Higher Ground bonus gone?

[summonedmonkey]

Couldn't find mention of this anywhere, but maybe someone in the know is. Higher ground in melee used to confer a +1 bonus, but I find no mention of that so far in 4th edition. Is it out? Can my players no longer grin maliciously as they bleed dry every bonus they can out of a situation? Any knowledge is appreciated.

 

[trimeta]

I have no specific knowledge of this rule, but it sure seems like the sort of random one-time-only bonus which would have been removed in the creation of 4e.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I'd say that fall under the Difficult Terrain rules.

 

[summonedmonkey]

Can't imagine why they would want to hurt my poor little +1 bonus...seems like all it does is positively reinforce creative tactical placement, which is what 4th edition not so subtly encourages...oh well, House rule it is then...

 

[Fallen Seraph]

You should look at the stuff in the DMG, about terrain there may be something there that suits your needs beyond just normal difficult terrain for hills.

 

[Incenjucar]

I was rather confused when I found a lack of rules for it regarding those boulders....

You could just consider it light cover.

Or the opposite of being Prone.

 

[Zsig]

Can't imagine why they would want to hurt my poor little +1 bonus...seems like all it does is positively reinforce creative tactical placement, which is what 4th edition not so subtly encourages...oh well, House rule it is then...

Same with allies not providing cover to enemies. Kinda dumb imo.

 

[summonedmonkey]

I see the bit about hills now, a steep enough slope being difficult terrain, but nothing 'bout my "Elevation Devastation" bonus. Fights on staircases, hacking away from tabletops, or, hell, off of a crate stacked on your Tenser's disc....these all need my neglected +1.

 

[Mal Malenkirk]

Same with allies not providing cover to enemies. Kinda dumb imo.

Allies grant cover to allies.

They don't grant cover to enemies presumably because when you ally screams 'duck!', you do so.

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The higher ground bonus is silly in melee.

Imagine the guy fighting on the table. You think he has advantage over the guy fighting on the ground? Really? Who do you think can parry (or block with shield) the most easily? The guy on the table? Yeah right. It's easier to defend the upper body than the legs.

For archers, if the conditions are right, higher ground probably translates to better cover.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

For archers, if the conditions are right, higher ground probably translates to better cover.

Actually the DMG talks about that with "Hindering Terrain" and how it becomes advantageous to ranged because it bogs down/stops movement and/or injures those within it, so melee can be really screwed by it.