Rules for Elevated Blocking Terrain (EBT)

[A_Higher_Level]

The following contains the rule set for Elevated Blocking Terrain as I understand it though numerous coorespondence with Chapeau.

-You cannot occupy, or even access, an EBT square unless you are a hovering figure, or possess the leap/climb super power.

-If you lose your Leap/Climp super power while on occupying an EBT square, you are considered stuck and cannot move off the square without help.

-While on an EBT square you are only allowed to make ranged attacks. You cannot engage in close combat (even if you have the Leap/Climb super power) unless your opponent is on an adjacent EBT square.

-EBT squares are not considered additionally elevated, so you cannot fire over the heads of figures on Elevated Terrain.

-Opponents who are adjacent to you that do not occupy EBT squares are not considered adjacent. They are free to continue to move, or take support actions, with no penalty.

-An EBT square is not considered hindering terrain (although it has a picture). The picture represents the blocking terrain (eg. A/C unit). Those who happen to occupy the EBT square while Stealthed can be seen and be fired upon.

[JacinB]

Originally posted by A_Higher_Level
-An EBT square is not considered hindering terrain (although it has a picture). The picture represents the blocking terrain (eg. A/C unit). Those who happen to occupy the EBT square while Stealthed can be seen and be fired upon.

How does this work, exactly? I mean, as it is not considered to be additionally elevated, that means that if you occupy EBT then you are effectively inside Blocking Terrain, right?

What I'm saying is: If you're on a roof on top of an 'air conditioner', your opponent still has to draw line of fire through blocking terrain. If you're both on the same elevation (as is indicated by saying that it is not further elevated), that shouldn't negate the effect blocking terrain.

And, if you're not further elevated, you shouldn't get the benefit (and/or penalty) of the 'elevated terrain' rules which state that you can shoot at someone if the only line of blocking terrain your LOF crosses is one of the lines of the square that you occupy or the target occupies.

The fact is, it probably should have just been Hindering Terrain to begin with, but the person designing the maps didn't have a clue about the actual rules of the game concerning elevated / blocking terrain.

[double_a]

Looks good to me.
The only thing missing is Chapeau's ruling that you cannot be knocked off of EBT. If your knockpath path takes you past the black outlines you treat the lines like you would indoor walls - you stop and take a click of damage. You do not go sailing off the A/C unit and land on the rooftop.

Here's how I'm now describing the rules:1- For movement purposes: Only Flyers and Leap/Climbers can be on Elevated Blocking Terrain (EBT) squares (phasers can move though them but can't stay).

2- For close-combat & knockback purposes: The thick black lines are considered to be WALLS. Use all the same rules that you use for indoor walls (i.e. you are not adjacent, if you get knockback you stop & take a click of damage, etc).

3- For range combat against ground targets: Use normal elevated terrain rules (i.e. must be on the edge, cannot cross other elevated terrain squares, can fire over ground figures, etc).

4- For range combat against rooftop targets: Use elevated terrain rules except LoF is affected by intervening rooftop figures (blocked) and terrain (blocked/hindered). Effectively you cannot shoot over rooftop figure's heads.
I may have to add the bit about it not being Hindering and Leapers getting stuck.

[rotru]

So just for a final clarification, how can you attack a figure in EBT? I know you can attack them in close combat if you are adjacent to them on another EBT square. And I know that the figure can make ranged attacks from EBT. But can any other figure on the rooftop make a ranged attack against the character in EBT, as long as their LOF does not pass through any other figure bases or blocking terrain?

[Xanth]

You are correct. Any fig on elevated terrain can shoot them as long as LOF is not blocked by intervening elevated figs or blocking terrain. A grounded fig could shoot them too if the EBT is at the edge of the roof.

[A_Higher_Level]

Originally posted by JacinB


How does this work, exactly? I mean, as it is not considered to be additionally elevated, that means that if you occupy EBT then you are effectively inside Blocking Terrain, right?

