how does portent die work?

[a random dude]

I have Karlach as my companions and it said: Karlach use main attack to enemies. Karlach needs 17 to hit. They rolled 15 which means she will miss the attack but when portent dice pop up. My portent dice is 11. I chose portent dice of 11 then she still hit the target? Wtf, should it miss the attack too? Or am I missing something here?

[Guildenstern]

At a guess, she got a _total_ of 15, which means she rolled like an 8 or so. Choosing to have her roll an 11 instead means her total was enough to hit the target's AC.

[R.J.Travis]

you don't need to roll over someones AC to hit them you just have to reach it so an AC of 11 and a roll of 10 would just barely miss as to where an roll of 11 vs an AC of 11 would be what you needed to hit.

[a random dude]

Originally posted by Guildenstern:

At a guess, she got a _total_ of 15, which means she rolled like an 8 or so. Choosing to have her roll an 11 instead means her total was enough to hit the target's AC.

I dont understand? What are u trying say? She got total 15? And why does a 11 roll is better to hit a target?

[a random dude]

Originally posted by R.J.Travis:

you don't need to roll over someones AC to hit them you just have to reach it so an AC of 11 and a roll of 10 would just barely miss as to where an roll of 11 vs an AC of 11 would be what you needed to hit.

So that portent die makes their ac become 11 and also the dice roll to hit?

[Calaeth]

Originally posted by Fire girl:

I have Karlach as my companions and it said: Karlach use main attack to enemies. Karlach needs 17 to hit. They rolled 15 which means she will miss the attack but when portent dice pop up. My portent dice is 11. I chose 11 then she hit the target? Wtf, should it miss the attack too? Or am I missing something here?

So the way portent dice work is as follows: after a long rest, you roll two D20. You save these results until the next long rest. Whenever a D20 is rolled (attacks, skill tests etc), you can choose to replace that die roll with one of your portent rolls.
Let's say you roll a 18 and a 3 in your portent die roll. So in your example, Karlach attacks an enemy, but rolls a 15 - she wouldn't hit, as the AC is 17 (requiring a roll of 17 or higher). Luckily, in one of your portent dice you have rolled a 18 - so you could choose to replace Karlach's roll, thus making it an 18, which would result in her hitting the enemy. After replacing the roll, your 18 is discarded.
If you replace her roll with your portent die of 3, the result is lower then the required AC of 17, resulting in a miss - so replacing the original die roll would not be recommended. It would be a great roll though if the enemy rolls for attack, or a save - you can replace their dice too, so they miss or fail their saves.

[a random dude]

Originally posted by Calaeth:

Originally posted by Fire girl:

I have Karlach as my companions and it said: Karlach use main attack to enemies. Karlach needs 17 to hit. They rolled 15 which means she will miss the attack but when portent dice pop up. My portent dice is 11. I chose 11 then she hit the target? Wtf, should it miss the attack too? Or am I missing something here?

So the way portent dice work is as follows: after a long rest, you roll two D20. You save these results until the next long rest. Whenever a D20 is rolled (attacks, skill tests etc), you can choose to replace that die roll with one of your portent rolls.
Let's say you roll a 18 and a 3 in your portent die roll. So in your example, Karlach attacks an enemy, but rolls a 15 - she wouldn't hit, as the AC is 17 (requiring a roll of 17 or higher). Luckily, in one of your portent dice you have rolled a 18 - so you could choose to replace Karlach's roll, thus making it an 18, which would result in her hitting the enemy. After replacing the roll, your 18 is discarded.
If you replace her roll with your portent die of 3, the result is lower then the required AC of 17, resulting in a miss - so replacing the original die roll would not be recommended. It would be a great roll though if the enemy rolls for attack, or a save - you can replace their dice too, so they miss or fail their saves.

Dude do u know I understand the portent die same as u do? But do u understand that even with portent roll of 3 she will still hit the target no matter what because I tested it myself. I really think this is a bug or I do not understand the mechanics fully

[a random dude]

Originally posted by Calaeth:

Originally posted by Fire girl:

I have Karlach as my companions and it said: Karlach use main attack to enemies. Karlach needs 17 to hit. They rolled 15 which means she will miss the attack but when portent dice pop up. My portent dice is 11. I chose 11 then she hit the target? Wtf, should it miss the attack too? Or am I missing something here?

