Walk Under

A resource on the overhead dangers in urban rain.

The Awning

There's only one part you need to worry about here: The outward edge.
All the water will channel off it and cover you much quicker than the rain around it. Beware.

Keep to the inside, and you'll be just fine. There might be a few extra-large drops on the two remaining edges, but it's well worth the safety you'll find underneath.


The Box

This beast is somewhat unpredictable, as the area of danger depends entirely on the direction of the wind, but it's important to remember every edge can be a killer.
Under calm, rainy conditions, each edge will drip evenly from a pool of rainwater settled on top. However, if a gust comes along, that entire puddle could end up on top of you.

It's important to stay aware of the direction of the wind to calculate which edge may be especially dangerous, but as a general rule of thumb, a quick two-step dash during your transitions underneath The Box could save your life.


The Tall Man

A glass cannon. The Tall Man is both easy to avoid and an especially powerful foe.
Because of its large surface area, in environments with even a little wind speed, an enormous amount of rainwater will hit the sides and channel directly into a focused river of falling destruction.

These are often easy to spot, but can sometimes hide very high on a building, so make sure to keep your eyes to the sky.


The Slats

This rare bird is not usually a threat. No rainwater is collected, and none of it is channeled in any especially perilous fashion.
Because of the small surface area and openness, any rain that hits this specimen will merge with a few other droplets before falling off.

It ends up being a matter of preference, not life or death. If you prefer more frequent, smaller droplets - stay away. If you prefer less consistent, but larger droplets - walk underneath. The choice is yours, but even if you step under, unaware, you're in no real danger.


The Standard

By far the most common, this fiend will put you in a difficult scenario, as it can often take up the entire width of the sidewalk. This limits your options severely.
The danger it presents isn't severe, just a slight, spread-out stream, and sometimes if the sign is mistakenly installed at a slight angle, most of the water will channel either down the building or off the far tip. Because of this, it's recommended you aim for the horizontal center of the sign when walking under it.

Like before, often the best course of action is the two-step dash timed right before you step under it. Watch for a pattern in the stream as you approach, and if you time it well, you might not incur any extra damage at all.


The Rounded

Another rarity, this creature can be range from inconvenient, to nearly as dangerous as The Tall Man. Depending on the size, something rounded will channel all the rainwater that connects with it into a devastating stream.

If you calculate the focal point at the center of the base and avoid it, you'll be just fine.


The Structure

While it looks deceptively scary, this creature is actually quite safe. Because the tops of scaffolding are often wooden, off-kilter, and surrounded by poles, the water flows off down the metal, and away from you.

It's always a good idea to keep your wits about you. There is a chance that a small trickle (or, god forbid, a stream) finds its way through a hole in The Structure, but it will always be controlled and obvious. Stay vigilant and light on your toes, and you'll be just fine.


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