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

[Geron Raveneye]

Historical Tangent! The Roman pace was *two* steps, which yours is too, if each step is a smidge over 2 feet.

This is why the imperial mile (1000 paces!) is 52580 feet -- each pace (two steps, remember) is just a hair over 5.2 feet, as measured by a centurion on the march.

And now you know.

Argh! Stop that! I know my brain will never let go of this information again, while rejecting anything new I'd need for my actual job! Please, could somebody make chemistry into an RPG so it would stick better to my memory?

Just kidding. Thanks for that tidbit, I always find it interesting to learn something new.

 

[Hunter In Darkness]

Hunter -- that's very hard to read, that's why Even if you take out the bet-hedging, it's confusing and distracting.

I think arbitrary units that nobody uses, but which are easy to adjudicate for in-game effects, with pretty clear rules on how to translate between them and real-world units, are far superior.

Honestly, though, if you don't use a battlemat, you end up doing everything in your head anyway, and then all you need is "close, medium, far" ranges, and specific square counts don't matter. Since it's only really applicable on the battlemat or equivalents thereof, I don't mind the gamey terminology.

I don't find 5'/1.5m hard myself but some might course a conversion table might help to .Any how I don't use mat so your right there its not an issue for me or you it seems.Just a thought i had thought i'd share.

 

[Goobermunch]

I think arbitrary units that nobody uses, but which are easy to adjudicate for in-game effects, with pretty clear rules on how to translate between them and real-world units, are far superior.

So you're voting for metric then, right?





I kid, I kid.

--G

 

[Lackhand]

So you're voting for metric then, right?





I kid, I kid.

--G

That'd be silly.

Smoots are the only way to go.

 

[HarbingerX]

Actually, from a practical usability standpoint, the imperial system has some things going for it.

Have you ever had to measure out a third of a meter? Let me tell you, it's much easier to measure a third of a foot (4 inches). Since the imperial system (for lengths anyway) comes back to base 12, you can do division by 2, 3, 4, and 6 quite easily. With a base 10 system, for division by numbers other than 2 and 5, you're looking at decimal places and guestimates between the cm marks on a measuring tape.

You just have to adjust your math-based brain to look at the factors to see the virtue of base 12.

--G

1/3 meter = 0.33... = 33 centimeters = 333 milimeters
1/3 foot = 12 inches / 3 = 4 inches

With imperial I have to remember the specific conversion that 1 foot = 12 inches. Metric I don't. That being said I do like base 12...

 

[Walking Dad]

With which I have no problem at all!

Well, here in Germany, we're brought up with the metric system. The imperial system is not used at all, and studying physics doesn't help with non-SI units at all!

I guess it's mostly a matter of upbringing...

Yeah, the metric system is used for the entire 3E translations in Germany, both 3E and 3.5, despite publisher change. And with 1.5 metres = 5 feet = 1 square. But I don't know about 2E.

Cheers, LT.

Sorry, my fault. Using to many English books

From now on, I will say "square" rules!

 

[HarbingerX]

/* sarcasm */
I say instead of calling it 'squares' we call them something more neutral - how about using double quotation marks symbol - ". This symbol would mean 'appropriate game units'. For example if I felt the game unit for indoor movement was 10 feet, I could say that a character's movement was 30" which for me would be 30 feet . Whereas if they are outdoors and could move faster, let's say 3 times faster, then 30" would be 30 yards.... oh wait that's already been done.... ok folks, move on... nothing to see here...

 

[Erpegis]

I don't have the problems with meters sounding too modern. It's natural for a person from Europe to say that something is a kilometer away, even when we pretend to be elves.

 

[nerfherder]

/* sarcasm */
I say instead of calling it 'squares' we call them something more neutral - how about using double quotation marks symbol - ". This symbol would mean 'appropriate game units'. For example if I felt the game unit for indoor movement was 10 feet, I could say that a character's movement was 30" which for me would be 30 feet . Whereas if they are outdoors and could move faster, let's say 3 times faster, then 30" would be 30 yards.... oh wait that's already been done.... ok folks, move on... nothing to see here...

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

 

[Hypersmurf]

DM: "The castle wall is 35 feet high"
Rogue player: " Ok, i get my equipment and start to climb it. The climb skills says I can climb normally half my speed. My speed is 6 squares... hmmm"

Still, just a minor drawback.

No, no.

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

Problem solved.

-Hyp.