How fast can a Lightning rail go? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How fast can a Lightning rail go? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Nivek Loneshadow
04-03-06, 02:57 PM I had a campaign idea where bandits on horseback were robbing the train like a western.

If the trains go to fast is there magic that slows them down? I'd like to hear thoughts on this idea and how it could or couldn't work.
Temjinstrife
04-03-06, 08:05 PM If they catch the rail going uphill, and hustle their horses, they can catch up.

I can't remember exactly whether the normal speed for a lightning rail is 100 feet or 150 feet, but either way, when it goes uphill horses can catch up.
Kid SixXx
04-03-06, 08:09 PM If the trains go to fast is there magic that slows them down? I'd like to hear thoughts on this idea and how it could or couldn't work.

Any magic dampening spell like Dispel Magic might be ruled to function so that it interferes with the LR helm communicating with the elementals powering the vehicle.

That would cause the LR to slow down.
Nivek Loneshadow
04-03-06, 10:05 PM Up hill huh :) Thanks.

I was wondering about Dispell Magic but wanted to here it from someone. I'll keep that in mind.
ekomega
04-03-06, 11:10 PM Top speed for the Lightning Rail is 30 mph. But it might not be going top speed all the time, like around curves, in populated areas, or through tunnels. Or maybe someone paid to get a more scenic, relaxed view and the train is only traveling half-speed.

Or just make the bandits have a wizard at home who prepares lots of Expeditious Retreat. That should about even it out.
Priest_of_Shaundakul
04-03-06, 11:32 PM I wonder if you can make a flying train like Doc Brown did in BTTF 3
Sereno
04-04-06, 09:22 AM Don't forget that one of the best places to ambush a train is when it's leaving a station or, even better, slowing down to enter a station.

Even with magic, I don't think the LR goes from 0 to 30 instantly ... that would give all its passengers whiplash! :)
darkthought
04-04-06, 09:39 AM If Dispel Magic is cast on the vehicle, the elemental is "supressed." That means it's forced into the Kyber Crystal binding it, and it no longer powers the vehicle. That's an easy way to stop a lightning rail.
Nivek Loneshadow
04-04-06, 05:04 PM Thanks for the new ideas and info.

Dispell magic seems to be a great idea. I can have a spellcaster in the midst of the bandits easily enough.

Doc Brown's train might fit into Ptolus ;)
ieattrollsforbreakfast
04-05-06, 08:13 AM Who needs magic? A normal horse can keep up :)

The Lightning Rail has a top speed of 30mph, which equates to about 240 feet per round. A typical horse has a speed of either 50ft or 60ft and the run feet (x5 speed when running). So a running horse can exceed the speed of the train (250ft or 300ft per round), though its rider is going to have a tough time firing ranged weapons. Of course, all they really need to do is board the train, so it's not really a problem.
Nivek Loneshadow
04-05-06, 08:44 AM I started wondering that and was going to look up and horses speed. (Since I figured I could find the horses speed easier) What book does have the Rail speed?

Anyone know how fast a real train in the west went? I figured all along they thought of this already.
DoveArrow
04-08-06, 04:56 PM Who needs magic? A normal horse can keep up :)

The Lightning Rail has a top speed of 30mph, which equates to about 240 feet per round. A typical horse has a speed of either 50ft or 60ft and the run feet (x5 speed when running). So a running horse can exceed the speed of the train (250ft or 300ft per round), though its rider is going to have a tough time firing ranged weapons. Of course, all they really need to do is board the train, so it's not really a problem.

So if a lightning rail leaves Sharn traveling 30 mph at the same time that a group of bandits leaves First Tower traveling at roughly 34 mph, assuming that they are both traveling at a constant rate of speed, how far out from Sharn will the lightning rail be from Sharn when the two meet? Note: Don't ask me; I was never good at these kinds of math problems.
Kinger
04-08-06, 09:30 PM So if a lightning rail leaves Sharn traveling 30 mph at the same time that a group of bandits leaves First Tower traveling at roughly 34 mph, assuming that they are both traveling at a constant rate of speed, how far out from Sharn will the lightning rail be from Sharn when the two meet? Note: Don't ask me; I was never good at these kinds of math problems.

