D&D 5E diagonals

[Joe Liker]

If you are using a grid, I find that spells work best if you center them on a grid intersection (Pathfinder), not the center of a square (D&D 4e), no matter which style of diagonal measurement you go with. The spell descriptions in 5e just lend themselves to the former system a little more smoothly.

See paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/magic.html under "Aiming a Spell" if you need further guidance.

In the end, you don't need an "official" method for this. (The "official" way to play is technically Theatre of the Mind, with grid play presented as an option.) Rules are easy to google for any style of measurement you prefer, and it doesn't significantly affect other aspects of the system, no matter what you pick. You just have to choose one that your group likes and be consistent.

 

[halfling rogue]

when we went gridless (which...awesome) we ballparked everything. we didn't break any rulers or ribbons out, if there was a question we'd go, "uh, yeah sure" or "hmm. no".

 

[Cannyjiggit]

Technically it is not in the rules, but if you are going gridless it works better. Each point on the curve should essentially be 3 inches from the point.

PHB not to hand but if I remember right, the description for the area is that the width of the cone at any point is the same as the distance from the origin. I took that distance to be the centreline of the cone which gives it a very flat endpoint (just as a geometric cone does). If you look closely at the lower edge, you can see where I originally made the image have a flat end before the DM suggested adding the curve for effect. I don't think the extra 2-3' has ever made a difference but if does look better and our DM (and game in general) is very fond of nice effects both visual and audible.

 

[Tormyr]

PHB not to hand but if I remember right, the description for the area is that the width of the cone at any point is the same as the distance from the origin. I took that distance to be the centreline of the cone which gives it a very flat endpoint (just as a geometric cone does). If you look closely at the lower edge, you can see where I originally made the image have a flat end before the DM suggested adding the curve for effect. I don't think the extra 2-3' has ever made a difference but if does look better and our DM (and game in general) is very fond of nice effects both visual and audible.

Sure. I think it looks better too, and it fits with what we do with measuring from the origin. And why would burning hands or cone of cold not travel as far in the middle as on the ends? As far as I can tell, it is just easier to calculate using the grid to have the flat edge at the end.

The template looks really nice by the way.

 

[Joe Liker]

I would love to go gridless, but my players love to push boundaries. In fact, when we played 13th Age (gridless), it was extremely difficult to reign in their advantage-taking urges.

Any suggestions? Should I just plan to use measuring sticks and templates? (Well, I would want to use templates anyway because they are such a cool visual aid.)

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I'd like to go gridless. Would make distance attacks more interesting, pick your target, fire, then measure. "oh crap I'm out of range and we have some friendly fire!"

 

[Tormyr]

I would love to go gridless, but my players love to push boundaries. In fact, when we played 13th Age (gridless), it was extremely difficult to reign in their advantage-taking urges.

Any suggestions? Should I just plan to use measuring sticks and templates? (Well, I would want to use templates anyway because they are such a cool visual aid.)

I would suggest sticking to the measuring sticks until they can be trusted. I let anything within 1 inch count as 5 foot reach, and anything within 2 inches counts as 10 foot reach. I got buy in from my players before we started our campaign. I partially had us go gridless because I make my own terrain and did not want to bother with getting grid lines on the terrain

If it works for your table, they will hit a point when most of the time they just move minis the right distance, and you aren't bothered with them being half an inch short of where they "need" to be and just give it to them.

 

[Riley37]

"Here, diagonally!"
"Pretty sneaky, Sis."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpyUTbTrqQU

 

[Psikerlord#]

theatre of the mind my friends. no measuring ever.

 

[Fralex]

I plan to go gridless but with a grid. As in, there'll be a grid, but it'll just be there to better estimate distances. You can stand on an intersection and it won't matter.

It's kind of stupid, but I use grids in part because I just like the way hexagons look. They're such cool shapes. Hexagons are basically more cooperative circles.