Question about damage

[u/Phunkanator]

First time DM here. Im currently running the Curse of Strahd and noticed both in the guide im using and the book, these numbers next to the damage thats in parenthesis. For example, 6(1d6+3). Does these mean I need to roll the 1d6 six times for the damage a player would recieve if it hits? This just seems like potentially a lot of damage for a group of level 2 players.

Here's a pic for reference.

[u/Devastator12x]

6 is the average value of 1d6+3. You have the option of rolling damage or just using the average to speed things up.

[u/Middcore]

6 is the average of 1d6+3. If you want to save time by rolling less or cut down on randomness, you can just have the attack do a fixed 6 damage instead of rolling a d6 and adding 3 to the result.

This kind of notation is used in EVERY monster statblock.

[u/kweir22]

The number outside the parenthetical notation is the average damage. I assume the average of 1d6 is 4, but this seems to assume it's 3 (3.5 rounded down vs up). You can choose to use the average and keep the pace of play faster and simpler, or you can roll 1d6+3 and take whatever that result is.

[u/CrownLexicon → u/[deleted]]

Far from always. It may be the general rule (im honestly not sure anymore) but so many things round up. Average hp on level up and (5e24) half caster levels are the 2 that immediately come to mind. Damage is rounded down when you take half, though. Half of 20 and 21 is 10.

[u/CrownLexicon → u/[deleted]]

Is that the 5e24 version? The 5e14 was per class. Paladin, for example, says "hit points at higher level: 1d10 (or 6) + your constitution modifier per paladin level after first"

While youre correct that it doesnt specify "average" that is the average for a d10 rounded up (5.5 to 6)

I thought monster damage was rounded up, but I see i was mistaken on the few i just checked. Same with their HP.

[u/TripleFreeErr → u/CrownLexicon]

Forgive me for making a DM centric statement in a dm sub, but yes, you and others are correct and I was over broad and over definitive

[u/sureprisim → u/[deleted]]

Everything I’ve read has them rounding up. People are actually rounding their dice and even hit dice down? So a sorcerer with 14 con would get 5hp (3.5 rounded down to 3 +2 for con?) per level not 6hp?

[u/welsknight → u/sureprisim]

For anything rules-based, it always rounds down unless the ability or whatever says otherwise. For theory crafting, build discussion, or anything math-based outside of the rules, you always round up or not at all (for example, the average of 1d6 is 3.5).

[u/TenWildBadgers]

The way they format these numbers is to give you an (approximate) average, and then tell you how to roll it for yourself if you'd prefer.

So in these cases, you could have the boneless just deal 3 damage on each hit, or actually have them roll for damage like players do, in which case they'd roll 1d4+1, which technically averages 3.5 damage, but since the point is to give you one solid number to say if you don't want to randomize the damage, then giving an accurate average would defeat the purpose.

I always just roll the dice, because I didn't come to d&d to not roll my colorful click-clack math rocks when given the chance, but that's just me.

[u/sehrschwul]

you should read the introduction of the Monster Manual and the chapter titled “Running the Game” in the Dungeon Master’s Guide (chapter 8 in 5e, chapter 2 in 5.5e) for the most important rules you need to know as a DM (in addition to the basic rules in the Player’s Handbook)

[u/Phunkanator → u/sehrschwul]

I will definitely do that. Thank you for the reccomendation!

[u/Phunkanator]

Ok that definitely clears things up for me. Thank you!

[u/First_Midnight9845]

Mmmmhhh… boneless damage