@grant hopefully you can see where I’ve begun to answer your points with the movement and range system. I still need to build upon this though.

@bartoneus the main assumption of traps in 4e though is that space is discrete and there is a chance to walk outside or around the trap somehow. In abstracting those zones, we’ve abstracted that sense of space. The hazard check is a quick way to deal with that without adding a lot of complexity.

@alexander the AOE for bursts and blasts are purposely abstracted. The aim for threshold is elegance and speed, not precision. Each element that you incroporate from the grid-based system of 4e adds more elegance-stealing complexity from the system. For a better treatment of space (i.e. a more accurate translation of the grid) see my Fluid rules. I think they address both your points but add more complexity than many want to deal with whne leaving the grid behind.

Similarly, shifts and forced movement have less impact in this system. They don’t do much mechanically, but this is again intentional. Threshold is not meant to be a replacement for grid-based combat but a cinematic supplement for certain cases.

I hope I didn’t sound defensive! I just wanted to clarify my goals and intents a little more. I do think you might like fluid a bit more. Check it out and let me know!

1. The AoE hit chart seems a bit off. Remember that a “Burst N” is a 2N+1 by 2N+1 square area, while a “Blast N” is only an N by N square area. That means a Burst 1 is the same area as a Blast 3, a Burst 2 is the same as a Blast 5, a Burst 3 is the same as a Blast 7, etc. So the chart should probably be adjusted to reflect that. Or is the discrepancy intentional?

2. How do pushes, pulls, slides, and shifts work? How does flanking work? Is there any benefit to having a reach weapon in this system?

Much like Dave I’d like to see this simplified a bit more, but I like what you’ve got going here so far!

One suggestion could be that “Back Away” is a manuever that means you’re immune to AoE that round, but it’s assumed that in following rounds any enemies in your Zone pursue and stand next to you again. You can’t Back Away in Zones made of challenging terrain, or if a creature has made an Advantageous Manuever to get combat advantage against you.

Aside from that, this seems like an interesting idea and one that I could see myself adopting. It seems to have a lot of similarities with WFRP 3, and if you haven’t had a look at that, I’d recommend that you do – their range system is elegant and interesting.

I also like the idea of having different effects in different zones – say, in the “Torture Chamber” zone there’s a spiked iron maiden that inflicts an extra 2D8 damage on a crit as the attacker shoves their victim into it (or they can try and bullrush people into it, too). It means that terrain can still have a good effect on combat, but limits the amount of time spent manuvering into position.

I reckon that this will give fights the capacity to take place across a “front” rather than in 10×10 room, which is always good. Perhaps the Torture chamber is linked to a ritual dias (+2 damage to arcane attacks) and a prison (on a crit, emaciated prisoners will grab hold of your opponent and Restrain them, save ends). WOuld be fun to have a varied arena that doesn’t feel cluttered.

I do love the implications of zone effects (hazards and hindrances- those are going to matter way more than on a grid) and the burst/blast system.