[pnpgm] Game Supplement Update #50a - Shameless Dwarf Plug

[Scott Adams]

   Quick update....

       First in reference to ship speed.  It all is relative to the
       wind.  Zhou is no sailor so his estimate is based on pure
       ignorance and estimate only.  The sailors in the party like
       Chion or such would have better guesses.

       Now if distance is roughly 600 miles.  An average speed is 6-10
       miles per day for most merchant ships.  Doing the simple math
       that's 60-100 days just on average speed.  But of course nothing
       remains the same.  Poor winds could decrease that to 1 mile per
       day then your talking a huge time frame.  Hurricane winds could
       make that 20 days.  So it is all relative to wind only.  This
       is why there is no SET time frame as the winds would have to be
       figured out later. 

       Here are some stats from the link on the websie.  I wrote a program
       to figure this out from the travel times chart I posted online.


                         Days  Speed
            Trace Winds    1    1         Speed being average of Days
            No Wind        2    -         and total speed.  Ie the 4
            Low Winds     15    2         superior days some went up to 50+
            Poor Winds     9    4.3       while others 30+ so average 45. 
            Average winds 17    7.6
            Good Winds    31   12.4
            Superior Winds 4   45.25

        The speed listed is the average speed for those days for that
        Wind Category.  The clear majority are Low, Average and Good
        winds.  Of the 79 days almost half are Good winds showing that
        average speed could be about 12 miles a day.  Of course the
        Blue Moon had the talisman giving it a 24 mile bonus each day.
        This won't be used around Katai though so it has to be dependent
        on winds only.  So 12 miles a day on average let's say is
        about 50 days give or take by ship.  Would only be a couple
        weeks if talisman was used.  So hope that clears that up for
        those who are confused.  

        Currently this is the vote breakdown...

         GM: Votes on route
             [A-Ship by river            B-Wagon/Land by road
              C-Wagon over plains        D-Other]

             Arawn    -  A     Ben'dar  -  C    Caladan  -  A
             Chion    -  ?     Farseeker-  A    Fremea   -  A
             Kell     -  C     Kiet     -  C    Raban    -  ?
             Strie'bog-  ?     Shu      -  B/C  Unali    -  ?
             Whitney  -  ?     Z'leyra  -  ?    Zhou     -  ?

              Vote: A-4, B-1, C-4, D-0, ?-7
             Total: 15, Majority 8 votes

        At this point we have 7 undecided/no votes and at least 2 of
        those could've voted as they are active.  So at this point
        we have tie for ship and wagon by plains 4 to 4.

        To move things along...

        Zhou votes C.  He rather not go back on the ship after so long
        a trip.  So that's 5 to 4.  Not a clear majority but since folks
        had ample time to vote over the last week and don't care to will
        move things along.  So we'll assume the party takes wagon
        overland.

        There was a question of a Driver.  In fact we have 3 in the party
        with Teamster skill that can drive and manipulate the horses.
        But Raban is disqualified by sheer size.  No way is he going to
        sit in the front in that small bench.  So that leaves Kiet and
        Kell who are pretty much equal in skill.  By that sheer fact
        one will have to be the driver and take turns.  

        There is an issue of speed for the wagon.  One person has
        a donkey (Kiet) which slows the wagon down to 18.  If there was no
        donkey it would go up to the next level War Horse 2 which is
        23 a boost of 5 miles. So wagon will have to go as slow as the
        slowest animal.  The horse type is in the roster in each update
        like Do/R1/W3 for the horse type in the first column for
        reference.

        The wagon will need six horses, four could do it but would
        tire them out quicker, six evens the balance.  So some six
        horses of the party will need to be put into that mode.  So
        we'll need to figure out which horses will be wagon drivers
        and which will be ridden.  Then we have to figure out who
        will ride in the wagon.  

        By default those who will ride in the wagon are:
        Fremea, Shu, Unali, Zhou.

        Wagon can fix 6 nicely.  So that leaves 2 inside.  By sheer
        station Arawn (Teacher), Z'leyra (Healer) would likely be
        "normal" to be inside.

        Outside one can ride in the back and then the driver up front
        (Kiet/Kell).

        This leaves 3 horses for driving needing 3 more to be donated
        by party members.

        So at this point

        1) Who fills the other slots inside the wagon (1-2 max).  This
           is optional though.

        2) Who will donate horses for the cause? Need 3.

        Of course horses could be paid for but Zhou is low on funds
        and can't afford it.  Depending on the answers it could
        fit for all but it might be needed that one horse has two
        riders.  I'm not sure yet depending on who volunteers first.

        Those horses tied up by driving wagon of course will be restricted
        in movement in case combat does occur while driving.  

        Small quick update for now.  Bigger one monday.  Including
        leaving the city and such.  Any last minute actions should
        be done/posted for the city.  Next week is also Thanksgiving.
        So for Friday's update it might be a light one.  Folks might
        be too busy/out of town to read it.  

        Next update Monday...

         GM: Distance calculations  [REMINDER]

             Distance estimates
               Highway to Shantou - 360-420 miles estimated
               Plains to Shantou  -     400 miles estimated
               Ocean/River        -     600 miles estimated

             Speed of Travel
               Wagon driven alone -      30 miles/day
               Ship speed         -    6-10 miles/day [average winds]
               Party speed        -      18 miles/day [donkey speed]

             Road bonus: +50% speed

             Time Estimates
               Wagon alone/road   -     8-10 days
               Wagon alone/plains -       14 days
               Party/by roads     -    13-16 days
               Party/by plains    -       22 days
               Party/by ship      -   60-100 days*

             * If winds stay average.  If not could be as bad as 60 days
               if the wind sucks to as fast as 15 days if superior winds
               hold out 100% of the trip.  Assuming no talisman is used.

       PS. Don't forget Legend of the Seeker 2nd season started.  The
           Dwarves are rooting for the Mord'Sith.