In normal combat situations, each 1-inch square on the map represents an area 5 feet square. This is referred to as melee scale. Under certain special circumstances, each 1-inch square can represent 5 yards. This is known as missile scale.
Melee Scale[]
The melee scale is the default scale for battles that take place indoors, inside dungeons, in darkness or fog, or at close range. As long as the combatants are all starting within 50 or 60 yards of each other, most battle maps are big enough to run in melee scale from the start. This will save you the trouble of converting from missile scale to melee scale during the battle (see Missile Scale, below). In melee scale, remember that spell and missile ranges are based on yards, not feet. A thrown dagger normally has a short range of 10 yards, or 30 feet. In melee scale, this is 6 squares on the battle map. A spell with a 30-yard range can be targeted 18 squares away.
Range[]
Most characters and monsters can only make melee attacks against creatures standing in one of their front spaces. However, some weapons provide extra reach for characters, and some monsters cover a greater area because of size.
Weapons[]
Many polearms are assigned a range, much like missile weapons. A polearm with a range of 2 can strike enemies standing in the character's front square or any adjacent square beyond the row of front squares.
Some weapons are defined as range only weapons. Pikes and lances fall into this category. These weapons can be used to make normal attacks in the squares they can reach but cannot be used against targets in between the wielder and the weapon's point.
Creatures wielding range 2 or larger weapons or natural attack forms cannot make melee attacks through an occupied square to another square unless as part of a spear or pike hedge (see Chapter Two).
Monsters[]
Any Large creature armed with a weapon adds 1 to its range, due to its great natural reach. For example, an ogre wielding a spear (normally range 1) has a range of 2 with the weapon. Any Huge creature armed with a weapon adds 2 to the weapon's range. A Gargantuan creature adds 3 to a weapon's range; a titan swinging a 15-foot sword endangers an enemy quite a ways off.
Some monsters may also have natural attacks that allow them to strike opponents at ranges greater than 1.
Missile Scale[]
Some battles may open in missile scale, which is five yards to the square. The only reason to set up a battle in missile scale is when the two hostile forces try to engage each other with spells or missiles at ranges greater than 50 yards or so. Naturally, this usually happens in outdoor settings with good visibility. If neither side has any missile or spell capability, there is no reason to set up the battle in missile scale. Save yourself the trouble of converting and set it up in melee scale from the start.
For example, the heroes encounter a party of orcs while climbing a high mountain pass. The DM decides that the two groups spot each other at a range of 500 yards, since there isn't much cover. Nothing happens until the groups close to 210 yards, since that is the maximum range of the party's longbows. The DM tells the players that they begin the battle in missile scale, 42 squares away from the orcs.
In missile scale, characters and monsters move 1/3 as fast as normal. A character that could normally move 12 squares in a combat round can only move four spaces per round in missile scale. There are nine melee squares in a single missile square, so up to nine Man-sized creatures can occupy a square when missile scale is in effect.
Since all spell and missile weapon ranges are expressed in yards, it is easy to figure ranges in missile scale. A target eight squares away is actually 40 yards distant.
Switching Scale[]
When two opposing creatures move adjacent to each other, it's time to switch the scale from missile to melee scale. Select one figure as an anchor, and move all the other figures three times as far from the anchor as they were. In effect, you're zooming in on the battle. An easier but less accurate method of zooming in on the battle is to simply announce that you're switching scale and allow both players and monsters to get a second set-up. As long as everyone sticks by the spirit of the set-up, just eyeball it. Make certain that the opposing forces have three times as many squares between them as they did before the scale was zoomed in.
Combined Scale[]
A handy way to keep track of where the party members are in relation to each other is to have them set up their marching order in melee scale. Set up the monster group in melee scale in relation to each other. Now, assume that all the spaces between the party and the monsters are missile squares. Make sure you indicate where the scale changes by setting a pencil or ruler on the map. This combined scale method assures that monsters trying to close under missile fire have to withstand the normal amount of attacks before they get close enough for melee. It's also useful for determing the areas of effect of any spells cast at the opposing group. When any two opposing characters come in contact, switch the scale.
