Movement and Combat on a square grid map

[Bystander]

I just bought a square grid map, and am going to run a dungeon module, but have a question.

I can see in the players handbook, that a character threatens and can attack the four adjacent squares and the four diagonal squares, but what about movement?

Can the characters move like a queen (diagonal AND to the sides) or like a rook (sideways only)?

It seems like they can avoid a lot of traps if they move diagonally all the time.

And if in combat, the character moved diagonally to another side of an opponent, wouldn't that count as moving through the threatened diagonal space? That seems too sketchy for me to allow.

Is there a page in PH or DMG that covers grid movement and combat?

Thanks for helping me out chaps!
-Bystander (not really English)

 

[AGGEMAM]

A character can off course move in any direction.

A sideways step/move is 5 feet each. (That was easy).

A diagonal move is 5 feet for every odd numbered move (1st, 3rd, etc), and 10 feet for every even numbered move (2nd, 4th, etc).

You threaten each square into which you can make a melee attack.

If you move through a threatened square it provokes an Attack of Oppertunity (AoO) from the threatening character/monster unless all you did is move and the square you began your move in was only threatened square you moved through or unless your entire move for the round was 5 feet.

 

[Berk]

Can the characters move like a queen (diagonal AND to the sides) or like a rook (sideways only)?

Yep, they can move like a queen.

It seems like they can avoid a lot of traps if they move diagonally all the time.

Don't see how if the traps cover say then entire hall way or such. Most traps don't effect just the typical 5x5 square.

And if in combat, the character moved diagonally to another side of an opponent, wouldn't that count as moving through the threatened diagonal space? That seems too sketchy for me to allow.

If you move more then 5' within an opponents threatened area then you provoke AoO. For example.

e=enemy, c=character

xxx
xex
xcx

if the character moved to here

xxx
cex
xxx

he wouldn't provoke an attack of opportunity, but if they moved here

xcx
xex
xxx

then they would.

Just remember every 2 diagnol movements is equal to 15'.

 

[Cyndre01]

2 things:
1) In 3E the focus for traps is on objects, not areas. You can have floor traps, but usually a trap is on a doorway, a chest, a window, ect. If there is a floortrap beyond a door and the entire area beyond the door is trapped, then i would consider the diagonal moves to set off the trap, even if it visually avoids it.
2) A diagonal move with 5' squares should be 7 feet. It's simple math. The every other move is 10' rule seems to work for this.

 

[Bystander]

Yep, they can move like a queen.

OK then cool

If you move more then 5' within an opponents threatened area then you provoke AoO. For example.

e=enemy, c=character

xxx
xex
xcx

if the character moved to here

xxx
cex
xxx

he wouldn't provoke an attack of opportunity,

no aoo for this one for skipping this square?
xxx
xex
cxx

but if they moved here

xcx
xex
xxx

then they would.

That would only provoke one aoo for passing through one of the two sides?

Just remember every 2 diagnol movements is equal to 15'.

ok cool!

 

[Bystander]

Originally posted by Cyndre01

2 things:
1) In 3E the focus for traps is on objects, not areas. You can have floor traps, but usually a trap is on a doorway, a chest, a window, ect. If there is a floortrap beyond a door and the entire area beyond the door is trapped, then i would consider the diagonal moves to set off the trap, even if it visually avoids it.

Some of the traps are on areas, but it seems like more (pit/trapdoor) are not.

2) A diagonal move with 5' squares should be 7 feet. It's simple math. The every other move is 10' rule seems to work for this.

Yeah.. I was just telling Keith that that sounded good.
Berk explained the combat good too with his x's
-Bys

 

[Cyndre01]

ya need to work on quoting, bro

 

[Bystander]

ya need to work on quoting, bro

I know how to do it, I just didn't bother. I just wanted to do it quick like! If it was a more complex set of questions within the quote, I'd have taken the time. Sorry.

Ok... I went back and fixed it. Happy?

 

[Cyndre01]

Ok... I went back and fixed it. Happy?

Well at least i can read it now, yeah

 

[Petrosian]

My rule is quite simple...

You can move diagonally as a 5' worth of move if and only if both of the following conditions are met...

1. You have to be able to mve thru both squares you are cutting between. So if one square ia a wall or corner of a builing, you cannot cut diagonally.

2. For ANY purpose, including but not limited to area of effect spells in effect and provoking AoO's, you are treated as if passing thru both hexes.

This boils it down not to mathing out the hypoteneuse, but rather tactical issues.

This avoids what some have seen with the "corners are 15' rule where you can move up to a guy with 1-' reach taking no AoOs at all if you play the diagonal. (That wasn't why i did it, i just wanted the decision to be tactically derived.)