Welcome to "The Stage." The layout is designed to encourage crossing the map through the stage located in the center, but it is not required. Being pushed off the stage causes damage and it is a unique area to fight on in several ways.

MECHANIC
STAGE: The stage is very tall. To enter you must ascend via stairs. Teleporting/switching on or off the stage is not allowed (transport potion is the only exception). When climbing from Green, to Blue, to Purple, and then to Red, the movements are considered normal, and there is no additional cost of MP. However, moving from the ground (green) directly to the Purple step requires the use of 2 MP (same as with logs in the alternate terrain).

FALLING: If you are knocked off or jump off the stage directly to the ground, you are falling and will be hit with 1 base neutral damage, plus 1 roll for critical. The stairs are the only exception to falling. You do not fall from the steps to the ground, or from the stage onto the steps.

OBSTACLES DURING SPECIAL MOVEMENTS: You can pass over objects on the ground if they are adjacent to the stage and they are not blocking the space where you would land. For every additional space you would be pushed past the stage, you may pass over 1 object. For example, if you are standing at the edge of the stage and are pushed 2 spaces, you can pass over 1 obstacle. If an obstacle is 1 space away from the stage, you will land before it. If you are using a special movement that grants 3 spaces (kickmaster, charge), you can pass over 2 objects in a row when adjacent to each other and the stage. If there is an obstacle 3 spaces away from the stage, or both 2 and 3, you will land before them. If all spaces on the ground where you could land are occupied, you will stop at the edge of the stage. You cannot move past obstacles on the stairs.

LOS: Each level you go up increases your LOS by 1 when your spell is targeting the ground. Blue = LOS +1, Purple = LOS +2, Red = LOS +3. If you are not targeting the ground, subtract from your increased LOS accordingly (Red to Blue = LOS +2, Red to Purple = LOS + 1). From the ground, the bottom blue step does not block line of sight, but the purple step and the stage both do. From the ground, you only have LOS for those spaces closest to you in a straight line. Beyond the 1st purple or red space, you do not have LOS. From the stage, any stage space you are not standing on, or purple step may block line of sight. when targeting the ground or steps.

AOE: Areas of effect from spells will be limited to the ground or the stage, depending on the square that it targets. Stair steps are considered part of the ground when determining AOE. For example, you may target both stair steps (blue and purple) and the ground using the square, staff, or cross AOE.

MEELEE: To target the stage you must either be on it, or standing on the 2nd step (purple).

I recently picked up alternate terrain, and now that I have seen how ankama is handling vertical space higher than boxes, I've decided to rework my mechanic to mirror what they have already done.

Top diagram: LOS Stage to Stairs
Middle diagram: LOS Stage to Ground
Bottom diagram, left: Pushing figure 2 spaces, with figure blocking landing path
Bottom diagram, right: Kickmaster, moving 3 spaces past an obstacle

too much special rules to me, but the concept isinteresting and favors HTH fighters (which will probably be apprieciated by many ^^)