Longsword +1 (1d8 + 1) means 1d9 or result of 1d8 plus 1, like I always thought?

Result of 1d8 then add 1, unless they heavily changed the rules since the few games I ever played - otherwise why wouldn't it just be listed as 1d9?
Note that that's much better than 1d9, since it has a higher minimum result and a higher average result.

Well did you ever see a 1d9 dice? I know I didn't. :P

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tulac @ Sep 29 2006, 04:57 PM) [snapback]258146[/snapback]</div>Well, I haven't seen any D&D dices yet. :-) But I know, that there isn't real d9.

As Beefonthebone already said, 1d8+1 means 1 is added to the result of 1d8. The +X that you add to the result of the die roll never changes the die; a 1d4+4 does not become a 1d8 for example. It´s the same when you have more than 1 die; if it says 2d4 then don´t change it to 1d8.

Another question.

I'm playing in Baldur's Gate II and there is a spell there, which summons earth elemental with 8 hit dices.

How should I interpret this? That the elemental have a certain hit die of 1d8 or 1d6 and you should roll them eight times?

The game rolls 8d8 for his HP.

8d8 HP mean that the golem should have from 8 hp min (8*1) to 64 hp max (8*8). ;)

What means "critical miss" and does this term take place in D&D sessions or only in computer games?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Nick @ Oct 4 2006, 11:28 AM) [snapback]259317[/snapback]</div>
I think ''critical miss'' is the same as ''miss'', as opposed to ''critical hit'', which is a hit that scores maximum damage (if I remember correctly). As for the second part of your question, I'm not sure but the best thing you can do to find out is turn the ''full feedback'' option *on* in D&D-based games (I think Neverwinter Nights can do that).