When clicking on a measurement, you could get the conversion in metric and squares. Also a picture with description of a cone, cylinder etc. would be nice.
When clicking on a measurement, you could get the conversion in metric and squares. Also a picture with description of a cone, cylinder etc. would be nice.
Those are very good ideas.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
I believe EU versions of the manuals do make the conversion, so for it to come here is a matter of the localised versions coming to DDB.
A couple of months ago BadEye confirmed talks were going well with the Spanish publishers of 5ed to make a deal to bring the Spanish version to DDB, so it would stand to reason that when that happens (still a way to go) those manuals would use the metric system. That being said, I am not sure it would automatically translate to the whole content regardless of language getting metric/imperial system choice, as each localisation will be its own separate content instance (again, according to what DadEye said in the above DevStream).
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
Would be nice but can see some issues with conversion resulting in not so nice numbers. Anyone know if the localized versions use some kind of rounded data?
The UK has been officially using the metric system for a long time now (though I admit a lot of our population are kinda confused and everything to do with driving still involves miles rather than kilometres).
All of the English language prints of the game are the US printing, so even if other language editions (Spanish, German, Italian etc) have metric measurements, I doubt we'll see that come across into the English language edition, unless Wizards of the Coast release something official.
Would be nice but can see some issues with conversion resulting in not so nice numbers. Anyone know if the localized versions use some kind of rounded data?
I believe they use the 5ft=1,5m proportion
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
As I have witnessed how bad this can go for printed versions (German PHB) I think it's best to either include both or stay with imperial.
For Beyond on the other hand I would very much appreciate a simple button to change/add the metric units for the char sheet as I normally change weight and height to metric.
...this may seem inconsistent for some but it's just soooo much easier for me ;)
All I want is when they put in the international version into Beyond just make the Metric Values a toggle in the English version. Put the Metric data in such a way in the database that it can just be swapped with a single button.
My main issue is always for my players:
When I say 5ft or 50ft they can't picture it in there mind and the immersion breaks of the game. They start to think that 50ft = 50m and we mostly speak English in our game as well.
I have added printed out conversion sheets but it breaks the flow when we have to look and do a quick math to make the scene more clear in our heads.
I have tried to explain this to some of my American and British friends: When I say the Temple is about 500ft away to the right to UK/US players in their mind there is the path to the temple and a distance that means something.
When I say the Temple is about 500ft away to the right to EU players in their mind there is a temple somewhere to the right
Our group plays D&D for few years already but there always is a confusion when we need to switch between two systems. Because it is much easier to describe distances using native sustem (meters/kilometres) and then we have to switch back to feets when someone tries to cast a spell or when we calculate how fast someone can get to the certain point.
It would be great for us if we could easily switch between feets and meters with some global setting.
Seriously unfortunate how the metric system still hasn't been added to the site.
This game is about imagination and immersion and adding the metric system as a toggle option would make an essential chance for beginner players and GMs to get into the game faster and back into it between breaks. The game already has a lot of new things to get used to. Basing all the rules onto a system you've known your whole life is key for immersion.
What if it was the other way around and the game was originally created around the metric system?
In the midst of a fun game constantly stopping to think of distance or weight in regards to how you and your players understand it makes you feel dumb. You just want to get back to the good stuff fast.
90% of the votes being for it should speak for itself. Just do it.
Converting measurement units on the site into metric, even as a toggle, would be a localisation matter that depends on Wizards of the Coast and isn't a decision that can be made by DDB. Imperial measurements do not convert neatly into metric (for example, 5ft. is 1.524 meters), and how to round these conversions would have mechanical impact on the game. D&D Beyond will always respect how the rules are presented by Wizards of the Coast, including formatting, language and mechanics. If WotC decides to provide metric localisation outside of their localised books, D&D Beyond will strive to mirror that. Until then, DDB cannot make decisions about how content is provided that contradict what WotC says.
