Climate change in the Silver Marches [Archive] - Wizards Community

Climate change in the Silver Marches [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
gratzu
09-25-06, 10:19 PM I'm not sure where I should post this, so I decided to move it to the general FR board. Sorry about the double post thing!

I'm running a campaign in the Silver Marches, and I'm trying to figure out how the return of the City of Shade affects the weather. I know that they tried melting the high ice in an attempt to re-fertilize Anauroch, how did that turn out?

I also need to figure out what normal weather patterns exist in the SM. Is there any official info availible on Faerun's climate? Has anyone else come up with some ideas? I'd appreciate it!

Thanks guys
Dargoth
09-25-06, 10:35 PM The Silver Marches source book has info on its weather specficly pages 47-52
gratzu
09-25-06, 11:02 PM I've read over the weather tables and stuff. They are really useful but I'm also looking to understand the air masses that are affecting the region. That way I could figure out what might happen when different changes are made. Somewhere in the archives someone mentioned some sort of climatology map comparing the weather on Faerun with analogous earth weather of similar latitude.
For example, where is the equator located on Torril? How far north is Silverymoon anyway? Would it be more like NYC or Juneau Alaska? How close is it to the Arctic Circle? Where are the tropics?

Also, what finally happened to the High Ice? Did the shades manage to melt it entirely? What is Anauroch like now?

Sorry for the rambling, but I'm a bit of a geography geek and I want to make it as real as possible.

What do you guys think?
Altar_Boy
09-26-06, 12:33 AM The important thing to remember is that the massive melting of the polar caps is NOT the result of Faerun's overdependence on Fire spells. It's only an naturally-occuring warm period brought on by the return of an long-lost society of wizards.

Besides, even if the fire spells were responsible, we wouldn't give up our way of life. It would be unFaerunian!
Alediran
09-26-06, 09:38 AM The important thing to remember is that the massive melting of the polar caps is NOT the result of Faerun's overdependence on Fire spells. It's only an naturally-occuring warm period brought on by the return of an long-lost society of wizards.

Besides, even if the fire spells were responsible, we wouldn't give up our way of life. It would be unFaerunian!

:rofl:

Shades could not melt too much of the High Ice to make permanent changes (you could thank those little 4-armed, tooth-filed maws, levitating worms known as Phaerims)
gratzu
09-27-06, 02:52 PM The important thing to remember is that the massive melting of the polar caps is NOT the result of Faerun's overdependence on Fire spells. It's only an naturally-occuring warm period brought on by the return of an long-lost society of wizards.

Besides, even if the fire spells were responsible, we wouldn't give up our way of life. It would be unFaerunian!

:ayyyy!:

That's hilarious.

Seriously though, where is Torril's equator? What is the planet's diameter? How tilted is its axis?

Oh, how much of the high ice did Shade get anyway?
Yakostovian
09-28-06, 09:15 AM Well, scientificially speaking, some of that can be guestimated from the information we already have.
Look at the "world map" on Page 231 of the FRCS.
Estimate where the equator is, and Silverymoon. the Equator is 0 degrees, while the top and bottom of the map are 90 degrees north and south. I would say that the silver marches are probably as far north as say Finland or Norway, so (it appears to be approxamatly 70 degrees north to me)

Since Toril is composed of mostly earth like materials, it is safe to assume that the diameter of Toril is similar to that of Earth.
We can assume that the mass of Toril is the same as earth, since any gravity difference is undetectable (thats why a longsword weighs 3 pounds on Earth as well as Toril)

In order to figure out the tilt of Toril however, that would have to be based upon the dramatic differences in climates at roughly the same altitude and angle for peak summer and winter. And then, it is still only a best guess. I would wager it is 23.5, just like Earth though.

