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

[Mercule]

Imperial. Because I'm an arrogant Yank who doesn't really care what's easiest for the rest of the world.

Actually, I don't have any problems with small measures (cm, mm, ml, g, kg) in metric, I'm utterly unable to intuitively grok things like km or Celsius and have to do the math to miles and Fahrenheit before it means anything to me.

Of course, where I live (Iowa), the major roads are literally a one-mile grid (each road is almost exactly one mile from the next/last) and I grew up thinking in terms of "sections" and having strong visual cues about exactly how far a mile is. I've yet to find any such cues for km.

Edit: On the other hand, there is something extremely positive about the fact that most size medium (read: PCs and a plurality or majority of opponents) critters would fit vertically in a 2m cube while they do not fit into a 5' cube. I often find myself trying to figure out whether 10' or 15' worth of spider climb and similar effects end up putting opponents adjacent.

 

[Ghaerdon Fain]

If we are replicating ancient fantasy stuff then why not measure in Cubits, Sesters, and Stone. Then everyone can have fun converting.

An answer! Put it on the poll...

 

[Chibbot]

Imperial forever!!!!

The Imperial measurement system is based on human measurements, and thus is intuitive and easy to use.

The metric system is an arbitrary mass of measurements that are either too small or too large to fit easily with human concepts and dimensions. The fact that most humans are between one and two meters tall, and that you need to pile up nearly 200 centimeters (a number that's impossible to visualize accurately) to make a human height, and that one meter is longer than a human stride, illustrates the problem of metrics right away -- either too much granularity, or not enough.

About replacing the Imperial measurement system in general -- if it ain't broken, don't fix it.

Simply out of curiosity (because I'll admit I'm too lazy to page backwards and check, my connection is dismal), did you bother to read the rest of the thread before posting this?

I voted Imperial, and for a similar reason to everyone else who did. I don't think that it is in any way mathematically superior to the metric system. I'm an engineering student (of sorts... computer science, but I've still taken many a science and engineering class). But I am born and raised in the US, and thusly indoctrinated into the Imperial system, so its what I think in. Similar to Mercule's comment, I currently live near Chicago (Illinois), and in the city proper of Chicago 90%+ of the streets are, iirc, 1/10 of 1 mile apart from each other, and very gridlike.

Because DnD is published by a US company, and the US clings hard and fast to the Imperial system (old habits die hard), I don't think there is really any chance of DnD being published in the metric system. I think its great that it gets translated into it though, at least in certain countries.

 

[Alnag]

Let's keep it imperial. I am a metric user by default, but the imperial system is more flavorful for a fantasy RPG. Besides, D&D has taught me the ability to think in the imperial system too, which is definitely useful.

I agree fully. I use metric system in daily life but for fantasy imperial is much more appropriate. It feels fantasy-like. Which says something about countries which still use it...

 

[Silverblade The Ench]

Well, our years in school here in UK were messed up between metric and Imperial..I think in "Popele sizes" in Imperial (feet, inches and stones, pounds), but I hate it for everything else, and wish it had never been, lol.

metric's superb for converting volume to mass (1 cubic metre of water = 1 metric ton, 1 cubic metre of iron = 7 metric tons, approx, very simple), for instance, but it's hellish in Imperial.

Got blew up by 2 gallons of petrol, which I thought was 2 litres...talk about a Darwinian Learning Experience...

Anyway, "Imperial" sizes makes me think of Darth Vader!

 

[Flynn]

I can't vote in this poll. There's no option for: "Use the system popular with the countries where the most PHBs are sold." Right now, that's probably countries that use the Imperial system, but should the numbers shift, then use the Metric. Appeal to the largest audience that votes with their dollars. I ultimately think that's what decides these things, in the long run.



Personally, though, I should probably vote Imperial, since I use Metric for Traveller but Imperial for almost everything else in my life.

With Regards,
Flynn

 

[Filcher]

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.

Beer, drugs and guns. America rocks.

 

[Cadfan]

Do both. Write distances in the books in the appropriate language for each region. For all combat relevant parts of the book, use squares. Then you tell the euros that a square is a meter across, and the americans that a square is 3 feet across, and nobody is the wiser.

 

[Lurks-no-More]

SI system is the only reasonable choice for real-life purposes, or for games which emulate real-life things (SF, mainly; their sticking with feet etc. is one of my issues with GURPS).

For D&D, though, feet etc. are just fine; it adds to the ancient flavor.

 

[Derren]

Right now, that's probably the countriesy that uses the Imperial system,

Corrected it for you as I don't think there are many D&D books sold in Burma and Liberia.