As for the common issue of visualisation, I find that I always need to provide real life examples regardless of it the rules I'm using are imperial (such as D&D) or metric (such as when I play Lancer). I still use easily googleable points of reference such as the length of a football pitch (300 ft. or 90m), the width of a two-lane road (33 ft. or 10m), the height of a single story of a building (14 ft. or 4.3m) or the dimensions of a door (6.5 x 2.5 ft. or 2 x 0.6 m). These frames of reference are great to have on hand because my players can visualise them and thus scale distances in their head.
tbh as a strong advocate for the metric system myself i really dont find it too hard to do quick head math to convert freedom units into real units xD even if the units end up slightly off...
Fair point @Davedamon . Your examples are good too, I'll keep those in mind for future games!
Understandable that DDB cannot change things on their own. I wish Wizards of the Coast would harken the request.
I'm a new DM and player (1 year) and I want to introduce the game to the people around me. Those people and myself are not English speaking so there is already a sort of a barrier between the game and us. How I see it is that this little bit of help in the measure system being "normal" would help a Lot. Already translating things on the fly, I would prefer not to have to constantly be taken out of that mind and the game mind to count the conversion as well. It becomes a lot on top of the actual question I've been asked by a player.
What I struggle with and rely the metric system for are especially those offhand questions that players ask about specific things, when they're trying to picture them. Takes a moment for me to picture it as well, figure it out in the game's map etc. and answer. By the end of the session we'll end up thinking in the game's 5ft squares to make things faster, which I see working and understand most lovers of the game having adjusted to. I see myself adjusting to it. But even once we adjust I think me and my players would have a much easier time with immersion if the measuring system was what we live with.
I understand things being official is important, but in the end this would just cause slight adjustment in sizing in order for the numbers to be clean. Yes it causes some difference, but is it an insurmountable problem. I feel that it is a problem pushed onto the DMs and players rather than making that quality of life change improving the playability of the game. Especially in digital media.
My interest and frustration comes from wanting to bring the game to more people and keeping the people only just learning the game enjoying it.
When clicking on a measurement, you could get the conversion in metric and squares. Also a picture with description of a cone, cylinder etc. would be nice.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
Now with the release out of the way, I still hope this will be a thing.
I'm new to DDB, did anyone get a response about this topic ?
I believe EU versions of the manuals do make the conversion, so for it to come here is a matter of the localised versions coming to DDB.
A couple of months ago BadEye confirmed talks were going well with the Spanish publishers of 5ed to make a deal to bring the Spanish version to DDB, so it would stand to reason that when that happens (still a way to go) those manuals would use the metric system.
That being said, I am not sure it would automatically translate to the whole content regardless of language getting metric/imperial system choice, as each localisation will be its own separate content instance (again, according to what DadEye said in the above DevStream).
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
Thanks
Would be nice but can see some issues with conversion resulting in not so nice numbers. Anyone know if the localized versions use some kind of rounded data?
-
View User Profile
-
View Posts
-
Send Message
D&D Beyond FoundersThe UK has been officially using the metric system for a long time now (though I admit a lot of our population are kinda confused and everything to do with driving still involves miles rather than kilometres).
All of the English language prints of the game are the US printing, so even if other language editions (Spanish, German, Italian etc) have metric measurements, I doubt we'll see that come across into the English language edition, unless Wizards of the Coast release something official.
Pun-loving nerd | Faith Elisabeth Lilley | She/Her/Hers | Profile art by Becca Golins
If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊
I believe they use the 5ft=1,5m proportion
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
As I have witnessed how bad this can go for printed versions (German PHB) I think it's best to either include both or stay with imperial.
For Beyond on the other hand I would very much appreciate a simple button to change/add the metric units for the char sheet as I normally change weight and height to metric.
...this may seem inconsistent for some but it's just soooo much easier for me ;)
All I want is when they put in the international version into Beyond just make the Metric Values a toggle in the English version. Put the Metric data in such a way in the database that it can just be swapped with a single button.
My main issue is always for my players:
When I say 5ft or 50ft they can't picture it in there mind and the immersion breaks of the game. They start to think that 50ft = 50m and we mostly speak English in our game as well.
I have added printed out conversion sheets but it breaks the flow when we have to look and do a quick math to make the scene more clear in our heads.
