Hi, I'm Izzy, and I don't understand the damage calculator.

Hiya, Izzy!

The dice must be used in the Hunger Games. However, it does not need to be used in fights in the districts - some people do use it, but most people don't and decide between each other what happens in the fight.

The numbers in the dice system are kind of like a "points" system - I call them damage points. In the Games, each tribute has a limit of 40 points. Each attack counts for a certain number of damage points - for example, a deep gash is usually 8.5, a shallow cut is 3.5, and a miss is 0.0. The harder the hit, the more points it's worth. Once the amount of damage points surpasses 40, the tribute is dead. It's how we keep our Games fair. Outside of the Games, if you decide to use the dice in a fight, you can determine the points limit and whether or not you want the end result to be death or simply defeat. You're free to use the system however you choose.

The damage calculator can be used to determine how many damage points your character has accumulated. In the Initial Damage field, you should put the number of points the character has already accumulated. For example, if I'm in a fight and I have already been given a shallow cut, I would put 3.5 in that field. The check box for Self Defense is related to the Games - if you have taken the Self Defense station, any attack worth more than six points will have one point subtracted, and by checking that box the damage calculator will do this automatically. You can then use the drop down labeled Attack 1 to select the attack inflicted on your character. Attacks are listed alphabetically. You'll notice a button farther down that allows you to put in additional attacks. When you've put in all of the attacks against your character, hit "Tally Damage". You will then be given your character's current damage.

Generally, in longer fights if you'd like to figure out the damage after multiple attacks, you should use the Damage Calculator. If you're in a slower moving fight or only want to see a single result, you should use the attack lookup, which you seem to already have a good grasp on.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions!

(Also, I hope you don't mind, but I moved the thread to Questions and Suggestions. Generally tutoring is focused more on writing, but if you'd like more help in that aspect I can definitely move it back!)