| Rezdave |
I don't have a canonical map of my world ... most of the "World Maps" have evolved through many revisions and iterations of "not to scale" or are little more than regional scribbles on scratch-paper made during a session. Even these are based more on travel-time than distance ... which I guess makes them somewhat historically accurate :-)
Anyway, I've now got a party that has been doing a lot of distance traveling, both on roads and through wilderness. This has got me doing a lot of thinking about Overland Movement Rates and modifiers to them. For me, table 9-5 in the PH (p.164) is a good start, but doesn't really fit my needs or desired variety.
Thus, I'd appreciate input on the system of modifiers I'm proposing. Basically, select the most appropriate entry from each category then multiply the four modifiers together.
Note that each modifier in each category assumes all other circumstances being equal.
ELEVATION
100% - Plains
75% - Rolling Hills
50% - Foothills, Low Mountains
25% - Steep Mountains
SURFACE
100% - Stone, Hard Earth, Even Surface
75% - Soft Earth, Uneven Surface
50% - Packed or Wet Sand, Thin Mud, Water (ankle-deep), Soft or Broken Surface
25% - Loose Sand, Thick Mud, Water (knee-deep), Snow (ankle-deep), Sticky or Damaged Surface
10% - Water (waist-deep), Snow (knee-deep)
GROUND COVER / OBSTRUCTIONS
100% - Barren Ground
90% - Light Vegetation, Minimal Obstructions
75% - Light Forest, Moderate Vegetation, Minor Obstructions
50% - Thick Forest, Thick Ground Cover, Heavy Vegetation, Significant Obstructions
25% - Thick Vegetation, Jungle, Constant Obstructions
Note - Generally only one GC/O Modifier is needed, but in some cases more than one might need to be applied, such as if moving through the ruins of a city (obstructions) that has been claimed by the jungle (ground cover).
ROADWAY
100% - Military Road
95% - Trade Road
90% - Back Road
85% - Trail
80% - Track
75% - Trackless
Note that Roads will tend to follow a "path of least resistance" and so may have reduced elevation, ground cover, obstructions, etc. compared to the surrounding environment. Military Roads will generally have a flag-stone surface, Trade Roads a maintained packed-earth surface and Back Roads an unmaintained packed earth surface. Trails and tracks are not maintained, and follow whatever course is most convenient to the local travelers, hunters or animals who use them.
BTW, these numbers come from years of hiking various kinds of surfaces and environments in the Boy Scouts and US Army.
Nevertheless your review, input, comments, criticism, additions, alterations and/or advice is much appreciated.
Thanks,
Rez
| Rezdave |
Note that each modifier in each category assumes all other circumstances being equal.ELEVATION
Hmm ... I already think these numbers are off. Forgot my own "all equal" clause.
Perhaps:
ELEVATION
100% - Plains
80% - Rolling Hills
60% - Foothills, Low Mountains
40% - Steep Mountains
Again ... all else being equal. Basically now you could walk 14.4 miles/day along I-70 through the Rocky Mountains (Barren, Stone, Military Road, Low Mountains for path-of-least-resistance) rather than 24 miles across flat, open ground.
The steeper climb up Trail-Ridge Road on foot would get you 9.6 miles/day.
Climbing overland up and down and up and down the deep mountains (Steep Mountains, Broken Surface, Thin Forest or Minor Obstructions, Trackless) slows you down to a mere 2.7 miles/day.
Rez
| JDinkum |
Again ... all else being equal. Basically now you could walk 14.4 miles/day along I-70 through the Rocky Mountains (Barren, Stone, Military Road, Low Mountains for path-of-least-resistance) rather than 24 miles across flat, open ground.
The steeper climb up Trail-Ridge Road on foot would get you 9.6 miles/day.
Climbing overland up and down and up and down the deep mountains (Steep Mountains, Broken Surface, Thin Forest or Minor Obstructions, Trackless) slows you down to a mere 2.7 miles/day.
Hmmm...I think any sort of path should give you a plus, relative to open "barren" ground. Hiking on almost any trail is easier than open ground, unless it's a hardpacked desert playa. Even the uneveness of rock is harder on the feet than a roadway. I think walking I 70 would be as easy as an open plain. Maybe the Ground Cover section should only apply under the Trackless part, with greater penalties?
And then elevation is tough, because you usually don't climb straight up a mountain, but switchback, so your effective distance might only be a few miles, but your feet have covered a lot more.
| Rezdave |
Hmmm...I think any sort of path should give you a plus, relative to open "barren" ground. Hiking on almost any trail is easier than open ground, unless it's a hardpacked desert playa. Even the uneveness of rock is harder on the feet than a roadway. I think walking I 70 would be as easy as an open plain. Maybe the Ground Cover section should only apply under the Trackless part, with greater penalties?
You always apply a modifier from each section, so it is the product of 4 modifiers times your maximum movement rate.
Note that the "trackless" modifier is 75%, so it does slow you down vs. any other type of trail, and that's before accounting for any ground-cover or obstructions.
Generally, a road or trail that is maintained will be "barren" and"even", but if it has become overgrown or is not maintained then different modifiers will apply.
And then elevation is tough, because you usually don't climb straight up a mountain, but switchback, so your effective distance might only be a few miles, but your feet have covered a lot more.
As I've got it now it is only calculating distance "as the wolf runs" but not "as the crow flies". You are correct that a "switchback modifier" (probably on a 10-100% scale) needs to apply to elevation considerations. Even hiking straight up and down 45-degree slopes without switch-backs will induce a 60% modifier to an overhead, straight-line map distance.
I did think of it, but never added that bit.
Thanks for looking and commenting.
Rez