Base measurement in DDN

[StAlda]

There have been many discussions about the use of feet as measurement in DDN, it was even a question in the latest interview with the designers. Many, including myself, would prefer the measurement unit be yards (meters for the metric folk), and that 1 square on the battle map be 1 yard.

What say you?

 

[Fifth Element]

I'd be all for it. A metre is close enough to a yard that you could just substitute one for the other without really losing anything.

It would be nice to avoid scale measurements, such as 4E's squares or 1E's "inches".

 

[Dice4Hire]

I have no real problem with or preference for feet/yards/meters.

 

[enigma5915]

Yards or meters is my prefered measurement method. I think it works out better and is globally friendly. I alsp think that 1 inch square grids work better with 1 inch (square) = 1 yard.

 

[variant]

The problem with yards is that most people generally don't use them on a day by day basis. Rooms and buildings are described in feet so giving a person math to try to picture something probably isn't the best idea.

 

[Klaus]

The problem with yards is that most people generally don't use them on a day by day basis. Rooms and buildings are described in feet so giving a person math to try to picture something probably isn't the best idea.

And those of us outside the US never, ever use feet for anything (except maybe walking... maybe), whereas we use meters for everything.

3 feet = 1 yard = 1 meter = 1 square would work for me!

Human land speed = 10 yards.

 

[Sunseeker]

A yard and a meter are close enough in my book to work as a fair measurement. My preference would be for meters though. I think it's a better fit to average size and reach of a normal humanoid.

However, measuring in multiples of 3, even with a metric system, can be difficult for those less math-inclined, especially if they're unfamiliar with the unit of measure being used.

5' measurements produce very nice metric-esque intervals(5, 10, 15, 20, etc..) and are rarely broken down into inches or smaller units of incremental measure, even if they are, it's usually feet, and 5' is a nice round 60" which works out well. I do feel it is a bit large for a normal humanoid, but from fingertip to fingertip it's not so bad.

In the end, my vote is: if it ain't broke don't fix it. And IMO this is one thing that just isn't broke.

 

[Ahnehnois]

D&D is a game for nerds. Nerds should know that the entire world uses the metric system, and 1 meter is a very nice number for a square, and the yard/meter conversion is convenient.

Also, distances are measured in units of distance, not in arbitrary geometric shapes.

 

[variant]

D&D is a game for nerds. Nerds should know that the entire world uses the metric system, and 1 meter is a very nice number for a square, and the yard/meter conversion is convenient.

Also, distances are measured in units of distance, not in arbitrary geometric shapes.

That entire world doesn't include the United States, so no it isn't the entire world.

 

[Ahnehnois]

That entire world doesn't include the United States, so no it isn't the entire world.

Plenty of people in the U.S. use it. Certainly most people in the sciences who actually measure things.