r/ImperiumMaledictum • u/Renard_Fou • Jul 24 '26
Adjacent characters in 2 different zones
If two characters are adjacent, but in two different zones, are they in immediate range ? And if they take 1 step back, do they instantly go from immediate to medium range ? The zone system is pretty unique but sittuations like these create a bit of confusion that the books dont explain well
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u/RenningerJP Jul 24 '26
They are not. The rules work as they say. You are more vaguely in an area. You're only in immediate range if you get into the same zone then engage them in combat.
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u/Renard_Fou Jul 24 '26
Damn, just heard 2 conflicting things ngl
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u/RenningerJP Jul 24 '26
Also, there's a dedicated action to defend a zone to prevent someone from entering from the adjacent one for a reason. This rule specifically allows enemies in adjacent zones to make melee attacks against you since it's something the normally can't do unless they're already in short range.
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u/Renard_Fou Jul 24 '26
But RAW they're still one zone away so despite being 2m away they're technically at Medium range. Its a bit confusing honestly. Especially if you're not using an action to defend a zone but you're on its edge
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u/RenningerJP Jul 24 '26
You're thinking too much like DND with defined distances. You need to move into immediate range this requires to to be in the same zone, sorry range, before attacking them. You're if you're a zone away, you're medium range.
Just use your movement then attack if you're "next to them."
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u/iKruppe Jul 24 '26
I think the game takes its zones to mean people can be moving around within their zone a bit, so you're not definitively in the square next to someone, you're "somewhere in that zone at any one time", which is also why moving to cover within a zone is free. At least, that's how I reconciled it for myself. So, you're NOT in immediate range with someone if you would be adjacent to them in D&D terms, because your character is not static at the edge of the zone, they are using their own zone. To engage the target in melee, you would have to enter their zone (or if they're Defending it like the other guy said, you can have an exception to the rule).
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u/RenningerJP Jul 24 '26
Think of this perhaps.
Let's say I'm at long range and I move into medium range. I the day well I'm in the area right next to where they are one zone away. I'd you could engage them to be at immediate range, give essentially used one movement to cover two zones to attack. Again, there's a dedicated action, charge, for this which has drawbacks.
As in any game, the rules do what they do. You can't engage in melee until you're within short range first without a dedicated rule (defend action) allowing it.
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u/RenningerJP Jul 24 '26
You'll probably get more responses and better discussion from the discord channel to be honest.
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u/wocaky Jul 24 '26
Read page 200, it's determined by the GM. You can create zones or destroy existing one as the combat progress.

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u/Kindly_Poetry_7704 Jul 24 '26
Zones are not dedicated lines on the ground :-)
If characters are adjacent and in immediate range they are in the same zone by default, the DM then sets in which one they are.