Ledges
How ledges work in Messalith: footholds cut into a cliff face that climb one level for a few points of movement, and what they cost coming back down.
A ledge is a stair of footholds cut into a cliff face, with a rope on most of them. It is what the canyon's and the highland's broken faces offer where there is no ramp.
What a ledge does
- Up: a step up from the ledge to the tile one level higher costs 3.
- Down: a step down onto a ledge costs 1.5, a little more than a step on the flat.
- One level: a ledge climbs one level, no more. For two, see ladders.
- Straight only: the climb is an orthogonal step, never a diagonal.
A straight step on the flat costs 1, so a ledge is a short cut that still costs an exile most of a move.
Where they are
Ledges sit at the foot of cliffs where they open a shortcut or new ground. They are spread at least 8 tiles apart. They are the quietest of the climbs to look at: the steps are broad, flat and worn paler than the face, and on the darkest alpine cliffs they are hard to pick out until a squad is close. See height levels for what the height buys.