In AD&D, three characters can fit in a space 10 feet wide. Technically, this means that 9 characters could crowd together in a 10’x10’ square.
This has heavy implications in combat.
- Crowded 3 to an area, characters would not be able to use weapons that have a space required greater than 3’.
- Firing a missile into a crowded 10’ area could hit any target randomly, as accurate fire would be very difficult.
- Within that 10 ft. sq. area, characters in combat would not be statically staring at each other but constantly moving and jockeying for position.
- A character fleeing combat from such cramped conditions would obviously be open to attack from another.
- it forces you to look at the “space required” stat on the weapon chart and think in real world terms about the space, reach, and formation of the combatants, treating each 10’ sq as a miniature sandbox for the combatants to fight in.
I feel like this was the intent of the original rules but was never used or implemented correctly, and designers and players abandoned it going forward. Basic D&D and beyond use 5 feet squares with the assumption that characters would attack from adjacent squares. Contrary to that, I think in AD&D you must attack from within the same square as your opponent (unless your weapon has a reach of greater than 10 feet)
I’m going to rescale all my maps to 10 feet squares and tell my players that they must be within the same square as their opponent to attack.
Not quite. To fight with a 3-man front in a 10 foot space you are effectively limited to daggers, short swords, or thrusting pole weapons such as spears & halberds.
ReplyDeleteSwords, axes, and such require closer to 5 feet of frontage to be relatively safe.
If I understand correctly bows can fit 3+ archers per 10 feet, but with slings it depends on the style of slinging (overarm allows greater density whereas sidearm and "helicopter" may require more)
Yes that’s the point! It forces you to look at the “space required” entry on the weapon charts, and forces you to think in diegetic terms about fighting in cramped spaces.
Delete5 foot squares do none of that.
AD&D distance and space reckoning is superior to the modern 5 ft square, but you have to use it correctly!