So the way portent dice work is as follows: after a long rest, you roll two D20. You save these results until the next long rest. Whenever a D20 is rolled (attacks, skill tests etc), you can choose to replace that die roll with one of your portent rolls.
Let's say you roll a 18 and a 3 in your portent die roll. So in your example, Karlach attacks an enemy, but rolls a 15 - she wouldn't hit, as the AC is 17 (requiring a roll of 17 or higher). Luckily, in one of your portent dice you have rolled a 18 - so you could choose to replace Karlach's roll, thus making it an 18, which would result in her hitting the enemy. After replacing the roll, your 18 is discarded.
If you replace her roll with your portent die of 3, the result is lower then the required AC of 17, resulting in a miss - so replacing the original die roll would not be recommended. It would be a great roll though if the enemy rolls for attack, or a save - you can replace their dice too, so they miss or fail their saves.

I tested even with 1 die roll which should be automatic failed but somehow the portent die always guarantee a hit or save without failed. If this wasnt bug then the mechanics are just ♥♥♥♥♥♥ up

[a random dude]

Originally posted by a random dude:

I have Karlach as my companions and it said: Karlach use main attack to enemies. Karlach needs 17 to hit. They rolled 15 which means she will miss the attack but when portent dice pop up. My portent dice is 11. I chose that portent 11 then she still hit the target? Wtf, should it misses the attack too? Or am I missing something here?

[Starwight/ttv]

Originally posted by a random dude:

Originally posted by R.J.Travis:

you don't need to roll over someones AC to hit them you just have to reach it so an AC of 11 and a roll of 10 would just barely miss as to where an roll of 11 vs an AC of 11 would be what you needed to hit.

So that portent die makes their ac become 11 and also the dice roll to hit?

You have it all wrong. As a divination wizard let me explain to you and OP.

The pop up shows the total. Including modifiers, of the original roll that missed. Your girl rolled 15. TOTAL. Including modifiers. You can hover your mouse over her roll to see the actual die rolls.

The portent die of 11 is the actual d20. Then you need to add in modifiers on top of that 11. So that beats out the original total of 15 because the new attack roll for her was 11+str+prof.

It's likely Karlach rolled something like an 8 or 9 give or take on her d20 without modifiers.

[a random dude]

Originally posted by Starwight/ttv:

Originally posted by a random dude:

So that portent die makes their ac become 11 and also the dice roll to hit?

You have it all wrong. As a divination wizard let me explain to you and OP.

The pop up shows the total. Including modifiers, of the original roll that missed. Your girl rolled 15. TOTAL. Including modifiers. You can hover your mouse over her roll to see the actual die rolls.

The portent die of 11 is the actual d20. Then you need to add in modifiers on top of that 11. So that beats out the original total of 15 because the new attack roll for her was 11+str+prof.

It's likely Karlach rolled something like an 8 or 9 give or take on her d20 without modifiers.

Ok now that's an explaination. However portent roll somehow to me always guaranteed hit or save when I clicked on it

[Starwight/ttv]

Originally posted by a random dude:

Originally posted by Starwight/ttv:

You have it all wrong. As a divination wizard let me explain to you and OP.

The pop up shows the total. Including modifiers, of the original roll that missed. Your girl rolled 15. TOTAL. Including modifiers. You can hover your mouse over her roll to see the actual die rolls.

The portent die of 11 is the actual d20. Then you need to add in modifiers on top of that 11. So that beats out the original total of 15 because the new attack roll for her was 11+str+prof.

It's likely Karlach rolled something like an 8 or 9 give or take on her d20 without modifiers.

Ok now that's an explaination. However portent roll somehow to me always guaranteed hit or save when I clicked on it

It's supposed to, that's the point of them. You get a set number of portent die per day to influence a roll (or an enemies saving throw, to make them fail it). If you see the pop up, generally the portent die is in your favor. You just need to decide if you want to spend it then or hold onto it.

Portent die are your divination wizards way of changing fate. I do feel the UI is a bit misleading on it because it shows the total roll of the trigger including modifiers (ability and prof) as well as the d20. Just remember when it shows what the total rolled was, it's not saying Karlach rolled a 15 on a d20, it's showing her total attack roll to include her modifiers, was a 15.

You'll need to inspect where it shows her roll to see the actual d20 of the triggering roll, but as far as I know, the portent die screen doesn't seem to pop up if the portent die isn't better than the triggering roll.

At least it hasn't happened for me yet. So you should be good to pick it if it comes up.