Reason 'squares' is better than 'feet': the metric system

jaelis · Mar 6, 2008

Science trivia: surface resistance is (often) measured in "ohms per square".

Lackhand · Mar 6, 2008

nerfherder said:
Heh! I remember making exactly the same point on the Wizards boards concerning SWSE.

Me too, here.

Though I was really offput by 20' long dragons with 6" breath weapons.

Andor · Mar 6, 2008

Hypersmurf said:
No, no.

4E DM: "The castle wall is seven squares high."

4e Player: "7 square what's high? Feet? Meters? Fathoms? Rods? Why are you using an area description to describe linear distance?"

4e GM: "Fine. From where you are standing you have to tilt your head to an angle of 1/4pi radians to see the top of the wall, smart ass."

4e Player: "Did you remember my character is a halfling?"

4e GM: Censored for the good of humanity.

Geoff Watson · Mar 6, 2008

The size of houses is measured in squares, though they aren't 5'.

Geoff.

HeinorNY · Mar 6, 2008

Hypersmurf said:
No, no.

4E DM: "The castle wall is seven squares high."

Problem solved.

-Hyp.

Problem solved.
Another problem created.

Hypersmurf · Mar 7, 2008

Andor said:
4e Player: "Why are you using an area description to describe linear distance?"

He obviously hasn't played enough 4e to understand that a square is a measure of both area and of linear distance. And depending on the direction you're measuring, that linear distance might not be the same.

-Hyp.

jaelis · Mar 7, 2008

Kind of like "inches" in OD&D?

Magus Coeruleus · Mar 7, 2008

Surprised there isn't more love for paces. I think paces are excellent. It's about 5' anyway historically. It's has the archaic feel (because it is), and if you are thinking in battlemat terms it makes sense that you'd traverse a pace in order to shift or otherwise move one "square's" worth. Remember the 5' "step" from 3e? Now you can shift X paces. It's a unit of heel-to-heel land-based movement, so if your stats say speed 6, you move 6 paces in a round. That sounds fairly natural to me, definitely less crunchy and boardy than squares. I'm fine with squares as a term specific for area.