Jumping Limits

[Samloyal23]

In 3E you could not jump further than a multiple of your hight, which made sense as it allowed a racial distinction related to size. I looked at 3.5 and Pathfinder and do not see anything like it. Just how far can you jump in these games?

 

[Jimlock]

as far as your check and movement allow it.

 

[Wyvernhand]

Chuck, the Ruby Knight Windicator can jump around the world, and achieve low earth orbit if he wishes. It might take him a couple of days to complete the jump, though, since once you start the jump, you can't do much until you finish.

That's kinda an abuse of game mechanics, though. Still, with minimal effort, its not hard to jump further in D&D than it is in real life, even by ECL 6.

 

[kitcik]

That's kinda an abuse of game mechanics, though. Still, with minimal effort, its not hard to jump further in D&D than it is in real life, even by ECL 6.

A thri-kreen can long jump 60+ feet at ECL 3 (1 MH, 1 LA, 1 class level).

 

[Ashtagon]

In 3E you could not jump further than a multiple of your hight, which made sense as it allowed a racial distinction related to size. I looked at 3.5 and Pathfinder and do not see anything like it. Just how far can you jump in these games?

That's not in the SRD.

You have a free amount of vertical reach based on Size, and reaching higher than that depends on your ability to jump.

 

[Sekhmet]

While the SRD does have maximums posted, the charts have an obvious pattern which could be continued if you chose to.
There is no Epic Usage of the Jump skill, so the DC pattern doesn't change significantly at any point.

I would like to see Chuck, the Ruby Knight Windicator though.

 

[Samloyal23]

Am I misreading the rules? I just don't see any hard numbers on how far you can actually jump...

 

[Sekhmet]

Am I misreading the rules? I just don't see any hard numbers on how far you can actually jump...

You're correct. If you can get your check high enough, you could jump any distance.
I'm not sure what the actual point of it is, since by the time you can get your check to any decent number, you can probably fly.

 

[Samloyal23]

You're correct. If you can get your check high enough, you could jump any distance.
I'm not sure what the actual point of it is, since by the time you can get your check to any decent number, you can probably fly.

That makes no sense at all. A shorter person should not be able to jump as far as someone with longer legs, a jump in a tight space with no room for an arcing trajectory should be impossible, and blind luck should not let you jump across the Grand Canyon...

 

[Sekhmet]

I don't think a "blind luck" check can reach the 95,040 range (widest part of the Grand Canyon).

Remember that the average person can only ever reach (about) a jump check of 10, which is a running start (of 20 feet or more).
From a standing position, the average person will only be able to reach about 5 feet.

Likewise, an average person (with a running start) can reach about a 3 foot high jump, or a 1 foot high jump with no start.

Halflings actually have a racial bonus to Jump of +2.

It is up to you, as the DM, to determine when a Jump is more or less difficult, and when it is impossible at all. Watching Olympic long jumpers in action can show you about the height necessary to achieve great distances, rarely above about fifteen feet of clearance.

Edit: Remember, a lot of things in D&D don't make perfect sense. Also, any check above about 20 is impossible for the average JoeSchmoe, and in the realms of heroes and villains who specialize in that sort of thing.