The number in parenthesis after the STR statistic for a monster or NPC is its damage value and the main rulebook mentions that this is based on typical gear or trappings for a creature or NPC of that type. So I am assuming that this takes into account the weapon the creature or NPC might be using and that you normally do not have to calculate in weapon damage in addition to this number then?

Correct?

Thanks in advance!

Yes, but I think it's worth varying this occasionally to reflect different weapons they might have.

My question about this is TOA says that the parenthesis damage is like equipment etc. This suggests you add it to Str for melee attacks and to Agility for ranged attacks.

E.g., say the goblins using their shortbows text say they have shoot at someone, is their damage total 4 as the parenthesis says or is it 4+4 for their Agility? Two goblin arrows takes down any starting PC?

Fairly big difference in how fast someone drops, but the TOA reference in monster section explaining the Damage, Defence, Soak numbers seems to be saying the number is a DR, meaning added to Characteristic. The FAQ reference to how to read fortune dice on monster characteristics also suggets you're using the characteristic to determine damage.

Rob

Yeah, a goblin St 3(4) Ag 4(0) hitting with a ranged attack would do a base 8 damage. An average PC, say, To 3 and no armour would take 5 wounds from that hit. So should just be able to cope with two goblin arrows stuck in him if he's lucky.

Thanks, really need to remind people to buy up that Toughness, between Wounds and Soak and Resilience.