Example: the enemy is 20 feet away and 50 feet up flying.
When I try to shoot it with my bow, what is the actual distance? I dont see any rulings on it. I know there's the obvious "it's up to the DM and their rulings" answer but that doesnt do any good. I am looking for official rules of some sort.
Just calculate diagonal distance. In 5e the default diagonal distance is 1 square = 5 feet. I prefer using the 5-10-5 method where the first diagonal square equals 5 feet, the second equals 10 feet, then 5 again, etc.
In the case of the example, it is either 50 feet or 60 feet depending on method.
If you need the exact distance you can use 20 squared plus 50 squared equals distance squared but you know it’s more that 50’ and less than 70’. Unless the weapon range is 60’, that’s enough information. A quick estimation can tell you the distance is less than 60’ because 60 squared is more than 20 squared plus 50 squared.
Easy way to count using the 5-10-5 rule: consider the distance in two parts, a right isosceles triangle and a straight line. In this case, we get a 20’ by 20’ right triangle and 30’ more height. 1.5*(20’) = 30’ for the triangle (or counting 5-10-5-10 = 30’), then add our additional 30’. This gives the 60’ that DxJxC mentions.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
If you need the exact distance you can use 20 squared plus 50 squared equals distance squared but you know it’s more that 50’ and less than 70’. Unless the weapon range is 60’, that’s enough information. A quick estimation can tell you the distance is less than 60’ because 60 squared is more than 20 squared plus 50 squared.
I just want to point out that while the Pythagorean theorem is the most accurate answer, it is not in the rules for determining distance, so not actually a valid answer in this case.
The default rules just use the longest leg of the triangle which is 50 feet (figured out with a glance).
...
This. Because at in-game weapon ranges, just using this shortcut is going to be close enough, and it doesn't slow down gameplay like breaking out the calculators to figure square roots.
My point is that you don’t need to know the distance, you just need to know if the distance is more than the weapon range.
There are three situations:
1. The distance is obviously less than the range.
2. The distance is obviously more than the range.
3. It’s close enough that you’re not immediately sure if it is in range or not.
In the third case just give the player the benefit of the doubt and rule that it is in range.
I don’t want to be stuck with some rule that says a target 600 feet out and 600 feet up is somehow in longbow long range but a target 605 feet away isn’t in range. It’s unlikely that this scenario will ever occur but as a DM I would rather not start an argument with the player who thinks the game should make sense.
Thanks. I personally just use the height as long as the ground distance is within reasonable range. Hood to know that others are doing similar. They really need to make official rules for it as so many things fly... like dragons... the main thing you wanna fight...
If you need the exact distance you can use 20 squared plus 50 squared equals distance squared but you know it’s more that 50’ and less than 70’. Unless the weapon range is 60’, that’s enough information. A quick estimation can tell you the distance is less than 60’ because 60 squared is more than 20 squared plus 50 squared.
I just want to point out that while the Pythagorean theorem is the most accurate answer, it is not in the rules for determining distance, so not actually a valid answer in this case.
I have to disagree. The rules clearly state that weapons have a range of x feet, however they do not specify you must play on a grid. Therefore, if you want to know if someone(thing) is in or out of range and are given vertical and horizontal distances then you can use the Pythagorean theorem. It is certainly a valid answer. Just perhaps not the one most conducive to game play.
We play using 5-10-5 for diagonal movement, this means on the ground the distance is the longest plus half the other. If you want to extend it to the air, take the longest plus half of each of the other two sides.
If you need the exact distance you can use 20 squared plus 50 squared equals distance squared but you know it’s more that 50’ and less than 70’. Unless the weapon range is 60’, that’s enough information. A quick estimation can tell you the distance is less than 60’ because 60 squared is more than 20 squared plus 50 squared.
I just want to point out that while the Pythagorean theorem is the most accurate answer, it is not in the rules for determining distance, so not actually a valid answer in this case.
