Lets say your party has a wagon that they're using for long distance travel. The wagon is important and the group has reasons.
Now this wagon is slow 30 feet per round, but has the means to not ever have to stop. Also it leaves no trail. So 30 feet per round, every round, 24/7. The ride is smooth ans its basically a mobile campsite. Again, don't worry about the specifics of how.
How would you protect it on the road:
1) mundane methods:
2) magic methods: the party is limited to third level spells from the wizard and cleric list. Also they could theoretically buy higher level scrolls.
My ideas;
1)
- the usual suspects. Set watches, ranged weapons, etc.
- a wooden cover to deflect arrows and provide shade.
2)
-symbol of mirroring somewhere and activated by touch. If we are attacked whoever is on watch can touch it to activate.
-permanent symbol of pain somewhere on it with the party members attune to it. Anyone else comes within 60 feet is wracked with pain. Will need an NPC to cast it.
- major image: illusionary "backup." May buy us time or even make us appear to be of greater numbers.
Any other ideas?
1)
- I could design the whole wagon to provide cover, but with arrow slits to fire out of.
2)
-mount/ communal mount would probably be useful to have on hand should some of the party need to separate then catch back up.
- summoned monsters would be useful as they can separate from the wagon and are disposable.
We've got wagons in one campaign I'm in. One has a turret on the top with a ballista that our alchemist generally mans. He's gone grenadier and loves stuffing bombs into bolts and using the "alchemical weapon" feature. The turret provides him with good cover and allows him to duck out of sight with a free action.
My own wagon has arrow slits and a trapdoor both on top and on the floor so I can slither out the bottom and flank or run away if need be. The trapdoor on top allows me to sunbathe or lie prone on the roof and snipe. The decorative rails around the top of the wagon serve as crenellation.
It's a platform riding on floating disks. Maintained by frequent use of many pearls of power.
I'm presently a 7th level caster for purposes of the spell. I'd like to limit to three castings per "trip" to conserve resources. So weight is an issue, but can be mitigated by more castings. I'm looking for less of a tank due to weight restrictions and more of a mobile camp site. Hence wood over metal, etc. I'd have to do the math on how much this thing weighs.
Perhaps you could eventually pool party gold and buy some adamantine lining or some other strong metal lining for the wagon. At least it may make it sturdier.
Maybe your DM would allow certain types of weaponry to be mounted to the wagon. Like a large heavy crossbow on the sides of the wagons. Could turn it into a tank if you so wished I would think.
I would hire a small army of mercs or commoners to help defend it.
Ah, you want this wagon to be a hovercraft camper van then?
Points for creativity. However, what is the reason to build such a thing?
It's a reasonably cheap way to move the party at low levels. It's not fast, but its constant and allows for resting as we move. In other words no reason to stop daily to make camp. Also, horses die constantly in our games. I did the math and its something like 80 miles in a day, which is respectable given that its perpetual and reasonably comfortable. I was thinking of using it to cross a desert in comfort and style. Plus it circumvents earth sense.
- An escort walking alongside. Some on foot, and some mounted. A few flyers if you really want to be fancy.
- Make this wagon nothing but a flat surface, with a portal to a Magnificent Mansion or something like that - it's hard to attack something that just isn't there...
MM portals are static.
Edit: upon re-reading the spell it says nothing about if you can or can't anchor the door to something. It's be up to the DM. However since I can't cast the spell daily it won't work for me. Plus if I had that level of magic I'd have more options.
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Mundane camoflage nets appropriate for the terrain you'll be travelling through (woodland vs desert vs tundra, etc.). If rigged properly, may double as anti-boarding nets.
