Define "Higher Ground"

[mcgeedis]

The PHB states that you have a +1 attack modifier if you are attacking an opponent from higher ground. What exactly is higher ground? If I have Fly cast on a character, and he is, let's say, hovering 5 feet off the ground. Would that constitute being on higher ground and having a +1 attack bonus? I only ask because during my brief years of D&D, I've never seen this enter play.

 

[frankthedm]

The PHB states that you have a +1 attack modifier if you are attacking an opponent from higher ground. What exactly is higher ground? If I have Fly cast on a character, and he is, let's say, hovering 5 feet off the ground. Would that constitute being on higher ground and having a +1 attack bonus? I only ask because during my brief years of D&D, I've never seen this enter play.

Higher ground. Emphasis on ground.

 

[el-remmen]

This comes up in my games all the time, but then again I am really into using environment in the design of my encounters.

But everything from being higher up on the stairs, atop a table or a low wall, on a tree stump in the forest, on a balcony, on a horse. . . etc. . .

 

[Nifft]

Yeah, I'd argue that higher ground means you have some sort of analogue for cover, because something solid is where your legs and maybe torso should be, allowing you to blah blah blah... and thus it would include stairs, tables, and other solid surfaces.

Cheers, -- N

 

[EvilPheemy]

Only when standing on the steep bank next to a river of lava, whilst your opponent is hovering on a robot in said river. Additional bonus for having the more selfless moral code.

(into Exile I must go!)

 

[Drowbane]

Only when standing on the steep bank next to a river of lava, whilst your opponent is hovering on a robot in said river. Additional bonus for having the more selfless moral code.

(into Exile I must go!)

You win the interwebs!

 

[Sejs]

Like the frog, I also see it come up quite often. Slopes, tables, countertops, stairs, big rocks, logs, wagons, etc.

Any battlefield is made more awesome by having interesting crap strewn around it to offter tactical opportunities.

 

[Glyfair]

Higher ground. Emphasis on ground.

I'll note that one encounter in Eyes of the Lich Queen (I'm pretty sure, it might have been the recent Dungeon) notes that a creature gains the higher ground modifier for hovering above his opponent (with reach, so out of reach of most medium characters).

 

[MarkB]

To me, it would require two things:

• Firm footing (at least equally as firm as that of your opponent)
• Clear height advantage (at least 3-4 feet, preferably a tidy 5 feet)

For flying creatures, I'd consider them to have firm footing only if they had, at the very least, Good manoueverability.

 

[hong]

For flying creatures, I'd consider them to have firm footing only if they had, at the very least, Good manoueverability.

Which is everybody with a fly spell....