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Lazy Monster Damage – Subtract 3, Add 1d6

by Mike on 29 January 2024

This tip is a trick I first heard attributed to Chris Perkins. I've used it a lot and love it. First, I'm a huge proponent of using static monster damage. It's fast, easy, and moves the game forward at a good clip. It's super lazy.

Some don't like how static damage is so, well, static. So here's a trick to add variance without a lot of work.

Subtract 3 from the static damage of a monster and add 1d6.

It adds just enough variance to make the damage feel different but needs only a single d6 and the math is easy.

What About Critical Hits?

For critical hits, double the static damage, subtract 3, and add 1d6. Sure, crits hit harder than usual but monsters can use the love.

Ignore for Lower Dice Damage

You really only need this trick if rolling monster damage uses two or more dice. If it's a single die and a modifier then subtracting 3 and adding 1d6 isn't making things easier. When a monster inflicts two or more dice worth of damage – often on a multi-attack – rolling all those dice slows things down.

That said, if you want to use a d6 for everything, you can still subtract 3 and add 1d6 to every static damage value you come across.

Give it a try!

More Sly Flourish Stuff

Last week I posted a couple of YouTube videos on Building Fantastic Monuments in D&D and 5e Combat and a Forge of Foes Deep Dive.

Last Week's Lazy RPG Talk Show Topics

Each week I record an episode of the Lazy RPG Talk Show (also available as a podcast) in which I talk about all things in tabletop RPGs. Here are last week's topics with time stamped links to the YouTube video:

Patreon Questions and Answers

Also on the Talk Show, I answer questions from Sly Flourish Patrons. Here are last week's questions and answers:

RPG Tips

Each week I think about what I learned in my last RPG session and write them up as D&D tips. Here are this week's tips:

Expect single monsters to be taken out with a single ability above 7th level.
What did this location used to be?
The enemy of their enemy may be their friend.
Be very careful taking agency away from a character.
Go around the table for quick initiative during small battles.
Use a d6 as an oracle die to determine things like guard patrols or other random events.
Ask players to discuss new abilities when they level up. Write them down.