Talk:THAC0/@comment-73.130.70.51-20181023033253/@comment-65.217.185.138-20181023163008

The system isn't even meaningfully different from the 3E system.

As pointed out below, inconsistent use of the terminology is the main problem. A "+1 bonus to THAC0" being a good thing is simply nonsense when THAC0 is defined in a way that makes lower values better. Yet virtually all the game's items and descriptions use "+1 bonus" to actually mean "subtract 1 from THAC0". Anyone not already used to this has good reason to be confused.

Saving throws are similarly garbled. It took me hours to figure out that a spell with a "save vs. spell at a -4 penalty" effect actually means that the *target's* roll is penalized by 4, when this wording is completely consistent with the *caster* being penalized by subtracting 4 from the target's "Save vs. Spell" stat.

3E changed virtually nothing about THAC0 besides removing the possibility of this sort of confusion.