When a creature attacks another creature in NWN2, that attack is divided into three phases:

• The Attack Roll to determine if the attack hits its target.
• The Critical Hit confirmation roll, if the attack hits and the attack roll threatens a critical hit, to determine if the attack was a critical hit.
• The damage roll to determine how many hitpoints a creature loses from the attack.

The basic damage roll consists of:

Ability Modifier affecting damage + base weapon damage+ Enhancement bonus + Other damage modifiers

In the case of a critical hit this formula becomes:

(Ability modifier affecting damage + base weapon damage + Enhancemnet bonus + damage modifiers that are multiplied on a critical hit) x Critical Hit Multiplier + damage modifiers that are not multiplied on a critical hit+ Massive Criticals/Overwhelming Critical damage.

There are many types of damage in D&D, and an attack can inflict several types of damage. In general most of the damage inflicted will be of the same type as the weapon. For the most part the type of damage is not important, however Damage Immunity will reduce a fraction of damage of a specified type and Damage Resistance will reduce a fixed amount. Damage Reduction will reduce all physical damage by a fixed amound unless a certain criteria is met.

Ability Modifier Affecting Damage Edit

In general this Ability Modifier will be the creature's Strength modifier. Although if a creature has Combat Insight and a higher Intelligence modifier than Strength modifier, the intelligence modifier will be used instead. The amount of modifier damage a creature can add to its damage roll is modified by several factors. For melee weapons:

• If the weapon is of the same size category as the creature or larger and the creature has nothing in its off-hand (i.e. the weapon is wielded two-handed), the creature will add 1.5 x its ability modifier (rounded down) to damage.
• If the weapon is a light weapon for the creature, or there is something in the creature's off-hand, the creature will add its full ability modifier to damage.
• If the weapon is being wielded in the off-hand of the creature, the creature will add half its ability modifier (rounded down) to damage.

With ranged weapons, if the weapon has the mighty property, the creature may add its ability modifier up to the value of this property to its damage roll. With thrown weapons and slings, the creature may add its full ability modifier to its damage roll, with the exception of shurikens (which do not get any ability modifier damage).

Damage that is Multiplied on Critical Hits Edit

As a rule of thumb most constant damage is multiplied on critical hits and most random damage is not multiplied on a critical hit. Damage that is multiplied on a critical hit includes:

• Ability modifier damage
• Base weapon damage (dice are rolled multiple times, not rolled once and multiplied)
• Enhancement bonus damage
• (Epic/Greater) Weapon Specialization
• Favored Enemy bonus
• Bane of Enemies
• (Improved, Favored, Enhanced, Supreme) Power Attack
• (Epic) Divine Might
• Insightful Strike
• Arcane Archer Enhance Arrows damage
• Stormlord Enhancement Bonus
• Smite (Good/Evil/Infidel)
• Divine Favor
• Prayer
• War Cry
• Courage Inspiration

Damage that is not Multiplied on Critical Hits Edit

The following are sources of damage that are not multiplied on a critical hit.

• Precise Strike
• Flourish
• Stormlord elemental damage bonuses
• Weapon bonus damage (both constant and random)
• Storm Avatar
• Flame Weapon
• Blades of Fire
• Sneak Attack
• Bleeding Wound

Damage That Does Not Work Against Enemies Who Are Immune to Critical Hits Edit

Some sources of damage do not work against enemies who are immune to critical hits:

• Sneak Attack (Epic Precision allows a character to inflict half damage with sneak attacks against these enemies)
• Insightful Strike

Damage That Is of the Same Type as the Weapon Being Used Edit

Some damage will be of the same type as the weapon being used. These sources include:

• Ability modifier damage
• Enhancement bonus damage
• (Epic/Greater) Weapon Specialization
• Favored Enemy bonus
• (Improved, Favored, Enhanced, Supreme) Power Attack
• Insightful Strike
• Arcane Archer Enhance Arrows damage
• Stormlord Enhancement Bonus
• Prayer
• Courage Inspiration
• Bane of Enemies
• Precise Strike
• Flourish
• Sneak Attack
• Overwhelming Critical