I have tried to explain this to some of my American and British friends:
When I say the Temple is about 500ft away to the right to UK/US players in their mind there is the path to the temple and a distance that means something.
When I say the Temple is about 500ft away to the right to EU players in their mind there is a temple somewhere to the right
What I do is divide feet by 3 to get a rough estimate. Thankfully I'm good at maths :P
Hello,
Our group plays D&D for few years already but there always is a confusion when we need to switch between two systems. Because it is much easier to describe distances using native sustem (meters/kilometres) and then we have to switch back to feets when someone tries to cast a spell or when we calculate how fast someone can get to the certain point.
It would be great for us if we could easily switch between feets and meters with some global setting.
Seriously unfortunate how the metric system still hasn't been added to the site.
This game is about imagination and immersion and adding the metric system as a toggle option would make an essential chance for beginner players and GMs to get into the game faster and back into it between breaks. The game already has a lot of new things to get used to. Basing all the rules onto a system you've known your whole life is key for immersion.
What if it was the other way around and the game was originally created around the metric system?
In the midst of a fun game constantly stopping to think of distance or weight in regards to how you and your players understand it makes you feel dumb. You just want to get back to the good stuff fast.
90% of the votes being for it should speak for itself. Just do it.
Converting measurement units on the site into metric, even as a toggle, would be a localisation matter that depends on Wizards of the Coast and isn't a decision that can be made by DDB. Imperial measurements do not convert neatly into metric (for example, 5ft. is 1.524 meters), and how to round these conversions would have mechanical impact on the game. D&D Beyond will always respect how the rules are presented by Wizards of the Coast, including formatting, language and mechanics. If WotC decides to provide metric localisation outside of their localised books, D&D Beyond will strive to mirror that. Until then, DDB cannot make decisions about how content is provided that contradict what WotC says.
As for the common issue of visualisation, I find that I always need to provide real life examples regardless of it the rules I'm using are imperial (such as D&D) or metric (such as when I play Lancer). I still use easily googleable points of reference such as the length of a football pitch (300 ft. or 90m), the width of a two-lane road (33 ft. or 10m), the height of a single story of a building (14 ft. or 4.3m) or the dimensions of a door (6.5 x 2.5 ft. or 2 x 0.6 m). These frames of reference are great to have on hand because my players can visualise them and thus scale distances in their head.
Find my D&D Beyond articles here
tbh as a strong advocate for the metric system myself i really dont find it too hard to do quick head math to convert freedom units into real units xD even if the units end up slightly off...
Fair point @Davedamon . Your examples are good too, I'll keep those in mind for future games!
Understandable that DDB cannot change things on their own. I wish Wizards of the Coast would harken the request.
I'm a new DM and player (1 year) and I want to introduce the game to the people around me. Those people and myself are not English speaking so there is already a sort of a barrier between the game and us. How I see it is that this little bit of help in the measure system being "normal" would help a Lot. Already translating things on the fly, I would prefer not to have to constantly be taken out of that mind and the game mind to count the conversion as well. It becomes a lot on top of the actual question I've been asked by a player.
What I struggle with and rely the metric system for are especially those offhand questions that players ask about specific things, when they're trying to picture them. Takes a moment for me to picture it as well, figure it out in the game's map etc. and answer. By the end of the session we'll end up thinking in the game's 5ft squares to make things faster, which I see working and understand most lovers of the game having adjusted to. I see myself adjusting to it. But even once we adjust I think me and my players would have a much easier time with immersion if the measuring system was what we live with.
I understand things being official is important, but in the end this would just cause slight adjustment in sizing in order for the numbers to be clean. Yes it causes some difference, but is it an insurmountable problem. I feel that it is a problem pushed onto the DMs and players rather than making that quality of life change improving the playability of the game. Especially in digital media.
My interest and frustration comes from wanting to bring the game to more people and keeping the people only just learning the game enjoying it.
Here's a neat Chrome extension that will help y'all:
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/comments/go51zw/a_chrome_extension_to_convert_dndbeyond_to_the/
Hi guys, you think this will ever be a thing?
As mentioned above, it would require Wizards of the Coast to make the request for it to be made available as an option.
Find my D&D Beyond articles here