Always round down. For example a score of 16 would equal a Mod of 3, a score of 15 would equal a Mod of 2.

Mod + 1/2 Level is the number you use for skill checks

When you have no appropriate skill your DM will tell you to use the Stat that most makes sense. Its simply there as a shortcut to prevent you from having to do the math when it comes up. For example your character is trying to decipher an ancient tome, History is probably the appropriate skill, but you aren't trained so your DM instead has you roll an INT check. You roll 1d20 and add your Mod + 1/2 your level number to your die roll.

Mod means Mod, not Mod + 1/2 level.

Whenever something references Mod, Ability Modifier or (for example) says STR Mod it means the Modifer number only.

Filling out your defenses

You only want to put the ability mod "ABIL MOD" because in one of the boxes you are already adding 1/2 your level, the 10+ 1/2 your level box.

Filling out skill boxes

You would write the mod + 1/2 level number in the box on the skill section of the sheet because skills you aren't trained in by default just use the related Mod + 1/2 your level whenever you would attempt to do a skill test related to it. Again, this is here simply to save you time later.

Your human ability modifier should go in your primary ability score

Which is whatever stat your class uses to make attacks. In your case if you are playing a Bow Ranger that would be Dex and if you are playing a Melee Ranger that would be STR.

Yes your # of Surges is based on your class + Con mod

Certain races & feats can give you more, but in the example you gave, yes the number of healing surges you would get is 7.