Metric & Magic

The Metric System and D&D 5e

Introduction: This is a primer for using the Metric System as the basis of your
D&D 5e campaign rules and gameplay.

A guide for converting D&D 5e from Imperial to Metric

by MATTHEW ROY

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Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
METRIC & MAGIC 1
What's in a Number?
America is inching its way towards the
metric system...It's slow and it's real, but I
think it's irreversible.
Neil deGrasse Tyson
The Last Bastion
According to a paper published by the
National Institute of Standards and
Technology, the United States is now the
only industrialized country in the world that
does not use the metric system as its
predominant system of measurement.
Forsaken by the Gods
Lacking any official metric rule-set from
Wizards of the Coast, I present the following
primer for converting the 5e rule-set for use
with the metric system. I have tried to keep
things simple, forgoing exact, scientific
calculation in favor of more general estimates
that strike a balance between accuracy and
figures that are easy to use during gameplay.
Core Mechanics
Thankfully, there are relatively few core
mechanics that are routed in the imperial
system, namely Movement.
Speed and Movement have been simplified,
in the context of the game, by reducing the
base measure to 5 foot intervals. A fairly
accurate interpretation of this length is 1.5 m.
Thus, a medium creature's space changes
from 5 by 5 feet to 1.5 by 1.5 meters.
Since all creature speeds are multiples of 5
feet, they all convert to multiples of 1.5 meters.
While not a whole number, this is still an easy
enough figure to work with and can be used
with existing battle mats and grid maps where
each square is considered 1.5 m2.
It then follows, that melee attack range
becomes 1.5 m and a weapon with the reach
property has a range of 3 m.
The 5e mechanic for jumping also uses
imperial measurements, along with a
character's Strength score and Strength
modifier, to calculate distance. The metric
versions of these mechanics I've come up with
are as follows:
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
METRIC & MAGIC
Jumping
Metric converted mechanics
Long Jump: With a 3 meter running start, jump
a number of meters equal to 1/3 your Strength
score. From a standing start, jump a number of
meters equal to 1/6 your Strength score.
High Jump: With a 3 meter running start, jump
a number of cm equal to 90 + 30 times your
Strength modifier. From a standing start, jump
as high. By reaching your arms overhead,
you can extend your reach by your body
height.
Weight
This one is simple: divide pounds in half to get
kilograms. Again, not scientifically accurate, but
close enough for the purposes of the game and
very easy to work with.
For encumbrance, use these adaptations:
Unencumbered: Carry a number of
kilograms up to 2.5 times your Strength score
with no movement penalty.
Encumbered: Carry up to 5 times your
Strength score with a 3 m penalty to your
speed.
Heavily Encumbered: Carry up to 7.5 times
your Strength score with a 6 m penalty to your
speed. Also, suffer disadvantage on attack rolls,
saving throws and ability checks that use
Strength, Dexterity or Constitution.
Push, Drag or Lift up to 15 times your
Strength score, with your speed reduced to
only 1.5 m.
Work in progress
Please feel free to make comments on the
product page regarding suggestions or
problems you encounter during play testing.
For further information on converting D&D 5e
to the metric system, including container
capacities and more in an easily referenced
guide, see my other Dungeon Masters Guild
product, here:
D&D 5e Quick-Rules and Player Cheat-Sheet
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