I didn't mean to suggest the optional grid rules, the 2D grid, as presented by the rulebook would preclude a 3rd dimension. It certainly doesn't.
It just isn't handled by grids. Or, in this case, cubes. The z axis is theater of mind still in the default grid stuff. And for good reason TBH.
For example, an 8ft tall Goliath is in how many 5ft cubes? One? Are we sure about that?
It can be handled by adding a z axis grid lines but it gets kinda messy fast, and then you're finding you have to keep ad-hoc creating new homebrew rules for height interactions and number of cubed spaces different sized creatures occupy. You quickly find yourself deeper into homebrew territory than you may have wanted to go.
But, none of that is necessary by default grid rules if the z axis stays default rules resolutions. Theater of the mind.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I'm probably laughing.
It is apparently so hard to program Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul spell-swapping into dndbeyond they had to remake the game without it rather than implement it.
I wish the authors had done more editing passes looking for contradictions.
Chapter 10 says, "You select a cube’s point of origin, which lies anywhere on a face of the cubic effect." Chapter 11 says, "…a cube 5 feet on each side, centered on a point you choose within range."
Sigh.
In my game, I keep it simple in the interests of speeding up play at the table. Everything is 5' cubes. Everything snaps to the grid.
If a player starts talking about angles or half squares then I throw junk food at them and tell them to shut it. :-)
Yeah, it doesn't make sense that fireball is a firecube, but I play games for fun. Trigonometry is not fun. Unless you are a maths nerd. (Which I am, but I still don't do trigonometry at the gaming table.)
Well, when using a grid the point of origin is placed on an intersection. So, if you have a 5 x 5 AOE that is centered on its point of origin there is no way to reach more than 4 squares.
Actually, it reaches zero squares. Need to cover half a square to affect it, and a 5'x5' aoe centered on a grid covers 1/4 of each adjacent square.
Well, when using a grid the point of origin is placed on an intersection. So, if you have a 5 x 5 AOE that is centered on its point of origin there is no way to reach more than 4 squares.
Actually, it reaches zero squares. Need to cover half a square to affect it, and a 5'x5' aoe centered on a grid covers 1/4 of each adjacent square.
The half a square rule is only for circle AoEs. For other AoE's, it's not well-defined, but it's generally accepted that any amount of coverage means the square is affected.
Well, when using a grid the point of origin is placed on an intersection. So, if you have a 5 x 5 AOE that is centered on its point of origin there is no way to reach more than 4 squares.
Actually, it reaches zero squares. Need to cover half a square to affect it, and a 5'x5' aoe centered on a grid covers 1/4 of each adjacent square.
The half a square rule is only for circle AoEs. For other AoE's, it's not well-defined, but it's generally accepted that any amount of coverage means the square is affected.
We'll need a poll to establish if it is "generally accepted" because I don't know anyone who would agree that "any" amount of coverage of a square from a cube means the whole square is affected.
It is apparently so hard to program Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul spell-swapping into dndbeyond they had to remake the game without it rather than implement it.
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I didn't mean to suggest the optional grid rules, the 2D grid, as presented by the rulebook would preclude a 3rd dimension. It certainly doesn't.
It just isn't handled by grids. Or, in this case, cubes. The z axis is theater of mind still in the default grid stuff. And for good reason TBH.
For example, an 8ft tall Goliath is in how many 5ft cubes? One? Are we sure about that?
It can be handled by adding a z axis grid lines but it gets kinda messy fast, and then you're finding you have to keep ad-hoc creating new homebrew rules for height interactions and number of cubed spaces different sized creatures occupy. You quickly find yourself deeper into homebrew territory than you may have wanted to go.
But, none of that is necessary by default grid rules if the z axis stays default rules resolutions. Theater of the mind.
I'm probably laughing.
It is apparently so hard to program Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul spell-swapping into dndbeyond they had to remake the game without it rather than implement it.
I wish the authors had done more editing passes looking for contradictions.
Chapter 10 says, "You select a cube’s point of origin, which lies anywhere on a face of the cubic effect."
Chapter 11 says, "…a cube 5 feet on each side, centered on a point you choose within range."
Sigh.
In my game, I keep it simple in the interests of speeding up play at the table. Everything is 5' cubes. Everything snaps to the grid.
If a player starts talking about angles or half squares then I throw junk food at them and tell them to shut it. :-)
Yeah, it doesn't make sense that fireball is a firecube, but I play games for fun. Trigonometry is not fun. Unless you are a maths nerd. (Which I am, but I still don't do trigonometry at the gaming table.)
Actually, it reaches zero squares. Need to cover half a square to affect it, and a 5'x5' aoe centered on a grid covers 1/4 of each adjacent square.
The half a square rule is only for circle AoEs. For other AoE's, it's not well-defined, but it's generally accepted that any amount of coverage means the square is affected.
We'll need a poll to establish if it is "generally accepted" because I don't know anyone who would agree that "any" amount of coverage of a square from a cube means the whole square is affected.
Edit: Created one.
I'm probably laughing.
It is apparently so hard to program Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul spell-swapping into dndbeyond they had to remake the game without it rather than implement it.