D = distance from Sharn to First Tower
D1 = distance from Sharn to meeting point (covered by train)
D2 = distance from First Tower to meeting point (covered by bandits)
V1 = speed of Lightning Rail
V2 = speed of bandits
t = time

D = D1 + D2
D1 = V1 * t
D2 = V2 * t
D = (V1 + V2) * t
Solve for t, then D1

Sorry.
DoveArrow
04-08-06, 09:42 PM D = distance from Sharn to First Tower
D1 = distance from Sharn to meeting point (covered by train)
D2 = distance from First Tower to meeting point (covered by bandits)
V1 = speed of Lightning Rail
V2 = speed of bandits
t = time

D = D1 + D2
D1 = V1 * t
D2 = V2 * t
D = (V1 + V2) * t
Solve for t, then D1

Sorry.

Did I mention I received my BA in English? :P
super-ninja-squirrel-king
04-09-06, 02:09 PM the explorer's handbook has things to say about this(i dont have it on hand or i would give you page numbers)

first, it goes 30 mph
and while horses can match it, lets say you dont have horses or something, you can also slow it down quite a bit by removing a few of the conductor stones from the ground. the explorer's handbook says that as long as there are at (i think) at least half of the stones still around, it will slow significantly.

so you get your band of 30 outlaws to do some heavy labor for half a day to remove every other stone for a mile or two(so it has time to slow down- counting for inertia and all) and then the train will be slow enough that you can grab at it from running at a sprint on foot(since you cant count on every outlaw to have their own horse). then instead of just a few outlaws that must take control of the pilot's car, you can have 30 taking the entire LR, so that you can take care of those pesky adventurers that always seem to be on the train that you choose to raid.

i actually derailed a LR last night for my PCs, thats why i know all this
Just another user
04-10-06, 10:39 AM Who needs magic? A normal horse can keep up :)

The Lightning Rail has a top speed of 30mph, which equates to about 240 feet per round. A typical horse has a speed of either 50ft or 60ft and the run feet (x5 speed when running). So a running horse can exceed the speed of the train (250ft or 300ft per round), though its rider is going to have a tough time firing ranged weapons. Of course, all they really need to do is board the train, so it's not really a problem.
I seems to remember that you can temporanealy increase the speed with a Ride check, someone can confirm or deny?.
DarkWarriorKarg
04-10-06, 11:16 AM You're going about this in a complicated way.

Bandits wait for the lightning rail
As it approaches, they hit it at a 90 degree angle.
Then climb onboard.

