1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Measuring in Centimeters

Discussion in 'Access Guide to the Human Sphere' started by Wolf, Jan 15, 2018.

  1. Wolf

    Wolf https://youtube.com/@StudioWatchwolf

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2017
    Messages:
    835
    Likes Received:
    969
    I'm having some issues in Japan with teaching people to play the game in inches, and wonder if people have anything constructive to say about this.

    In short, Imperial units are alien and although it's not impossible, it's uncommon to find measures marked in inches. I recently visited a DIY warehouse with hundreds of measuring devices, but none were in inches!

    The main issue is not so much with obtaining measuring tools though as the people's unfamiliarity with the unit. I might as well be saying "4 Finger Joints" as "4 inches" for all the resonance the word 'inch' has.

    So I experimented with printing army lists in centimeters, and everything got a whole bunch easier, with far less difficulty in early games.

    But then playing in Spain, a notably long-standing decimal country, everyone was using inches, and I'm aware that the English rules does does state "Distances in the game table are measured in inches, using a tape measure or ruler." N3 PDF p20

    Any comments?
     
  2. psychoticstorm

    psychoticstorm Aleph's rogue child
    Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2017
    Messages:
    5,888
    Likes Received:
    11,260
    As long as you all play in the same numerical unit and not convert from one unit to the other it is fine, if you use metric you should use the distances described on the Spanish rulebook/ army list/ scenarios.
     
  3. Barrogh

    Barrogh Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2017
    Messages:
    2,062
    Likes Received:
    1,791
    Pretty sure I was told that Interplanetario was played in cm, and so were some other events in Spain.

    Just last week I was told an anecdote about one of these events when someone messed up his rangeband just enough to be okay in inches, but failing in cm. They had to check tournament reglament to determine the outcome.

    Anyway, the game supports both, although "4 inches = 10 cm" Infinity postulates is wrong.
    If your group prefers cm, just roll with it.
     
  4. Wolf

    Wolf https://youtube.com/@StudioWatchwolf

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2017
    Messages:
    835
    Likes Received:
    969
    Thanks @psychoticstorm - can I take that as a formal assurance?

    I've actually found that the metrics range distances felt easier to remember and play with personally, and we've been doing that for about 9 months now. Then I recently played in an ITS tournament in the UK and really struggled to make the adjustment.

    Since the cm and inch ranges aren't quite the same distances, I played it that I stuck to cm the whole way through the tournament. That was fair enough, but unnecessarily difficult for both players because we had to obtain two sets of measurements.

    What do we know about players in other metric countries, and any comment about such international ITS?
     
    #4 Wolf, Jan 15, 2018
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2018
  5. ijw

    ijw Ian Wood aka the Wargaming Trader. Rules & Wiki
    Infinity Rules Staff Warcor

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2017
    Messages:
    7,331
    Likes Received:
    14,817
    Yeah, the Interplanetary was officially played in cm. I can't remember if that was in the printed player pack or announced at the start of the event. Also the players' army lists were printed in cm.

    Although games where both layers were used to playing in inches tended to be played in inches anyway.
     
  6. Marduck

    Marduck Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2017
    Messages:
    590
    Likes Received:
    1,306
    Depends where you play. I always played cm since my version of the book and rules are printed in cm. (And I don't have inches tape measure)

    But in tournament the issue should be addressed beforehand cause it could matter at long range. Like the hmg 80cm should be 32 inches but it's more like 31inches.
     
  7. fari

    fari CRISTASOL, EL LIQUIDO DE LOS DIOSES

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2017
    Messages:
    4,069
    Likes Received:
    4,434
    I never used inches, and no one of my infinity mates did. In Spain, we only use inches playing WH.
     
    xagroth likes this.
  8. Wolf

    Wolf https://youtube.com/@StudioWatchwolf

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2017
    Messages:
    835
    Likes Received:
    969
    I didn't notice that at all, but am personally pleased to hear it; the ranges seem to fall together nicely in cm, and it plays well out here.

    So I'm safe to stay with cm if that's working?
     
  9. colbrook

    colbrook Grenade Delivery Specialist

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2017
    Messages:
    9,295
    Likes Received:
    17,066
    I've always been of the opinion that the English rules only default to inches because of a certain former colony's refusal to embrace the metric system which makes finding a tape measure in mm/cm on the wrong side of the Atlantic annoyingly hard.

