arcana_bonus Attribute

i have seen a few Scorching Ray macros but they either have a static number as the modifier to the roll or reference int_mod and PB. why is this? 

Because scorching ray is a ranged spell attack and as such uses the intelligence bonus and proficiency bonus of the attacker in the attack roll.

We are of course assuming with Patrick that you're talking abouth D&D 5E, because you didn't mention what game you where talking about. (I think DnD 3.5e ranged spell attacks used dex for attack rolls.)

Patrick said: Because scorching ray is a ranged spell attack and as such uses the intelligence bonus and proficiency bonus of the attacker in the attack roll. arcana_bonus is intelligence bonus plus proficiency bonus... and yes this is for 5e game

The macros generated by the sheet use your spellcasting stat mod + PB in all the macros, rather than the spell attack bonus. Obviously they are numerically the same thing, I believe they've set it up like this purely for the mouseover breakdown of modifiers, so you will get +5[INT] +4[PROF]. For a universal macro you would want the Attribute spell_attack_bonus - this would make the code function for both Wizards and Sorcerers (and potentially also thieving Bards!), reading straight from the Attribute at the top of the Spells tab. The exception would be the item Circlet of Blasting which has a flat attack bonus of +5 - I'd say this is the macro you found with a static bonus. Blakley said: arcana_bonus is intelligence bonus plus proficiency bonus... and yes this is for 5e game Did you mean Spell Attack Bonus? Arcana bonus only includes Proficiency Bonus if it's selected as a skill proficiency for that character, and it isn't used for casting. The only combat use for Arcana is (optional DMG rule I think?) using your reaction to identify a spell being cast at you.

the macro i was working on was a spell attack. i had not seen anyone using the  spell_attack_bonus in any of the examples i'd researched. i have since given up on trying to make a macro for Scorching Ray .