gjb (11/04/82)
Can anyone explicate the "mdn" terminology, in reference to the hit-point subtraction effected by a monster's hit? For example, I have a document saying that a mimic can take away 12 hit points to the tune of 3d4, while centaurs and yeti can do the same damage via 1d6/1d6. Similarly, Hs and Os and Zs and Qs can all do 8 Hp worth of damage, but the first three do 1d8, the Q 1d2/1d2/1d4. Which type will do more damage on the average? U's can take away a max of 34 Hp (3d4/3d4/2d5) and X's a max of 33 Hp (1d3/1d3/1d3/4d6), but which will do more damage on the average?
wexel (11/05/82)
The "mdn" notation is straight out of D&D (Dung. & Drag.), referring to a number of dice (m) and the number of faces per die. Thus, 1d8 identifies one eight-sided die, doing damage of 1 to 8 points (avg:4.5). In D&D there are 4,6,8,10,12, and 20-sided dice. Many monsters have several simultaneous attacks. e.g. two sets of claws (1d4, 1d4) and a bite (1d6). In this way, the monster gets actually three "shots" at you per turn. Not only is the damage greater, but the chance of hitting is higher. I hope this answers your question. --dick wexelblat
sjb (11/06/82)
The syntax MdN means to roll a N-sided die M times. In the case of MdN/XdY/etc/etc/etc you roll each #d# combination separately and add the scores. Things like MdN+X mean an MdN roll with X added to it after the rolls are made.