 Editor in Chief Bill   | 10 Jan 2024 6:48 p.m. PST |
You were asked – TMP link Should rules prohibit pre-measuring? 50% said "rules should not prohibit pre-measuring"
27% said "rules should prohibit pre-measuring" |
Louis XIV  | 11 Jan 2024 4:40 a.m. PST |
If you can't pre measure you end up with more feel bad moments in games. |
 The Virtual Armchair General  | 11 Jan 2024 11:03 a.m. PST |
Indeed. Just like in REAL battle! Until the Mark 1 Eyeball is replaced by laser range finders from birth, estimating ranges--particularly in the 19th Century and earlier--is part of an effective commander's skill sets. And as gamers, we don't even have to contend with smoke, weather, noise, and Old Man's Eyesight in order to estimate in INCHES! TVAG |
| Andrew Walters | 11 Jan 2024 1:27 p.m. PST |
This should be a preference thing, as different people enjoy different things. That said, I think prohibiting premeasurement works better in systems that allow very long ranges but reduce the effectiveness of the shot. That way you still get your shot, but at a bigger minus than you expected. I think prohibiting pre measurement in a game where fire is all or nothing, where it's full strength up to 16" and then suddenly harmless, is capriciously punitive in a game-ruining way. Note that if you are compelled to play a game where premeasuring is prohibited there's no reason you can't get better at it. Before the game you can measure and memorize the distance between various points, the width of the lake, the front edge of that building, etc. |
| 79thPA | 11 Jan 2024 1:37 p.m. PST |
I don't care for it, nor do I think there is anything realistic about it. |
| Oberlindes Sol LIC | 11 Jan 2024 6:38 p.m. PST |
I think that I can estimate range with my device (fka "my mobile phone", but it's really a small computer with a bunch of practical functions, including telephony, and I think I'm just going to call it a device from now on). Anyway, from now into the technological future, it seems that pre-measuring range will be a pretty routine part of combat. |
| ron skirmisher | 11 Jan 2024 8:16 p.m. PST |
Our group thinks that pre-measuring takes a lot of fun out of the game. Make your decision and roll the dice. |
| BillyNM | 11 Jan 2024 11:26 p.m. PST |
It depends on what the purpose of the game is. All game design should be ruthlessly focused on delivering what is wanted from the game so it's horses for courses. |
| Dexter Ward | 12 Jan 2024 3:59 a.m. PST |
Real weapons don't suddenly become less lethal over a certain range. It is a gradual drop off. So unless the rules reflect that, not allowing premeasurement is not remotely realistic. We find that predeclaring that you are moving to just outside (or just inside) a certain distance speeds up the game and avoids arguments. Or of course playing on a grid. |
 etotheipi | 14 Jan 2024 2:17 p.m. PST |
nor do I think there is anything realistic about it. So, you won't expect a soldier to look at a target and make a decision like, "Nope. Too far. Need to get closer." |
| Dave Crowell | 15 Jan 2024 1:46 p.m. PST |
When I was playing a lot of miniatures games, as in 3-4 times a week or more, all of us in the group became very good at estimating distances on the tabletop. It was a rare thing for us to be off by more than 5mm or a quarter-inch. Hunters and 3-D target shooters develop good skills at judging ranges. Especially archers, a key piece of accurate shooting is judging the range correctly. When defending a fixed position it was not unheard of to place ranging sticks at measured distances out, or to take a few ranging shots so that in the heat of battle the calculations would already be made. Modern, urban dwellers have a lot less experience and ability at judging distances by eye than our forbearers did. When "How far away is that bear?" is a question of survival you get good at estimating distance. This is why for the most part I don't have an issue with remeasuring in games, especially among gentlemen. |