    The Army builder is easy to switch between cm and archaic, as long as both players are using the same you can use whichever you prefer.
     
  10. Wolf

    Wolf https://youtube.com/@StudioWatchwolf

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2017
    Messages:
    835
    Likes Received:
    969
    Are you in Spain then, Fari?
     
    Abrilete likes this.
  11. Recruit-3D

    Recruit-3D Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2017
    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    32
    Well, the CB calculation error is only 1.6% any range measurement, which hardly makes any statistical differents in the use of range bands. As for movements i´d say it´s much more important to place the model on the correct position, which - personal opinion - would be estimated as ~5% positioning margin. (bla bla bla bla bla physics bla bla)

    Basically: Take your pick. It´s not important at all.
    It´s a game after all

    edit: <bashing imperial units> I only use the imperial system for infinity. Thats what it´s made for after all. Games, right?
     
    T. Rex Pushups likes this.
  12. fari

    fari CRISTASOL, EL LIQUIDO DE LOS DIOSES

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2017
    Messages:
    4,069
    Likes Received:
    4,434
    yep.

    Now im curious. Where you played here in Spain?
     
    #12 fari, Jan 15, 2018
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2018
  13. Nenyx

    Nenyx Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2017
    Messages:
    772
    Likes Received:
    794
    I guess that for many of us (that is, most people outside UK), centimeters are just easier, since it is what we use on a daily basis. My friends and I were used to play other games in inches because of Games Workshop (we used to mentally convert inches in cm since we rarely had inches rulers), but now we can play in cm, and it's so easier for us :)
     
  14. Superfluid

    Superfluid Welcome to Svalarheima

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2017
    Messages:
    397
    Likes Received:
    512
    So interestingly I purchased a 4ft by 4ft mat to play on stupidly expecting it to fit on my 120cm x 120cm table. Obviouslly It did not so the extra inch has been snipped off the sides with a craft knife. So now when we play casually round my house we play with inches on a 120cm table :O

    Heresy!
     
  15. psychoticstorm

    psychoticstorm Aleph's rogue child
    Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2017
    Messages:
    5,888
    Likes Received:
    11,260
    Ye sit is safe, just use the cm, just don't try to convert inches to CM, use the official ranges issued by CB, you can find them in all PDF that are not English, and as an option to the army builder.
     
    chromedog likes this.
  16. Abrilete

    Abrilete Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2017
    Messages:
    2,490
    Likes Received:
    3,387
    Spanish player here, also playing in cm.
     
  17. Wolf

    Wolf https://youtube.com/@StudioWatchwolf

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2017
    Messages:
    835
    Likes Received:
    969
    I was just a spectator at the Interplanetario last year - I didn't play; but I also didn't notice that the competitors using cm, and I recall the discussions I did have using inches.

    ... Then again, I spent the entire weekend more excited than a seven-year old on a diet of icing sugar and Red Bull, so my judgement probably wasn't at its best! :grin:

    Thanks for your confirmation also, @Abrilete. Do we know if the Polish guys are all generally playing in centimeters too, then?
     
  18. fari

    fari CRISTASOL, EL LIQUIDO DE LOS DIOSES

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2017
    Messages:
    4,069
    Likes Received:
    4,434
    Maybe some players used inches if both agree
     
  19. stargorger

    stargorger Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2017
    Messages:
    152
    Likes Received:
    162
    Unrelated but, where in Japan do you play @Wolf ?
     
  20. cazboab

    cazboab Definitely not Cazboaz.

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2017
    Messages:
    1,083
    Likes Received:
    1,462
    The rough and ready conversion has always been 1" = 2.5cm, its technically inaccurate, but its close enough that you only notice on really big measurements, and if both players are using the same units its not an issue.

    Plus 10cm sounds a lot more impressive than 4 inches even though it's less:innocent:...
     
    Abrilete likes this.
  • About Us

    We are a company founded in 2001 in Cangas (Spain), and devoted to design and manufacture games and figures. Our main product, Infinity the Game, was born with the ambition to satisfy the most demanding audience, offering the best quality.

     

    Why are we here?

     

    Because we are, first and foremost, players.

  • Quick Navigation

    Open the Quick Navigation