To access the max, you must specify the name of the character: @{<name>|<attribute>|max} you have to use that format even in the context of a character. To keep it generic, you can use the character_name attribute: @{ @{character_name}|<attribute>|max} (pretty sure that works...) In Roll20 parlance, attibutes are a value storage mechanism, kind of like a variable in programming. Abilities are a collection of chat commands, with the added benefit of assuming all references are in the context of the character they are attached to, like a scopes function in programming. Macros are basically the same, but without the assumed character. (Macros can be invoked with #<macro name> )