I have to disagree. The rules clearly state that weapons have a range of x feet, however they do not specify you must play on a grid. Therefore, if you want to know if someone(thing) is in or out of range and are given vertical and horizontal distances then you can use the Pythagorean theorem. It is certainly a valid answer. Just perhaps not the one most conducive to game play.
Fair enough. I assumed a grid (in which my statement is accurate), but that is never stated by the OP.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Is there any proper way to determine this?
Example: the enemy is 20 feet away and 50 feet up flying.
When I try to shoot it with my bow, what is the actual distance? I dont see any rulings on it. I know there's the obvious "it's up to the DM and their rulings" answer but that doesnt do any good. I am looking for official rules of some sort.
Just calculate diagonal distance. In 5e the default diagonal distance is 1 square = 5 feet. I prefer using the 5-10-5 method where the first diagonal square equals 5 feet, the second equals 10 feet, then 5 again, etc.
In the case of the example, it is either 50 feet or 60 feet depending on method.
It’s def around 60ft. Things also happen in cone shapes and radius’s... we need to account for height the same way
edit: math
If you need the exact distance you can use 20 squared plus 50 squared equals distance squared but you know it’s more that 50’ and less than 70’. Unless the weapon range is 60’, that’s enough information. A quick estimation can tell you the distance is less than 60’ because 60 squared is more than 20 squared plus 50 squared.
To satisfy all the math sticklers, the exact distance is 53.8516480 or 55 feet rounded up (but I needed a calculator for that).
The default rules just use the longest leg of the triangle which is 50 feet (figured out with a glance).
The variant diagonal rule using 5-10-5 diagonal movement puts it at 60 feet (easily calculated in head).
Easy way to count using the 5-10-5 rule: consider the distance in two parts, a right isosceles triangle and a straight line. In this case, we get a 20’ by 20’ right triangle and 30’ more height. 1.5*(20’) = 30’ for the triangle (or counting 5-10-5-10 = 30’), then add our additional 30’. This gives the 60’ that DxJxC mentions.
(a^2)+(b^2)=(c^2) .....
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
A shout out to Pythagoras for figuring this out thousands of years before it was ever needed for D&D.
Who says he wasn't using it for a form of RPGs. Not DnD, that would be crazy he's not a time traveler, right?
I just want to point out that while the Pythagorean theorem is the most accurate answer, it is not in the rules for determining distance, so not actually a valid answer in this case.
That is a short and concise way of explaining it! Well done.
This. Because at in-game weapon ranges, just using this shortcut is going to be close enough, and it doesn't slow down gameplay like breaking out the calculators to figure square roots.
5e allows for several different methods:
My point is that you don’t need to know the distance, you just need to know if the distance is more than the weapon range.
There are three situations:
1. The distance is obviously less than the range.
2. The distance is obviously more than the range.
3. It’s close enough that you’re not immediately sure if it is in range or not.
In the third case just give the player the benefit of the doubt and rule that it is in range.
I don’t want to be stuck with some rule that says a target 600 feet out and 600 feet up is somehow in longbow long range but a target 605 feet away isn’t in range. It’s unlikely that this scenario will ever occur but as a DM I would rather not start an argument with the player who thinks the game should make sense.
Thanks. I personally just use the height as long as the ground distance is within reasonable range. Hood to know that others are doing similar. They really need to make official rules for it as so many things fly... like dragons... the main thing you wanna fight...
I have to disagree. The rules clearly state that weapons have a range of x feet, however they do not specify you must play on a grid. Therefore, if you want to know if someone(thing) is in or out of range and are given vertical and horizontal distances then you can use the Pythagorean theorem. It is certainly a valid answer. Just perhaps not the one most conducive to game play.
We play using 5-10-5 for diagonal movement, this means on the ground the distance is the longest plus half the other. If you want to extend it to the air, take the longest plus half of each of the other two sides.
Fair enough. I assumed a grid (in which my statement is accurate), but that is never stated by the OP.