foundryvtt
Request: Add toggle for "Template origins on grid intersections only"
I'd like to request/suggest a new dnd5e system option to force template origins to grid intersections.
Reasoning/background:
When a rectangle or line template is placed with the target/originating point on a square (not on an intersection), the colored area (color-shaded squares) will show an "oversized" area.
Example picture to show what I mean:
Image shows a 20x20 square template, with the "target point"/originating point placed on a square. The colored squares, showing the "affected area" of the template, shows a 25x25 area.
I'd just like to clear up that I understand why this happens. The general rule for AOE coverage must assume that any square exactly 50% or more covered is in fact affected by the effect. When placing a rectangle template as shown above, all "edge" squares are 50% covered, and are thus marked as affected.
My issue with this function is basically threefold:
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It arises by violating a rule outlined in the 2014 DMG p. 251: that template origins MUST be placed on intersections. XGE p. 81 references this rule and seems to indicate it's intended as a "rule of thumb" for miniature play, but I do believe a large percentage of D&D 5e groups do enforce it.
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The "error" is too great - aka "It just feels and looks plain wrong". While, I think, most users can accept a circle template affecting a varying number of squares to a minor degree (e.g. a 5' radius sphere affecting 4 or 5 squares depending on placement on or off intersection; a 10' radius sphere affecting 12 or 13 squares); a 10' cube will affect 4 or 9 squares depending on placement, a 20' cube will affect 16 or 25 squares. This kind of variance should at least be optional. The system is already partially enforcing this kind of stuff with the "Grid-Aligned Square Templates" option.
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When having no shown grid (e.g. setting grid opacity to 0% but keeping a grid system), it's somewhat cumbersome to place a square template "correctly". The color-marked/affected area will appear to shift and change as you drag the template around. It leaves it to the users to make sure the area is correctly placed.
Conclusion/suggestion: I think a toggle to enforce the rule outlined in the 2014 DMG p. 251: that template origins must be placed on intersections would be a valuable addition to the dnd5e system. This toggle/checkbox option would group up nicely with the existing "Grid-Aligned Square Templates" option.
I hope that templates for emanations can still be positioned on the center of a square to reflect the center being the token.
I hope that templates for emanations can still be positioned on the center of a square to reflect the center being the token.
Great point. I think it's mostly needed for rectangular and line templates.
If this gets implemented, it would need some specific handling around lines/rays.
The Origin on a line appears to be in the middle of the line, not at a corner, so forcing the line's origin to be on an intersection makes the template include another row of squares to the side of the line. You can see this with a 5' line shooting out in a straigt line from a token. The only way to keep it to 5' instead of 10' is to make it originate from "not the grid intersection".
