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<blockquote data-quote="Laurefindel" data-source="post: 8559314" data-attributes="member: 67296">Indeed, this brings memories of AD&amp;D 2E! Contrary to popular belief, theatre of the mind doesn't have to be only in the mind! Props and abstraction of space and distances like you did is very TotM.One problem we had back in the 90s - and I expect you may face the same issue - is not so much to describe distance in terms of &quot;near&quot; and &quot;far&quot; but in relation to what a character can reach or not.Most characters can move 30 ft before having to give up their attack(s)Most characters can dash 60 feet to get into a position within the same round.60 feet and 120 feet are benchmarks for many spells and abilities such as darkvision.Distance doesn't matter; what a character can reach in a round does. That should be your metric to avoid things like &quot;I though I'd be out of the fireball's range!&quot; or &quot;if I knew I wouldn't be able to get there this round I would have done something else!&quot; or &quot;I meant to stay out of reach of melee attacks!&quot; etc.The downside is that characters with fast movement or high base speed don't get to enjoy the full benefit of their abilities. Or they get a big boost. A wood elf's +5 feet speed will often be ignored, unless you say that the elf is always 5 feet closer or further than it should be, at which point it becomes is a significant feature!</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Laurefindel, post: 8559314, member: 67296"] Indeed, this brings memories of AD&D 2E! Contrary to popular belief, theatre of the mind doesn't have to be [I]only [/I]in the mind! Props and abstraction of space and distances like you did is very TotM. One problem we had back in the 90s - and I expect you may face the same issue - is not so much to describe distance in terms of "near" and "far" but in relation to what a character can reach or not. Most characters can move 30 ft before having to give up their attack(s) Most characters can dash 60 feet to get into a position within the same round. 60 feet and 120 feet are benchmarks for many spells and abilities such as darkvision. Distance doesn't matter; what a character can reach in a round does. That should be your metric to avoid things like "I though I'd be out of the fireball's range!" or "if I knew I wouldn't be able to get there this round I would have done something else!" or "I meant to stay out of reach of melee attacks!" etc. The downside is that characters with fast movement or high base speed don't get to enjoy the full benefit of their abilities. Or they get a big boost. A wood elf's +5 feet speed will often be ignored, unless you say that the elf is always 5 feet closer or further than it should be, at which point it becomes is a significant feature! [/QUOTE]

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