D&D 4E Should 4e convert to metric?

[Fallen Seraph]

Its funny too, us neighbours to the north, probably thanks to influence from the US and Britain use a weird mix of both.

I know for myself (18) and my friends. When it comes to things like distances, and basic measurements (that aren't dealing with humans) we use metric. So... Something ways so many kilograms, or that road is so many meters long, etc.

However things like height and weight we use Imperial.

 

[Kzach]

Most know it, but aren't used to thinking in it. And honestly, the Imperial system is more intuitive for distance, at least short ones. A foot is pretty much the length of a foot. Most people have feet. Someone's foot might not be a foot exactly (though mine actually are), but it's going to be close.

American women must have really big feet...

 

[arscott]

No way.

Imperial units for fantasy and historical RPGs

Metric units for modern and futuristic RPGs.

It's a flavor thing.

 

[Jack99]

Metric is so much more easy to figure out.

You have 10 mm to a cm, 100 cm to a m, 1000 m to a km...

How many inches to a foot? how many foot to a yard? how many yards to a mile?

Lets just say that where the imperial system is 2nd edition, the metric system is definitely 4th edition.

 

[Kzach]

No way.

Imperial units for fantasy and historical RPGs

Metric units for modern and futuristic RPGs.

It's a flavor thing.

It's not like they were using feet in 1100 AD.

And if you want real flavour, invent a new system that fits with the setting you're using.

 

[WhatGravitas]

OTOH, it's hard to visualize what a meter is, if you aren't familiar with a meter stick

And if you're brought up with the metric system, it's hard to visualize the length of a foot. Really. So, of course I'm voting for metric. And because it's decimal, in line with most math we do. And, after all, the insistence on the imperial system has killed a Mars probe.

Cheers, LT.

 

[Derro]

OTOH, it's hard to visualize what a meter is, if you aren't familiar with a meter stick

Isn't meter just Greek for yard?

 

[arscott]

Yeah, but I don't think Americans are aware of that. We only really use it for sodas (2 liter bottles), pills (milligrams) and occasionally guns.

And Booze. Mustn't forget the booze. (Well, everything but beer. those are still in ounces)

Most know it, but aren't used to thinking in it. And honestly, the Imperial system is more intuitive for distance, at least short ones. A foot is pretty much the length of a foot. Most people have feet. Someone's foot might not be a foot exactly (though mine actually are), but it's going to be close.

Well, I disagree with the foot part.

But I do think that feet and inches are better than meters and centimeters--They've got a better granularity. Meters are just too big, and centimeters are just too small. You either have to make vague estimations (when you say 20 cm, do you actually mean 20 cm, or are you just rounding to the nearest ten?) or use entirely fake measurements like decimeter.

Personally, I like feet, decifeet, and kilofeet.

 

[WhatGravitas]

(when you say 20 cm, do you actually mean 20 cm, or are you just rounding to the nearest ten?) or use entirely fake measurements like decimeter.

Yeah, we're rounding - just as people usually won't say that's 5' 1" away, but would rather estimate it as 5'. And what's fake about the decimeter?

Cheers, LT.

 

[S'mon]

Imperial is much better for a fantasy game. SF and modern military games should use metric.