I am sleepy, but will be certain to update this later.
gratzu
09-28-06, 05:51 PM Well, scientificially speaking, some of that can be guestimated from the information we already have.
Look at the "world map" on Page 231 of the FRCS.
Estimate where the equator is, and Silverymoon. the Equator is 0 degrees, while the top and bottom of the map are 90 degrees north and south. I would say that the silver marches are probably as far north as say Finland or Norway, so (it appears to be approxamatly 70 degrees north to me)

Since Toril is composed of mostly earth like materials, it is safe to assume that the diameter of Toril is similar to that of Earth.
We can assume that the mass of Toril is the same as earth, since any gravity difference is undetectable (thats why a longsword weighs 3 pounds on Earth as well as Toril)

In order to figure out the tilt of Toril however, that would have to be based upon the dramatic differences in climates at roughly the same altitude and angle for peak summer and winter. And then, it is still only a best guess. I would wager it is 23.5, just like Earth though.

I am sleepy, but will be certain to update this later.

I would imagine Silverymoon to be more like 60 degrees north because I've never read anything that suggests that it experiences a midnight sun phenomenon. If that's the case, then it would have to lie outside of the Arctic Circle. I'm putting it at 60 because that's the latitude of Oslo, Helsinki, and St Petersburg on Earth. Those are the northernmost cities of any significant size on Earth as far as I can tell.

Oops, time to fix food n'stuff. I'll post more later!
Yakostovian
09-29-06, 01:53 AM I would imagine Silverymoon to be more like 60 degrees north because I've never read anything that suggests that it experiences a midnight sun phenomenon. If that's the case, then it would have to lie outside of the Arctic Circle. I'm putting it at 60 because that's the latitude of Oslo, Helsinki, and St Petersburg on Earth. Those are the northernmost cities of any significant size on Earth as far as I can tell.

Oops, time to fix food n'stuff. I'll post more later!

I have to agree with you, as have never read anything on the 3 months of daylight/darkness in Faerun. But, unless the seasons are magical, there has to be a tilt of the planet, and with a tilt of the planet, somewhere far enough north has to have the 3 months of darkness/daylight once a year.
But we can all agree that Silver Marches is above the 55th parrallel?
theartistformerlyknownas
09-29-06, 02:57 AM Well, scientificially speaking, some of that can be guestimated from the information we already have.

Guestimated?

Scientifically speaking, right? ;)
Yakostovian
09-29-06, 03:18 AM Guestimated?

Scientifically speaking, right? ;)
Intentional. No other explantion is neccessary.
gratzu
09-29-06, 05:37 PM I have to agree with you, as have never read anything on the 3 months of daylight/darkness in Faerun. But, unless the seasons are magical, there has to be a tilt of the planet, and with a tilt of the planet, somewhere far enough north has to have the 3 months of darkness/daylight once a year.
But we can all agree that Silver Marches is above the 55th parrallel?

That sounds about right. I figure Waterdeep corresponds with London, and its climate is warmer than its latitude would suggest due to a tropical current originating in Mazteca.
I figure I can fudge the facts a bit (I am the DM after all!) and say that the melting of the high ice is disrupting that current thereby decreasing the average temp in the Sword coast north. The added moisture in Anauroch would cause massive winter storms as the climate adjusts. (I started the campaign just before Harvestide). Spring is going to bring massive flooding due to the excess melt water.

What do you think?
Yakostovian
09-29-06, 06:36 PM Sounds plausible, but you should also take into account how the humidity change is going to affect the climate.

Otherwise, sounds about right.
BrianCritchley
09-30-06, 04:13 PM actually waterdeep wize I've always figured it was somewhat like seattle or vancouver.
Yakostovian
09-30-06, 08:44 PM actually waterdeep wize I've always figured it was somewhat like seattle or vancouver.
Seatlle is about the 47th parallel, but where waterdeep is on the map does not appear to be exactly 3/4 from the bottom (the map I am refering to is from FRCS pg 231)
Looks more like Portland Oregon to me (which is similar to seattle, but with slightly more sunshine)
Zargain
10-01-06, 10:40 PM Waterdeep lies slightly above the 45th degree north latitude line on Toril.
I hope this helps ;)
Yakostovian
10-01-06, 10:48 PM Originally Posted by Bottom of pg. 79 FR setting book
Waterdeep lies slightly above the 45th degree north latitude line on Toril.