What I'm saying is: If you're on a roof on top of an 'air conditioner', your opponent still has to draw line of fire through blocking terrain. If you're both on the same elevation (as is indicated by saying that it is not further elevated), that shouldn't negate the effect blocking terrain.

And, if you're not further elevated, you shouldn't get the benefit (and/or penalty) of the 'elevated terrain' rules which state that you can shoot at someone if the only line of blocking terrain your LOF crosses is one of the lines of the square that you occupy or the target occupies.

The fact is, it probably should have just been Hindering Terrain to begin with, but the person designing the maps didn't have a clue about the actual rules of the game concerning elevated / blocking terrain.

Hey...! I don't make the rules, I just clarify them. Feel free to make house rules that more accurately reflect what you personally feel seems reasonable for EBT. The way I see it, it's just a game. And as long as I know the rules ahead of time, I'll always kick butt.

[Tsannik]

Hey...! I don't make the rules, I just clarify them. Feel free to make house rules that more accurately reflect what you personally feel seems reasonable for EBT. The way I see it, it's just a game. And as long as I know the rules ahead of time, I'll always kick butt

This is so simple! You just have to think in 8 dimensions like double_a and Xanth do....

Me, I like living in reality and don't like it when my head explodes....

But, it's almost making sense now. I might be able to field such questions without fear or cranial explosion.

[JacinB]

Then you're a step ahead of me, Tsannik.

To me, the rulings seem to directly contradict what would be 'obvious' answers to the question of the EBT. But, that's probably just me.

Of course, we also think that the indoor terrain that is quite obviously just elevated (like the stairs leading 'up' to the second level of the museum), should be considered elevated terrain and not just 'another room' as would be implied by the blocking terrain ruling that was given. Why? Well, if it's just blocking terrain, you could destroy the 'wall' and go through the newly created hindering terrain (rubble) and avoid the stairs altogether. Is that what is implied by the design of the map?

I hate it when common sense contradicts a ruling. It makes it that much harder to keep straight what effect what action should have on what, you know?

[wrmechant]

Originally posted by A_Higher_Level

-You cannot occupy, or even access, an EBT square unless you are a hovering figure, or possess the leap/climb super power.


You can also acess to an EBT if you have Phasing, can't you?

Phasing allows you to ignore terrain features... but with this line, I have a doubt.

[rotru]

Actually, I don't think you can. Since phasing merely allows you to ignore terrain effects in your movement path, it doesn't actually allow you to occupy outdoor blocking terrain like hovering and L/C do.

But that's my take. Judges?

[Xanth]

Although Phase ignores terrain effects it was ruled that since Phase is operational only during the movement action, the Phaser cannot occupy an EBT since he would otherwise be forbidden to occupy it when he ended the move action.

[shin-goji]

I got the museum map thinking it would be ultra cool. It's ultra complicated! Having to treat the balcony as another room is a headache, especially when you take into consideration that the stairs are wider than one hex.

[thjimmy]

shin-goji said I got the museum map thinking it would be ultra cool. It's ultra complicated! Having to treat the balcony as another room is a headache,

Is this true? We've been playing it as indoor elevated (i.e. a balcony). Otherwise the stairs make no sense at all.

Thanks for the help.

[Xanth]

It is true. There is no elevated terrain indoors. Elevated terrain is the roof.

[tazrap]

only l/c and flyers may occupy a ebt space...

[JacinB]

Good call, tazrap.

[double_a]

The stairs on the DC Premier map make sense once you get the zen realization that this games has STAIRS and "steps".

STAIRS are terrain that allows you to change elevation.
"steps" are terrain images that simply represent stairways (like other terrain that represents cobblestone walkways, patio stones, etc).

STAIRS can be found on outdoor maps since it is possible to change elevations on those maps.
STAIRS cannot be found on indoor maps since it is impossible to change elevations on those maps.

"steps" can be on any map (though it would be confusing on an outdoor map).

STAIRS require you to step into each square to change elevation.
"steps" have no such requirement (there is no different elevation to move to!).

More dimension8 thinking.