Crom Faeyr is very underrated as an offhand weapon. Sure it doesn't give an extra attack, but 25 strength is +14 to damage. The alternative is a giant strength belt with +8 or so to damage. That's +6 damage/hit for every attack.
The only exception is if you are a cleric multi/dual and buff with DuHM every fight to get strength 25 anyway.
The simple version, every time your character attacks it rolls a digital 20-sided die. That said -
"What is THACO?" THACO is what you have to roll to hit someone with an armor class of 0. 20's ALWAYS hit, and 1's ALWAYS miss.
Ex: with a THACO of 10 and an opponent with an AC of 0, you would need to roll a 10 in order to hit your opponent.
Ex2: With a THACO of -1 and an opponent with an AC of 0, you will only miss on a "natural 1"
Ex3: With a THACO of 21 and an opponent with an AC of 0 you will only hit on a "natural 20"
"How does AC affect Thaco?" Think of AC as the raw modifier added to a dice roll to get your end number. It is the number you add to determine what the final score is on your digital roll.
Ex1: The target has an AC of 6. You have a THACO of 16. You "roll" a 12 -> 12+6 = 18 18 > 16, so you hit your target
Ex2: The target has an AC of -3. You have a Thaco of 13 You "roll" a 15 -> 15 + (-3) = 12 12 < 13, so you miss your target
Also, a tie goes to the attacker in most circumstances.
THAC0 means To Hit AC0 which means the minimum die roll to hit a target with an AC of 0. Thus a positive AC is worse than AC 0 and a negative AC is better than AC 0.
As such, the formula is as follows: Minimum roll to hit = THAC0_Attacker - AC_Defender
Example: THAC0 20, AC 10: Minimum roll = 20 - 10 = 10 or higher THAC0 13, AC 2: Minimum roll = 13 - 2 = 11 or higher THAC0 5, AC 8: Minimum roll = 5 - 8 = -3 or higher -> 2 or higher (1 is always miss, negative die rolls are impossible) THAC0 5, AC -3: Minimum roll = 5 - (-3) = 5 + 3 = 8 or higher
Note: 1 is always miss, 20 is always hit (potentially critical), regardless of THAC0 or AC.
D&D 3rd edition (Neverwinter Nights, NWN2) and higher abolished THAC0 though and replaced it with Attack Bonus and a different AC mechanic.
THAC0 means To Hit AC0 which means the minimum die roll to hit a target with an AC of 0. Thus a positive AC is worse than AC 0 and a negative AC is better than AC 0.
As such, the formula is as follows: Minimum roll to hit = THAC0_Attacker - AC_Defender
Example: THAC0 20, AC 10: Minimum roll = 20 - 10 = 10 or higher THAC0 13, AC 2: Minimum roll = 13 - 2 = 11 or higher THAC0 5, AC 8: Minimum roll = 5 - 8 = -3 or higher -> 2 or higher (1 is always miss, negative die rolls are impossible) THAC0 5, AC -3: Minimum roll = 5 - (-3) = 5 + 3 = 8 or higher
Note: 1 is always miss, 20 is always hit (potentially critical), regardless of THAC0 or AC.
D&D 3rd edition and higher abolished THAC0 though and replaced it Attack Bonus and a different AC mechanic.
Also it appears 'Dark viper' likes to play dress ups in his free time?
If this was all TL;DR for you, read only one comment in this discussion & make it this one. Gentlemen, we are done here. LOL, thanks everyone; especially you Cantab. /thread
Oh no, please don't close this yet.. it has to end properly: http://www.goblinscomic.org/09242005/ Apologies for being off topic. ON topic, the explanation on this thread is one of the best.
If you want to see it in another way, the roll you need to hit is simply the distance between your THAC0 and the enemy's AC on the Number Line (an infinite line of all Real Numbers), and if AC is greater you hit unless you roll 1. My guess is it made sense to some people because it can be done visually.
Comments
The only exception is if you are a cleric multi/dual and buff with DuHM every fight to get strength 25 anyway.
That said -
"What is THACO?"
THACO is what you have to roll to hit someone with an armor class of 0. 20's ALWAYS hit, and 1's ALWAYS miss.
Ex: with a THACO of 10 and an opponent with an AC of 0, you would need to roll a 10 in order to hit your opponent.
Ex2: With a THACO of -1 and an opponent with an AC of 0, you will only miss on a "natural 1"
Ex3: With a THACO of 21 and an opponent with an AC of 0 you will only hit on a "natural 20"
"How does AC affect Thaco?"
Think of AC as the raw modifier added to a dice roll to get your end number. It is the number you add to determine what the final score is on your digital roll.
Ex1:
The target has an AC of 6. You have a THACO of 16.
You "roll" a 12 -> 12+6 = 18
18 > 16, so you hit your target
Ex2:
The target has an AC of -3. You have a Thaco of 13
You "roll" a 15 -> 15 + (-3) = 12
12 < 13, so you miss your target
Also, a tie goes to the attacker in most circumstances.
Thus a positive AC is worse than AC 0 and a negative AC is better than AC 0.
As such, the formula is as follows:
Minimum roll to hit = THAC0_Attacker - AC_Defender
Example:
THAC0 20, AC 10: Minimum roll = 20 - 10 = 10 or higher
THAC0 13, AC 2: Minimum roll = 13 - 2 = 11 or higher
THAC0 5, AC 8: Minimum roll = 5 - 8 = -3 or higher -> 2 or higher (1 is always miss, negative die rolls are impossible)
THAC0 5, AC -3: Minimum roll = 5 - (-3) = 5 + 3 = 8 or higher
Note: 1 is always miss, 20 is always hit (potentially critical), regardless of THAC0 or AC.
D&D 3rd edition (Neverwinter Nights, NWN2) and higher abolished THAC0 though and replaced it with Attack Bonus and a different AC mechanic.
/thread
Apologies for being off topic. ON topic, the explanation on this thread is one of the best.
If you want to see it in another way, the roll you need to hit is simply the distance between your THAC0 and the enemy's AC on the Number Line (an infinite line of all Real Numbers), and if AC is greater you hit unless you roll 1. My guess is it made sense to some people because it can be done visually.