All I have to say is:
Damn, I've been trumped.
Hooray to you. You get a cookie. (Not intended to be sarcastic)
Notice, I hold no hard feelings over proving me wrong. I would rather the rest of the members on the boards be well informed than some jackass (me) spouting off a bunch of information that "must be correct, since I cannot be wrong"

Good find BTW.
Zargain
10-01-06, 11:08 PM All I have to say is:
Damn, I've been trumped.
Hooray to you. You get a cookie. (Not intended to be sarcastic)
Notice, I hold no hard feelings pver proving me wrong. I would rather the rest of the members on the boards be well informed than some jackass (me) spouting off a bunch of information that "must be correct, since I cannot be wrong"

Good find BTW.
Yeah, I saw this thread the other day and I knew there was a part in the FR book that mentioned it but I was a bit busy when I first saw it. I'm suprised no one else found it before me, I found this thread the day after it was posted a few days ago...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
gratzu 09-25-06, 10:19 PM	I'm not sure where I should post this, so I decided to move it to the general FR board. Sorry about the double post thing! I'm running a campaign in the Silver Marches, and I'm trying to figure out how the return of the City of Shade affects the weather. I know that they tried melting the high ice in an attempt to re-fertilize Anauroch, how did that turn out? I also need to figure out what normal weather patterns exist in the SM. Is there any official info availible on Faerun's climate? Has anyone else come up with some ideas? I'd appreciate it! Thanks guys
Dargoth 09-25-06, 10:35 PM	The Silver Marches source book has info on its weather specficly pages 47-52
gratzu 09-25-06, 11:02 PM	I've read over the weather tables and stuff. They are really useful but I'm also looking to understand the air masses that are affecting the region. That way I could figure out what might happen when different changes are made. Somewhere in the archives someone mentioned some sort of climatology map comparing the weather on Faerun with analogous earth weather of similar latitude. For example, where is the equator located on Torril? How far north is Silverymoon anyway? Would it be more like NYC or Juneau Alaska? How close is it to the Arctic Circle? Where are the tropics? Also, what finally happened to the High Ice? Did the shades manage to melt it entirely? What is Anauroch like now? Sorry for the rambling, but I'm a bit of a geography geek and I want to make it as real as possible. What do you guys think?
Altar_Boy 09-26-06, 12:33 AM	The important thing to remember is that the massive melting of the polar caps is NOT the result of Faerun's overdependence on Fire spells. It's only an naturally-occuring warm period brought on by the return of an long-lost society of wizards. Besides, even if the fire spells were responsible, we wouldn't give up our way of life. It would be unFaerunian!
Alediran 09-26-06, 09:38 AM	The important thing to remember is that the massive melting of the polar caps is NOT the result of Faerun's overdependence on Fire spells. It's only an naturally-occuring warm period brought on by the return of an long-lost society of wizards. Besides, even if the fire spells were responsible, we wouldn't give up our way of life. It would be unFaerunian! :rofl: Shades could not melt too much of the High Ice to make permanent changes (you could thank those little 4-armed, tooth-filed maws, levitating worms known as Phaerims)
gratzu 09-27-06, 02:52 PM	The important thing to remember is that the massive melting of the polar caps is NOT the result of Faerun's overdependence on Fire spells. It's only an naturally-occuring warm period brought on by the return of an long-lost society of wizards. Besides, even if the fire spells were responsible, we wouldn't give up our way of life. It would be unFaerunian! :ayyyy!: That's hilarious. Seriously though, where is Torril's equator? What is the planet's diameter? How tilted is its axis? Oh, how much of the high ice did Shade get anyway?
