Even More Squares?

[Rokes]

Regarding the latest WotC podcast:

One thing that struck me like a brick in the face was when James Wyatt was talking about the Briarwitch Dryad and how it used its tree stride ability to travel up to 10 SQUARES. Not up to 50 FEET. If that statement is any indication, it seems like squares may become the defacto unit of measurement. I guess I was naive to hope that the 4e would only contain a small passage stating something like "when using miniatures, each 1" square should represent 5 ft." and then refer to all distances throughout the rest of the book(s) in actual distance terms!

 

[Jhaelen]

Umm, okay. If that's all you're concerned about...

I'd be happy as a puppy if the whole 4E books didn't contain a single place where they use feet as a measurement.

Why?

We've got a metric system and have been using it for ages. It's such a pain having to calculate between meters and feet all the time.

If you don't know what I am talking about, maybe I should add that most of my players are using the German rulebooks which use the metric system, while two of them are using the English ones.

How much easier everything would be if they just measured everything in squares!

 

[Paraxis]

Squares are fine, I would like them to use squares throughout the book and put in a small passage like"A square is the aproximate area a medium sized creature controls in combat, treat it either like 5 feet or 2 meters wichever you are more comfortable with, in the end its a game and minor differences like that do not matter to the enjoyment of playing."

 

[Zurai]

I agree. Measurement-system-neutral measurements are a good idea when publishing something across multiple measurement systems.

Much better to use 10 squares in both American and European books as opposed to 50 feet in one and 15 meters in the other; the latter has the possibility of conversion errors, which bring up the question "so which version is right?".

Better to head those off at the pass and use a universal system.

 

[Deset Gled]

I really wanted hexes.

Personally, I always thought 5 feet was kind of ridiculous, anyway. 3' / 1 meter square is much more realistic for a normal persons occupied area, and makes for a better threat range (without moving your feet), too.

 

[Aloïsius]

I really wanted hexes.

Personally, I always thought 5 feet was kind of ridiculous, anyway. 3' / 1 meter square is much more realistic for a normal persons occupied area, and makes for a better threat range (without moving your feet), too.

Ditto. I think I will translate "square" into "1 meter" IMC.

 

[Simia Saturnalia]

I think I like 2 meters, myself.

I'm liking squares already.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

SWSE does this, as well.

Squares in character scale are 1.5m.

 

[Crazy Jerome]

I really didn't care for the switch to squares in 3.5, but I think with the new edition, I'm coming around. But why stop there? I liked the post here where it was suggested that weight should be in "stone". After all, if powers come in "silos" and treasure comes in "monkeys", why not go whole hog?

I kid, I kid! Don't beat me.

 

[Stormtalon]

I really didn't care for the switch to squares in 3.5, but I think with the new edition, I'm coming around. But why stop there? I liked the post here where it was suggested that weight should be in "stone". After all, if powers come in "silos" and treasure comes in "monkeys", why not go whole hog?

I kid, I kid! Don't beat me.

*Beats Jerome with a square, stone monkey whilst in a silo.*

What? WHAT???