How would you tackle this?

[tdewitt274]

Hello, all

I was wondering how you would handle the stairs in this situation? Would it be appropriate to cover the down stairs each, or do the second floor and the first separately? How do you block movement?

Thanks in advance!

[Trenloe]

I block movement with a closed window - means it can be seen through but can't be moved through unless it's open - you can open it if a PC is jumping/climbing between the floors.

[tdewitt274]

I block movement with a closed window - means it can be seen through but can't be moved through unless it's open - you can open it if a PC is jumping/climbing between the floors.

Thanks, Trenloe. I didn't think about the windows. That works really well for looking down the stairs.

How about from the low end and looking up? I know, it's a tricky situation.

[Trenloe]

How about from the low end and looking up? I know, it's a tricky situation.
You could try and use terrain for that, but it would get very fiddly. To be honest, I wouldn't even try to restrict vision based off different levels on the map. I'd restrict movement with a window, but not try to restrict vision.

[Griogre]

Like Trenloe says terrain is fiddly.

I've found that if the design of an area means the party will probably move in one direction you can make terrain work. You could try doing the top of the T stairs area, ie draw a rectangle around and connecting the north and south stairs. This type of terrain will work fine if the party is fighting or moving up the stairs but fall flat if the party is moving down the stairs since people at the suggested window area should be able to see most of lower areas except the two squares east of the north and south stairs.

If you thought the party was generally going to move down the stairs then you would do a "C" shaped terrain piece at the top of the stairs that connects a 5' wide path from the top of the north stair to the top of the south stair on the highest level. This would allow the party coming in the room from the top to see up to the edge of the drop off. Then when they moved within 5' of the edge they could see the rest of the room. From below, vision would see anyone on the rim of the highest area and the stairs area. This would probably be OK if those stair risers are just going up or down 5' feet each flight of stairs and is probably the better of the two terrain options. But this wouldn't work as well if those stairs change elevation 10'.

This is the problem with using terrain to block vision in a nutshell.

[BruceHale808]

5'x5' grid?
and aprox. 5' elevation changes?

[jwatmough]

You could also use the pit occluders; you can turn off movement blocking and place the entire lower area inside a pit. The pit will allow vision in but not out, that is, if you wanted to obscure the view of what is atop the stairs from the lower area but allow vision from the top into the lower area. You can also turn off the togglable nature of the pit so it will not interfere with play.

[tdewitt274]

Actually, 10' scale.