I use squares for two reasons...
1. I dont feel hexes provide any more "realism" than squares as each has its own foibles and frankly the grid will influence the choice of shape in some cases. Half squares a problem in that circular room? A few well placed braziers for decoration will help with that. i used hexes for years in HERO... just as many headaches as using squares for DND3.
2. A lot of DND3 support materials including free stuff on the web is in square grid layout. Why deny myself USEFUL materials easily available for geometric aesthetics?
How do i handle diagonals... well i do it my own way... and not this was not designer to annoy all those measuring fool purists who worry about two diagonals being actually 14' instead of 10' (tho i will admit that is a plus.)
In my game (house rule filling the vacant 3e rule space governing this)...
you can move across a diagonal between two squares as a 5' move IF and ONLY IF you can move through both of those squares. You are treated for all purposes other than distance as moving through both squares.
So in the following case...
XA
BX
If you wanted to move between from a to b you could as 5' of movement as long as you could move through both the X squares. So if there was a WALL in the upper left X you would have to walk around taking 10'. If it was occupied by an ememy you would have to walk around since you cannot just move thru an enemy space.
Also even if they were empty, you would still be subject to attacks of aopportunity from those threatening either X square and from any spell effects extending into either. You are treated as passing through BOTh squares for these type os things.
So pretty much it boils down to tactical choices... you can move through UNLESS there is a reason you cannot.
Keeps it simple. keeps it quick and boils it down to choices, not hypoteneuses (or is that hypoteneusi?)
1. I dont feel hexes provide any more "realism" than squares as each has its own foibles and frankly the grid will influence the choice of shape in some cases. Half squares a problem in that circular room? A few well placed braziers for decoration will help with that. i used hexes for years in HERO... just as many headaches as using squares for DND3.
2. A lot of DND3 support materials including free stuff on the web is in square grid layout. Why deny myself USEFUL materials easily available for geometric aesthetics?
How do i handle diagonals... well i do it my own way... and not this was not designer to annoy all those measuring fool purists who worry about two diagonals being actually 14' instead of 10' (tho i will admit that is a plus.)
In my game (house rule filling the vacant 3e rule space governing this)...
you can move across a diagonal between two squares as a 5' move IF and ONLY IF you can move through both of those squares. You are treated for all purposes other than distance as moving through both squares.
So in the following case...
XA
BX
If you wanted to move between from a to b you could as 5' of movement as long as you could move through both the X squares. So if there was a WALL in the upper left X you would have to walk around taking 10'. If it was occupied by an ememy you would have to walk around since you cannot just move thru an enemy space.
Also even if they were empty, you would still be subject to attacks of aopportunity from those threatening either X square and from any spell effects extending into either. You are treated as passing through BOTh squares for these type os things.
So pretty much it boils down to tactical choices... you can move through UNLESS there is a reason you cannot.
Keeps it simple. keeps it quick and boils it down to choices, not hypoteneuses (or is that hypoteneusi?)
