Stairs

[JimmyPlenty]

OK. So standing on a table (1 1/2 feet) give a +2 DX bonus. (ITL 119)

But no to stairs? 4 feet away (1 hex) on stairs is at least 1 1/2 ft.

[hcobb]

See combat on stairs at ITL 119.

ISTR some official note about how the four-hex stairs work in combat, but can't seem to find it now.

[JimmyPlenty]

Originally Posted by hcobb

See combat on stairs at ITL 119.

ISTR some official note about how the four-hex stairs work in combat, but can't seem to find it now.

That's what I am saying, according to that, there is zero bonus.

[Jeff Lord]

See pg. 8 of Hexagram #2.

[Skarg]

I tend to think of that answer as one of the "it's simpler this way" answers.

It's also less interesting and makes interesting-loking terrain meaningless.

Seems to me that yes many stairs would be steep enough for a +2/-2 bonus.

AND, that a +2/-2 bonus is a huge bonus... lesser height differences should probably give a +1/-1 bonus, for those players who can handle the extreme complexity of that...

[Jeff Lord]

Heresy - but depending on the configuration of the stairs, perhaps BOTH combatants should receive a -2 DX penalty.

[Steve Plambeck]

Originally Posted by JimmyPlenty

OK. So standing on a table (1 1/2 feet) give a +2 DX bonus. (ITL 119)

But no to stairs? 4 feet away (1 hex) on stairs is at least 1 1/2 ft.

More even. If these were steep stairs (45 degree incline) the rise would equal the run, making one hex away a whole 4 feet up or down. Typical household stairs in the US today rise at a 37.5 degree angle, but that's an awkward number to deal with. For vertical dungeon mapping I like to round that to 30 degrees, which is quite easy to climb. But even then, 1 hex away is 2.64 feet up or down for 4 foot hexes (or a nice even 2 feet if using 3 foot hexes, which is what I do).

Either way, you start fighting on that terrain there should be some adjustments.

The higher figure can always bend or stoop to reach a lower target, but the lower figure cannot make themselves taller no matter how straight they stand. So at the very least I'd give a -1 DX to the lower figure, although that's not enough to be interesting. More fun might be +1 DX for the higher figure, and -2 DX for the lower one.

[Jeff Lord]

Yes, and I think "bending" or "stooping" should incur a DX penalty - not a bonus!

How about -1 DX for the higher position and -2 DX for the lower?

[Steve Plambeck]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lord

Yes, and I think "bending" or "stooping" should incur a DX penalty - not a bonus!

How about -1 DX for the higher position and -2 DX for the lower?

Yes I think I like that even better. Awkward footing impedes both fighters.