Areas
Hazards, abilities, and certain weapons can create areas of effect that shape the fight. Flames may erupt in a deadly line, a psychic blast might ripple outward in a sphere, or a cone of frigid air could freeze enemies in their tracks. Understanding these shapes is crucial for knowing where danger lies and how to position yourself for safety or advantage.
In Obscured, we typically use a standard 5 ft. grid to represent the battlefield. Before using a tactical map, agree on its scale and how the table will measure movement, range, and areas. Settle how diagonals, height, a creature's occupied space, and partly covered squares will be treated, then use those choices consistently.
The diagrams below illustrate typical placements, not every possible angle. The Overseer settles uncertain boundaries before affected rolls are made. Without a map, describe distances and positions clearly enough for everyone to understand who is in danger. No Hunter should discover they were standing in the fire only after the dice land.
Here's how the common shapes work on the grid:
Line
┌─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┐ ┌─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┐ ┌─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┐
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ @ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ @ │ │ │
├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ X │ │ │ │ │ │ │ X │ │ │
├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ @ │ X │ X │ X │ X │ │ │ │ X │ │ │ │ │ │ X │ │ │
├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ X │ │ │ │ │ X │ │ │
├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ X │ │ │ │ X │ │ │
└─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┘ └─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┘ └─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┘
A line extends from its point of origin (@) in a straight path up to its specified length. It affects a width of 5 feet (the width of a standard grid square). This creates a corridor-like area of effect that can cut through multiple enemies or create a temporary barrier. The line doesn't need to align perfectly with the grid and can pass diagonally through squares.
Cube
┌─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┐ ┌─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┐
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ │ X │ X │ X │ │ │ │ @ │ X │ X │ │
├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ │ X │ @ │ X │ │ │ │ X │ X │ X │ │
├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ │ X │ X │ X │ │ │ │ X │ X │ X │ │
├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
└─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┘ └─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┘
A cube affects a cubic area with a specified side length. The point of origin (@) is typically the corner of the cube closest to the caster or at the center of the cube. The cube's area of effect includes all squares that the cube occupies.
Cone
┌─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┐ ┌─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┐ ┌─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┐
│ │ │ @ │ │ │ │ @ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ │ │ X │ │ │ │ │ X │ X │ │ │ │ │ X │ │ │ │
├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ │ . │ X │ . │ │ │ │ X │ X │ X │ │ │ │ X │ X │ │ │
├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ │ X │ X │ X │ │ │ │ │ X │ │ │ │ │ X │ X │ X │ │
├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤ ├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ @ │ │ │ │ │
└─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┘ └─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┘ └─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┘
A cone extends from its point of origin (@) in a direction you choose. It starts with a width of 5 feet one square away from the point of origin and expands as it extends, affecting an increasingly wider area. The cone's length determines how many rows of squares it affects. Included above are a few variations on the angle and orientation of a cone. The areas that are covered (X) or half covered (.) by the cone count as being inside the cone.
Sphere
┌─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┐
│ │ │ X │ │ │
├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ │ X │ X │ X │ │
├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ X │ X │ @ │ X │ X │
├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ │ X │ X │ X │ │
├─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┤
│ │ │ X │ │ │
└─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┘
A sphere affects all squares within a specified radius from its point of origin (@). The sphere expands outward evenly in all directions, creating a circular area of effect on the grid.
Familiarizing yourself with these common area of effect shapes will help you make strategic decisions in combat. If you're ever unsure about how an ability or effect interacts with the grid, don't hesitate to ask your Overseer for clarification.
Overseer: "Amy, it's your turn. The group of zombies is clustered 10 feet away from you."
Amy: "Perfect! I'll activate my fire sigil artifact. It creates a 15-foot cone of flames. That should engulf the whole zombie horde!"
Overseer: "You raise the sigil and unleash a torrent of fire. The cone extends 15 feet from you, covering a width of three squares at its end. The zombies are engulfed in the blaze... but so is John, who was standing a bit too close. He yelps as the flames lick at his legs."
John: "Ouch! Amy, watch where you're aiming that thing!"
Amy: "Sorry, John! I thought you were clear of the blast zone."
David: "I'll get the aloe vera..."