Fighting in Cramped Conditions

This thread inspired me to go back and look at my rules for having more than one character in a box at a time and clarifying them a bit - but in general they have served me and my groups well over the years (this is the adaptation of some we started doing in 2E days, when yes, we used minis and AoOs back then, too)

Multiple Characters in the Same Box

There may be times when two more more allies may want to squeeze into the same area in order better reach opponents or defend a passageway or other similar situations. Fighting in close quarters may sometimes have a tactical advantage, but it has its own disadvantages from allies getting in each others way and having limited movement.

Note that "box" here is used to refer to the space that creature normally takes up. So the "box" of a large creature with 10' space is actually four boxes, but it is treated as one box of the purpose of any allies entering into any of those boxes.

When two medium characters, they both suffer a –2 circumstance penalty to their attack rolls and reflex saves.

When three medium characters squeeze into the same box they all suffer a –4 penalty to their attack rolls and reflex saves and gain no benefit from a positive Dexterity modifier.

Four medium creatures cannot fit in the same box. Creatures attempting to bullrush a creature sharing a box with an ally are subject to attacks of opportunity from the ally, and suffers a -1 circumstance penalty for every creature in the box. You cannot overrun a box containing more than one creature unless you are at least one size category larger than the occupants.

• Each size smaller size category of creature below medium counts as three-quarters the size category above it (rounded down). Thus, two small creatures equal one and a half medium creatures (rounded down to 1) and take no penalty, but three small creatures would count as two medium creatures, and four would be equal to three medium creatures.
• Each size larger size category of creature above medium counts as one and half the size category below it (rounded down). Thus, two large creatures count as three medium creatures.

Thus one small and one large creature in the same box would count as two medium creatures, thus suffering the -2 to attack rolls and reflex saves.

Simple and effective. Just the way I like rules.

I just use the squeezing rules from v3.5:

SRD said:

Squeezing

In some cases, you may have to squeeze into or through an area that isn’t as wide as the space you take up. You can squeeze through or into a space that is at least half as wide as your normal space. Each move into or through a narrow space counts as if it were 2 squares, and while squeezed in a narrow space you take a -4 penalty on attack rolls and a -4 penalty to AC.

When a Large creature (which normally takes up four squares) squeezes into a space that’s one square wide, the creature’s miniature figure occupies two squares, centered on the line between the two squares. For a bigger creature, center the creature likewise in the area it squeezes into.

A creature can squeeze past an opponent while moving but it can’t end its movement in an occupied square.

To squeeze through or into a space less than half your space’s width, you must use the Escape Artist skill. You can’t attack while using Escape Artist to squeeze through or into a narrow space, you take a -4 penalty to AC, and you lose any Dexterity bonus to AC.

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Two people in the same space count as squeezing in an area at least half as wide. Three or four in the same space count as squeezing into a space less than half your space's width, in terms of combat anyway.

It's a bit more harsh than yours, though,
Flynn

Flynn said:

It's a bit more harsh than yours, though,
Flynn

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That's why I like it. 4 PCs lined up 'squeezed' shoulder to shoulder so they can all get their full attacks should take a big hit. I don't run into it much, but I also add that Reflex saves are also at -4 if you squeezed any time in the previous round.

The reason I don't use the squeezing rules and came up with my own (which I posted previously) is b/c I see squeezing as something used in situations where there is no give to situation - like a narrow tunnel, or under low cliff overhang - while I imagine that two people in the same box would be able to give each other bit of give and take for fighting.

That is why my rules for three people in a box are in more restrictive.

Somehow, this thread makes me think of that hilarious Timberlake SNL sketch...