D&D 5E Distance Estimation

[Li Shenron]

Do you as a DM (or does the DM you play with) always tell specific distances of objects, creatures, or location from a player?
For instance: “The goblin is 35 feet from you.”
Or are distances estimates or left to PC’s to figure out?

I tried using estimations while using minis on a gridless table. Players could look and estimate distances, but they wouldn’t know until the distance mattered (for range attack or spell) and we used a tape measure. They really didn’t like this at first but got used to it.

I can can see this as an option using theater of the mind (“The goblin seems about 30 feet or so away.”). Gridded maps make this less than useful.
I guess PCs could also use an intelligence check to know more precisely.

Thoughts?

I do the same as you and run gridless combats. We have rulers or actually fixed sticks for common ranges (where all it matters is within/out of reach) and flexible tapes for movements, but most of the rounds you don't even need to use them, only when it's unclear.

For out-of-combat exploration I don't mind telling precise distances but I think it's generally not useful. Again, if you intend to use some ranged ability, within/out of range is all you need to know.

For travelling, I never use distances but always time. "The town is 50 miles away" is useless without context, "the town is 3 hours away on horseback" is what they need to know.

 

[FrogReaver]

We usually use a combination of precise distances and shorthand like, you are two moves or 1 dash from the orc.

I find with 4 players and a single enemy that I can keep track of relative distances between them well enough. Add in more enemies and it gets difficult, and I revert to less defined values.

 

[aco175]

I recall throwing axes on time at a scout campout. There was a log with a poker card pinned to it and we all stood like 15 feet away to throw, The kids were hitting with the axe ok, but I kept bouncing off the handle. I quickly figured that I needed to take 2 steps back to compensate for my rotation. After that I was able to just walk up and throw.

PCs do that for their lives sake. I think they would know how far they can shoot. Also, I hate playing gotcha with the players since I hated it when I was a kid.

"I step up 10ft and throw my axe at the orc that was 30ft away."
"Ok, roll with disadvantage."
"I moved up 10ft to be within 20ft of my axe throw."
"Yeah, he was really 35ft so you needed to move 15 ft."

 

[plisnithus8]

It’s not gotcha. If you use this, make it a known rule and use it with consistency.
It doesn’t work well in TotM imo.

Estimation doesn’t effect all ranged, only the very edge of range. An NFL QB knows his max range, but if you took away the yard markers and had him trying to throw across a chasm or through a crowded market, it would be much more difficult to gauge exactly how far out the max is. Or like a kicker, they’d want to get closer to have a better chance of the field goal.
After a little practice, I feel it’s much easier to gauge 6” increments (especially from a bird’s eye view above the table) than 30’ increments.

 

[Oofta]

I use a grid (well, hex map if I'm at home) and I let people count out squares all the time. If they are trying to cast a fireball to avoid hitting their allies while also hitting adjacent enemies and there's enough chaos/confusion/visibility issues I may have them make an intelligence check to position the fireball correctly but even that is rare.

 

[Stormonu]

I use exact distances, but I’ve wanted to try and use some sort of targeting check for AoE effects and the like. It doesn’t quite feel right with being able to do “danger close” fireballs and the like with pinpoint precision, but the additional effort has not been worth it for me; I’ve generally already got enough on my plate to worry about such dealing with short-round fireballs and the like.

 

[LordEntrails]

I tried using estimations while using minis on a gridless table. Players could look and estimate distances, but they wouldn’t know until the distance mattered (for range attack or spell) and we used a tape measure. They really didn’t like this at first but got used to it.

Yea... if distances matter, then use a grid. What a PITA to have to measure every movement and attack etc.

I guess PCs could also use an intelligence check to know more precisely.

Perception would be better IMO. Gauging distances is actually a stereoscopic vision ability, and has nothing to do with intelligence. (though wisdom is a stretch too).

This assumes TotM, which should be more forgiving by its nature. Having a character largely miss their action because they charged the goblin you decided was 35 feet away when you said "about 30 feet away" is asinine.

Yes, agreed.

The players only get what their characters could reasonably know. Rough estimations are the best more people can do, so that’s what the players get.

But people know with extreme accuracy what their trained/proficient abilities are. They may not know if something is 90 or 95 feet away, but they know within inches if they can run, jump, hit, reach, etc it.

So, if you are going to use more than melee, short, long, out of range, then you need to allow players to move their characters (if within movement) to the appropriate place so they get the corresponding range. "Oh, you moved 1 foot too short to get to normal range, roll with disadvantage", is simple a horrible play experience.

 

[overgeeked]

But people know with extreme accuracy what their trained/proficient abilities are. They may not know if something is 90 or 95 feet away, but they know within inches if they can run, jump, hit, reach, etc it.

No, they really don’t. Olympic athletes might. Most people don’t. A D&D PC is not an Olympic athlete.

So, if you are going to use more than melee, short, long, out of range, then you need to allow players to move their characters (if within movement) to the appropriate place so they get the corresponding range. "Oh, you moved 1 foot too short to get to normal range, roll with disadvantage", is simple a horrible play experience.

Declare, measure, then fire.

 

[Vaalingrade]

No, they really don’t. Olympic athletes might. Most people don’t. A D&D PC is not an Olympic athlete.

Clearly not.

They should be stronger, fasters, more literally and explicitly more fantastical and an Olympic athlete.

 

[Tonguez]

No, they really don’t. Olympic athletes might. Most people don’t. A D&D PC is not an Olympic athlete.

Declare, measure, then fire.

Yeah neither Robin Hood nor William Tell were olympic athletes either, but as archers they could estimate range to their targets