D&D 4E Movement & Time in 4e

[BASHMAN]

Okay, I noticed something intriguing in the stat cards for the spine devil. Here you can see a side-by-side comparison of the 4e and 3.x stats: http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb5/bmouse70/IMG_1532.jpg

Now, notice the 4e has a move of 5 and fly of 7. The 3.x version has a move of 20 and a fly of 100. Assuming we're talking about squares, the 3.x version should be 4 and 20 flying. So what's with the land speed being 25% faster, and the flight speed being only one-third?

I have a couple ideas:

1. maybe they have abandoned the 5' square in favor of 10' or something on those lines
2. maybe the system's measurement of time is in some way different. Instead of 6 second rounds, maybe they are 1 second rounds, like gurps, or something... If that were the case, maybe you can only move OR attack-- not both-- unless you are charging. Since they are getting rid of full attack actions, having this as a choice would streamline things without being so horrendus...

Thoughts?

 

[Scholar & Brutalman]

I'd noticed that as well, but I had a different interpretation. I'm guessing that Wizards might be cutting back on creatures with really high movement rates, at least for low level like these Spine Devils.

Really high rates do give monsters a very significant tactical advantage - they get to choose whether a fight will take place. If creatures with a move of 100 decide to flee, then the PCs can't catch them, and if they attack, the PCs can't flee.

All based on a sample size of one, of course.

 

[BASHMAN]

that might be it. Kinda like how they made orcs chaotic evil because hobgoblins were already lawful evil-- changing characteristics of creatures to fit the new mold rather than trying to recast with the old...

 

[Hussar]

I can see that. They bump its land speed a bit, so it's not a snail on the ground, and scale back a bit on its airspeed so it's not doing strafing runs free of charge on the party. After all, if I've got a movement of 100, why am I even bothering with melee? I'll just do circles and drop rocks all day long.

As far as orcs go, well, they've been a few different alignments depending on edition. Just trying to plug them into different niches is my guess.

 

[frankthedm]

I'd noticed that as well, but I had a different interpretation. I'm guessing that Wizards might be cutting back on creatures with really high movement rates, at least for low level like these Spine Devils.

Eh, wizard has been setting way too many creatures to human speed. Most critters should be closer to horse speed than a human.

What I am betting the spined devil has 20 walk due to being small and a flight of 30'. Skirmisher has 5' added onto that.

If creatures with a move of 100 decide to flee, then the PCs can't catch them, and if they attack, the PCs can't flee.

Humans are not supposed to be able to run away from creatures with longer legs or more that two legs nor should they have a chance of catching eagle sized fliers.

 

[Scholar & Brutalman]

What I am betting the spined devil has 20 walk due to being small

"Medium Immortal Humanoid (Devil)"

 

[frankthedm]

"Medium Immortal Humanoid (Devil)"

whoops, my bad. Well, guess those spines must be jammed in enough unpleasant spaces to slow down it's own movement.

 

[Intrope]

I'd noticed that as well, but I had a different interpretation. I'm guessing that Wizards might be cutting back on creatures with really high movement rates, at least for low level like these Spine Devils.

Really high rates do give monsters a very significant tactical advantage - they get to choose whether a fight will take place. If creatures with a move of 100 decide to flee, then the PCs can't catch them, and if they attack, the PCs can't flee.

All based on a sample size of one, of course.

I think you're spot here: slower move for everybody makes for more tactical positioning; if everyone's movement rates are 'cross the board' it cuts down on the tactical aspect. Well, unless you have chess-like movement rules (In 4e, Clerics can only move diagonally, & Fighters can only move forward! ZOMGWTFBBQ!!1!)

This would be in line with apparent reduction in damage per attack & the stated removal of save or die effects; all of these reduce your ability to manuever over a space of many rounds (because, by the time you're done manuevering everyone's already dead).

Note that 3.0 -> 3.5 had a fair amount of movement speed reduction, too. This could be the continuation of a trend, rather than a new thing.

Wild Speculation: base move for Medium is 4 squares rather than 6!

 

[frankthedm]

Wild Speculation: base move for Medium is 4 squares rather than 6!

Uhg. I hope to the gods that is not the case. Going to 3' squares for small or burdened would suck ass.

 

[Lanefan]

Wouldn't it be easier just to list movement in feet (or *shudder* meters), rather than squares? That way, everyone would be able to relate without doing mental math, and it'd be more granular if such was required.

Lanefan