5' diagonals

[Demogorge]

Do you guys allow diagonal 5' steps (technically a 7' step)? Doesn't this greatly reduce the effectiveness of tower shields when you can step from total to zero concealment and still get a full-round action?

This is probably me thinking too much again.

 

[IceBear]

I allow it. Sean basically said that if you are playing on a grid do the following:

First Square moved Diagonally = 5ft

2nd Square = 10ft

3rd Square = 5ft

4th Square = 10ft

etc

Also, if you were playing on a hex map, you could do this, so just because you are on a grid map you should still be able to.

IceBear

 

[D'karr]

I remember a comment made by the game designers that made the first diagonal square 5' the second one 10'. This keeps the distance traveled equal to 15 feet but without all the weird math necessary if you use 7.5' diagonal moves.

 

[Tiberius]

The DMG (at least, I think it was the DMG) reccomends that diagonal steps be handled on an alternating 5'/10' basis (e.g. the first step is 5, the second 10 for a total of 15, the third 5, etc.)
I have not had a problem with it.

-Tiberius

 

[Greatwyrm]

If you're trying to use a tower shield against an enemy in close combat, you've probably done something terribly wrong.

Tower shields are best used to hide behind when someone is shooting at you. If you are worried about someone just walking around it, you probably need a different kind of shield.

 

[Christian]

I think Greatwyrm summed it up nicely. The 'realism' complaint just doesn't wash, here. If you were trying to whack someone with your sword, and he was hiding behind a 5' wide, movable wall, would you (a) try to hack through the wall, or (b) step around the wall and thump him? If you answered (a), you really need some professional help ... or you have a greataxe and a 45 Strength.

 

[Hadraniel]

our group uses 5' diagonal steps. We have not run into the problem of tower sheilds because our dumb paladin will not use a sheild.



Hey Demogorge you gonna play on saturday?

 

[Ranger REG]

Do you guys allow diagonal 5' steps (technically a 7' step)? Doesn't this greatly reduce the effectiveness of tower shields when you can step from total to zero concealment and still get a full-round action?

This is probably me thinking too much again.

Depends. Are you the attacker and the defender is using the tower shield? If so, then yes.

That's why a tower shield works better with other allied units. If you have allies on both side of the tower shield user, then the opponent wouldn't move to the squares to get behind the tower shield's cover.

 

[fenzer]

Three words - hexagonal battle mat

 

[IceBear]

And then you run into situations were only 6 Medium sized opponents can surround you when 3E assumes 8.

They each have their advantages.

IceBear