Leveling up and Ability Scores/Modifiers

[Slannder]

Hi I'm very new to 4e, i just hit lvl 2 and im trying to level up my char sheet, in the ability score section it has your Score then Ability Mod then Mod + 1/2 lvl, does that mean if at lvl 1 my CHA was 13 and the Modifier was 1, then at lvl 2 my CHA goes up to 14 and modifier goes to 2 because half my lvl is 1?

 

[Jhaelen]

Hi I'm very new to 4e, i just hit lvl 2 and im trying to level up my char sheet, in the ability score section it has your Score then Ability Mod then Mod + 1/2 lvl, does that mean if at lvl 1 my CHA was 13 and the Modifier was 1, then at lvl 2 my CHA goes up to 14 and modifier goes to 2 because half my lvl is 1?

The character sheet is a bit misleading. It isn't your ability modifier that increases. It is your ability _check_ modifier. The card-sized character overview (on your first power card page) shows your current ability modifiers.

 

[Arctic Wolf]

You ability modifier for CHA stays at 13, but you now can get a bonus from half your level, which since you are level 2 now, is equal to 1. You only gain more half level bonus' at even levels. So your ability modifier and 1/2 level total equals 2. When you hit level 4, assuming your CHA modifier stays the same, you would get a total of 3, 1 from CHA and 2 from 1/2 your level.

 

[nogray]

Ability Score vs. Modifier vs. Check Modifier

Your ability score only goes up if you put points into it at one of the levels where you have that choice. That's levels 4, 8, 14, 18, 24, and 28. all of them also go up automatically at the new tier levels (11 and 21).

Assuming you don't put any of the chosen ability increases into your charisma, it would progress like the chart in the sblock.

[sblock="Score and Modifier Progression"]

 Level | Ability Score | Raw Modifier | Check Modifier
-------+---------------+--------------+---------------
   1   |     13        |     +1       |     +1
  2-3  |     13        |     +1       |     +2
  4-5  |     13        |     +1       |     +3
  6-7  |     13        |     +1       |     +4
  8-9  |     13        |     +1       |     +5
  10   |     13        |     +1       |     +6
-------+---------------+--------------+----------
  11   |     14        |     +2       |     +7
 12-13 |     14        |     +2       |     +8
 14-15 |     14        |     +2       |     +9
 16-17 |     14        |     +2       |    +10
 18-19 |     14        |     +2       |    +11
  20   |     14        |     +2       |    +12
-------+---------------+--------------+----------
  21   |     15        |     +2       |    +12
 22-23 |     15        |     +2       |    +13
 24-25 |     15        |     +2       |    +14
 26-27 |     15        |     +2       |    +15
 28-29 |     15        |     +2       |    +16
  30   |     15        |     +2       |    +17

[/sblock]

You don't use the actual score for much. You generally use the "Raw Modifier" (which is equal to (Score - 10)/2, rounded down) for things like damage on an attack. (Example: The Daily power on a set of Fireburst Armor says "Until the end of your next turn, any creature that hits you with a melee attack takes 1d8 + Charisma modifier fire damage." That refers to what I call the "Raw Modifier.") Lastly, you use the Check Modifier any time a Charisma check is made. Notice that the check modifier is just the raw modifier + 1/2 your level.

You also have the option to increase the score (and possibly the modifiers) at each of those _4 and _8 levels that I mentioned above.

I hope that helps.

 

[Slannder]

i got it now so anytime i roll a d20 for a check or attack roll i add the modifier +1/2 my lvl but on a power where it asks for my modifier i just use that and Not my 1/2 lvl?