Higher Ground [Combat]

[Wicked Lurker]

If a fighter is on higher ground, then he gets a bonus to his defense (+1 to +3) per RAW.

I find this ruling somewhat unintuitive as defending from a 3' higher stance leads to a rather awkward position, to me it seems to be harder if anything.

Shouldn't there rather be a bonus to damage (since I can use the downward motion to add additional force) or a lower penalty to hit the skull (similar to stance and hit locations in MA) or a defense penalty to the lower defender?

Or are there other rules I am not aware of?

[Captain Joy]

Originally Posted by Wicked Lurker

If a fighter is on higher ground, then he gets a bonus to his defense (+1 to +3) per RAW.

I find this ruling somewhat unintuitive as defending from a 3' higher stance leads to a rather awkward position, to me it seems to be harder if anything.

I think what makes the situation a net boon for the person on higher ground is that he not having to work against gravity, but the person on lower ground is; so his attack will have less force behind them.

Originally Posted by Wicked Lurker

Shouldn't there rather be a bonus to damage (since I can use the downward motion to add additional force)

What you're proposing here is arguably a more realistic way to handle the situation. If you decide to house rule this, I would dispense with the active defense penalties/bonuses.

Originally Posted by Wicked Lurker

or a lower penalty to hit the skull (similar to stance and hit locations in MA)

This is already part of the rules (at least in 4th ed.): B402.

Originally Posted by Wicked Lurker

or a defense penalty to the lower defender?

This is already part of the rules (at least in 4th ed.): B402. The lower-ground's defense penalty is the same as the higher-ground's defense bonus.

Originally Posted by Wicked Lurker

Or are there other rules I am not aware of?

Possibly: read Combat at Different Levels, B402-403.

[chris1982]

Defense is a bit easier since you need to defend mainly your legs and lower body against your enemy...

[Captain Joy]

Originally Posted by chris1982

Defense is a bit easier since you need to defend mainly your legs and lower body against your enemy...

True, but the same argument could be made that it's a bit easer to defend from lower ground since you need to defend mainly your arms and upper body. In fact, it's probably easier to parry an attack from above than an attack from below.

Also, since our attacking limbs (arms) are on the upper part of our body, it could be argued that the lower ground attacker is at an advantage because his attacking limbs are closer to the object he's attacking than the higher ground's person's are.

So, having to defend less of your body and/or having a higher attack angle are not the reasons for preferring higher ground. The advantage/disadvantage is entirely due to working with/against gravity, IMHO.