Or, they remove conductor stones and wait.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nivek Loneshadow 04-03-06, 02:57 PM	I had a campaign idea where bandits on horseback were robbing the train like a western. If the trains go to fast is there magic that slows them down? I'd like to hear thoughts on this idea and how it could or couldn't work.
Temjinstrife 04-03-06, 08:05 PM	If they catch the rail going uphill, and hustle their horses, they can catch up. I can't remember exactly whether the normal speed for a lightning rail is 100 feet or 150 feet, but either way, when it goes uphill horses can catch up.
Kid SixXx 04-03-06, 08:09 PM	If the trains go to fast is there magic that slows them down? I'd like to hear thoughts on this idea and how it could or couldn't work. Any magic dampening spell like Dispel Magic might be ruled to function so that it interferes with the LR helm communicating with the elementals powering the vehicle. That would cause the LR to slow down.
Nivek Loneshadow 04-03-06, 10:05 PM	Up hill huh :) Thanks. I was wondering about Dispell Magic but wanted to here it from someone. I'll keep that in mind.
ekomega 04-03-06, 11:10 PM	Top speed for the Lightning Rail is 30 mph. But it might not be going top speed all the time, like around curves, in populated areas, or through tunnels. Or maybe someone paid to get a more scenic, relaxed view and the train is only traveling half-speed. Or just make the bandits have a wizard at home who prepares lots of Expeditious Retreat. That should about even it out.
Priest_of_Shaundakul 04-03-06, 11:32 PM	I wonder if you can make a flying train like Doc Brown did in BTTF 3
Sereno 04-04-06, 09:22 AM	Don't forget that one of the best places to ambush a train is when it's leaving a station or, even better, slowing down to enter a station. Even with magic, I don't think the LR goes from 0 to 30 instantly ... that would give all its passengers whiplash! :)
darkthought 04-04-06, 09:39 AM	If Dispel Magic is cast on the vehicle, the elemental is "supressed." That means it's forced into the Kyber Crystal binding it, and it no longer powers the vehicle. That's an easy way to stop a lightning rail.
Nivek Loneshadow 04-04-06, 05:04 PM	Thanks for the new ideas and info. Dispell magic seems to be a great idea. I can have a spellcaster in the midst of the bandits easily enough. Doc Brown's train might fit into Ptolus ;)
ieattrollsforbreakfast 04-05-06, 08:13 AM	Who needs magic? A normal horse can keep up :) The Lightning Rail has a top speed of 30mph, which equates to about 240 feet per round. A typical horse has a speed of either 50ft or 60ft and the run feet (x5 speed when running). So a running horse can exceed the speed of the train (250ft or 300ft per round), though its rider is going to have a tough time firing ranged weapons. Of course, all they really need to do is board the train, so it's not really a problem.
Nivek Loneshadow 04-05-06, 08:44 AM	I started wondering that and was going to look up and horses speed. (Since I figured I could find the horses speed easier) What book does have the Rail speed? Anyone know how fast a real train in the west went? I figured all along they thought of this already.
DoveArrow 04-08-06, 04:56 PM	Who needs magic? A normal horse can keep up :) The Lightning Rail has a top speed of 30mph, which equates to about 240 feet per round. A typical horse has a speed of either 50ft or 60ft and the run feet (x5 speed when running). So a running horse can exceed the speed of the train (250ft or 300ft per round), though its rider is going to have a tough time firing ranged weapons. Of course, all they really need to do is board the train, so it's not really a problem. So if a lightning rail leaves Sharn traveling 30 mph at the same time that a group of bandits leaves First Tower traveling at roughly 34 mph, assuming that they are both traveling at a constant rate of speed, how far out from Sharn will the lightning rail be from Sharn when the two meet? Note: Don't ask me; I was never good at these kinds of math problems.
Kinger 04-08-06, 09:30 PM	So if a lightning rail leaves Sharn traveling 30 mph at the same time that a group of bandits leaves First Tower traveling at roughly 34 mph, assuming that they are both traveling at a constant rate of speed, how far out from Sharn will the lightning rail be from Sharn when the two meet? Note: Don't ask me; I was never good at these kinds of math problems. D = distance from Sharn to First Tower D1 = distance from Sharn to meeting point (covered by train) D2 = distance from First Tower to meeting point (covered by bandits) V1 = speed of Lightning Rail V2 = speed of bandits t = time D = D1 + D2 D1 = V1 * t D2 = V2 * t D = (V1 + V2) * t Solve for t, then D1 Sorry.
DoveArrow 04-08-06, 09:42 PM	D = distance from Sharn to First Tower D1 = distance from Sharn to meeting point (covered by train) D2 = distance from First Tower to meeting point (covered by bandits) V1 = speed of Lightning Rail V2 = speed of bandits t = time D = D1 + D2 D1 = V1 * t D2 = V2 * t D = (V1 + V2) * t Solve for t, then D1 Sorry. Did I mention I received my BA in English? :P
super-ninja-squirrel-king 04-09-06, 02:09 PM	the explorer's handbook has things to say about this(i dont have it on hand or i would give you page numbers) first, it goes 30 mph and while horses can match it, lets say you dont have horses or something, you can also slow it down quite a bit by removing a few of the conductor stones from the ground. the explorer's handbook says that as long as there are at (i think) at least half of the stones still around, it will slow significantly. so you get your band of 30 outlaws to do some heavy labor for half a day to remove every other stone for a mile or two(so it has time to slow down- counting for inertia and all) and then the train will be slow enough that you can grab at it from running at a sprint on foot(since you cant count on every outlaw to have their own horse). then instead of just a few outlaws that must take control of the pilot's car, you can have 30 taking the entire LR, so that you can take care of those pesky adventurers that always seem to be on the train that you choose to raid. i actually derailed a LR last night for my PCs, thats why i know all this
Just another user 04-10-06, 10:39 AM	Who needs magic? A normal horse can keep up :) The Lightning Rail has a top speed of 30mph, which equates to about 240 feet per round. A typical horse has a speed of either 50ft or 60ft and the run feet (x5 speed when running). So a running horse can exceed the speed of the train (250ft or 300ft per round), though its rider is going to have a tough time firing ranged weapons. Of course, all they really need to do is board the train, so it's not really a problem. I seems to remember that you can temporanealy increase the speed with a Ride check, someone can confirm or deny?.
DarkWarriorKarg 04-10-06, 11:16 AM	You're going about this in a complicated way. Bandits wait for the lightning rail As it approaches, they hit it at a 90 degree angle. Then climb onboard. Or, they remove conductor stones and wait.