On the Crests of Hills (Steep or Gentle)

[Ares]

How do people depict hill crests? I believe the rules stipulate a line drawn across the hill to indicate its highest point and to show what points are higher relative to others. Does anyone use contour lines for this, rather than a single line drawn across the theoretical crest? How about the use of three-dimensional hills, where it should be obvious who is uphill from whom - would these, for the sake of adherence to the rule, require crest lines?

[ June 16, 2004, 16:40: Message edited by: Ares ]

[Redwilde]

I use 3D hills and don't bother marking a crest line. Don't think I've seen anyone at tourneys using marked crestlines either. To paraphrase a certain philosopy: "uphill is uphill"

[Badger]

My own hills are made from layers of felt, the edges of which are effectively like contour lines, and the layers get progressively darker the "higher" one goes. They're not as nice as 3-D hills, but they're a lot easier to get figures on!

I haven't bothered with crestlines, though I've seen some potential cheese resulting from ridges on spurs sticking out from the main ridge (some of us don't insist that all real hills are roughly oval, with no concave portions to their contour lines -- oh, the heresy of it all!).

"Uphill is uphill", as the man said.

[Stephen Webb]

My hills have sloped edges, with a plateau on the top. By convention the hill is considered to slope upwards from all sides to the midpoint.

Normally we have no trouble deciding on whether an element is uphill of its opponent even when playing in a competition.

Often it is obvious because one is actually on the slope, but even if they are both on the flat part, one will be closer to the middle of the hill and thus be uphill. Or they cab be equidistant, so neither is uphill.

If there is any doubt, use a die roll to decide.

[Roland Fricke]

I don't use crestlines either but use the traditional if you're on the hill edge you get +1 vs anybody off the hill. Since there are so many ways to play it, at cons I usually ask how the other player wants to interpret it before we start rolling and then if anyone moves onto a hill ask again so we know exactly who is uphill and who is not. That way there are no surprise interpretations when contact is finally made. Its those surprise interpretations that can create the most disagreements/hard feelings. Likewise if I think the player is unsure of the latest rules I'll point out things like " you know my Psiloi support my blades +1 versus your Warband?"

[Andrechin]

With 3D hills, there is no problem in telling who is uphill.

Problem arises when you try to shoot to an element on a hill (if it is separated by a crest line cannot be shot at) or to check if it is within its general command radius (the command radius is 600p if separated by a crest line).

I use 3D models, of oval shape, and always define before the game where the crest line is for the above mentioned purposes (usually a line along the major axis of the oval).

Attilio

[ July 14, 2004, 16:07: Message edited by: Andrechin ]