Is Pathfinder 2 Paizo's 4E?

[Parmandur]

I know people don't like the "gamist" feeling of squares and hexes, but at least people could pretend that a square represented their preferred unit of measurement.

If we want to go with a gamist abstraction, then distance bands are preferable to "squares" as a unit of measurement.

 

[Aldarc]

If we want to go with a gamist abstraction, then distance bands are preferable to "squares" as a unit of measurement.

Distance bands? As in "near, close, far, etc."? The problem is when you encounter a tactical skirmish game, like D&D, where spells often care about things like the width of the cone or the diameter of the circle. I think that Index Card RPG (a d20 derivative) uses a banana / the distance between pinky tip and thumb tip as its tabletop measure.

 

[Kurviak]

Simple hack, even if it is improper math: make every five feet a meter, so 50 square feet becomes 10 square meters. Close enough for government work, and a square meter tile actually makes more sense than five foot square anyways.

Are we still talking about intuitive? I can do unit transformations, in fact I'm not that bad at it... but that's far from intuitive

 

[zztong]

All TTRPGs are still in the "Stone age," many of the first people to ever play an RPG are still playing.

Whoa now, or I'll drag my club, and my knuckles, out of here. We finally got Geico to drop the "so easy a caveman can do it" and now you say this. Sheesh.

 

[generic]

Square meters do make more sense, as a meter represents a more "believable" area of space that a combatant might be able to control, but it doesn't work in all cases.

Also, WotC is an American company, and the U.S. does not use Metric units as the standard.

Furthermore, in some fights (duels and skirmishes) 5-foot squares make more sense, but in others, they seem silly.

 

[zztong]

Simple hack, even if it is improper math: make every five feet a meter, so 50 square feet becomes 10 square meters. Close enough for government work, and a square meter tile actually makes more sense than five foot square anyways.

I'm waiting on a game to standardize on the 37.5 inch (95.25 cm) "meter-yard" or "yard-meter" that makes everyone equally happy and uncomfortable at the same time. Settings like Golarion can have their own standard.

 

[Parmandur]

Distance bands? As in "near, close, far, etc."? The problem is when you encounter a tactical skirmish game, like D&D, where spells often care about things like the width of the cone or the diameter of the circle. I think that Index Card RPG (a d20 derivative) uses a banana / the distance between pinky tip and thumb tip as its tabletop measure.

Yes, exactly: many games, such as 13th Age and the newer Star Wars use that approach. I'd rather see that or feet/meters than gamist "squares" any day of the week (even Tuesday).

 

[Parmandur]

Are we still talking about intuitive? I can do unit transformations, in fact I'm not that bad at it... but that's far from intuitive

I would figure using one's own measurements is intuitive, yes, and division can be done very quickly, and preppoahead if time with no effort.

 

[Parmandur]

Square meters do make more sense, as a meter represents a more "believable" area of space that a combatant might be able to control, but it doesn't work in all cases.

Also, WotC is an American company, and the U.S. does not use Metric units as the standard.

Furthermore, in some fights (duels and skirmishes) 5-foot squares make more sense, but in others, they seem silly.

WotC calculates everything in increments of 5 feet, for their own mathematical sanity, so that's a good unit to just make a meter for game running purposes.

 

[generic]

WotC calculates everything in increments of 5 feet, for their own mathematical sanity, so that's a good unit to just make a meter for game running purposes.

True, but then, doors will be closer to the right size on maps.

I'm not sure if I'm willing to give up the idea of five-foot wide doors quite yet.