Yakostovian 09-28-06, 09:15 AM	Well, scientificially speaking, some of that can be guestimated from the information we already have. Look at the "world map" on Page 231 of the FRCS. Estimate where the equator is, and Silverymoon. the Equator is 0 degrees, while the top and bottom of the map are 90 degrees north and south. I would say that the silver marches are probably as far north as say Finland or Norway, so (it appears to be approxamatly 70 degrees north to me) Since Toril is composed of mostly earth like materials, it is safe to assume that the diameter of Toril is similar to that of Earth. We can assume that the mass of Toril is the same as earth, since any gravity difference is undetectable (thats why a longsword weighs 3 pounds on Earth as well as Toril) In order to figure out the tilt of Toril however, that would have to be based upon the dramatic differences in climates at roughly the same altitude and angle for peak summer and winter. And then, it is still only a best guess. I would wager it is 23.5, just like Earth though. I am sleepy, but will be certain to update this later.
gratzu 09-28-06, 05:51 PM	Well, scientificially speaking, some of that can be guestimated from the information we already have. Look at the "world map" on Page 231 of the FRCS. Estimate where the equator is, and Silverymoon. the Equator is 0 degrees, while the top and bottom of the map are 90 degrees north and south. I would say that the silver marches are probably as far north as say Finland or Norway, so (it appears to be approxamatly 70 degrees north to me) Since Toril is composed of mostly earth like materials, it is safe to assume that the diameter of Toril is similar to that of Earth. We can assume that the mass of Toril is the same as earth, since any gravity difference is undetectable (thats why a longsword weighs 3 pounds on Earth as well as Toril) In order to figure out the tilt of Toril however, that would have to be based upon the dramatic differences in climates at roughly the same altitude and angle for peak summer and winter. And then, it is still only a best guess. I would wager it is 23.5, just like Earth though. I am sleepy, but will be certain to update this later. I would imagine Silverymoon to be more like 60 degrees north because I've never read anything that suggests that it experiences a midnight sun phenomenon. If that's the case, then it would have to lie outside of the Arctic Circle. I'm putting it at 60 because that's the latitude of Oslo, Helsinki, and St Petersburg on Earth. Those are the northernmost cities of any significant size on Earth as far as I can tell. Oops, time to fix food n'stuff. I'll post more later!
Yakostovian 09-29-06, 01:53 AM	I would imagine Silverymoon to be more like 60 degrees north because I've never read anything that suggests that it experiences a midnight sun phenomenon. If that's the case, then it would have to lie outside of the Arctic Circle. I'm putting it at 60 because that's the latitude of Oslo, Helsinki, and St Petersburg on Earth. Those are the northernmost cities of any significant size on Earth as far as I can tell. Oops, time to fix food n'stuff. I'll post more later! I have to agree with you, as have never read anything on the 3 months of daylight/darkness in Faerun. But, unless the seasons are magical, there has to be a tilt of the planet, and with a tilt of the planet, somewhere far enough north has to have the 3 months of darkness/daylight once a year. But we can all agree that Silver Marches is above the 55th parrallel?
theartistformerlyknownas 09-29-06, 02:57 AM	Well, scientificially speaking, some of that can be guestimated from the information we already have. Guestimated? Scientifically speaking, right? ;)
Yakostovian 09-29-06, 03:18 AM	Guestimated? Scientifically speaking, right? ;) Intentional. No other explantion is neccessary.
gratzu 09-29-06, 05:37 PM	I have to agree with you, as have never read anything on the 3 months of daylight/darkness in Faerun. But, unless the seasons are magical, there has to be a tilt of the planet, and with a tilt of the planet, somewhere far enough north has to have the 3 months of darkness/daylight once a year. But we can all agree that Silver Marches is above the 55th parrallel? That sounds about right. I figure Waterdeep corresponds with London, and its climate is warmer than its latitude would suggest due to a tropical current originating in Mazteca. I figure I can fudge the facts a bit (I am the DM after all!) and say that the melting of the high ice is disrupting that current thereby decreasing the average temp in the Sword coast north. The added moisture in Anauroch would cause massive winter storms as the climate adjusts. (I started the campaign just before Harvestide). Spring is going to bring massive flooding due to the excess melt water. What do you think?
Yakostovian 09-29-06, 06:36 PM	Sounds plausible, but you should also take into account how the humidity change is going to affect the climate. Otherwise, sounds about right.
BrianCritchley 09-30-06, 04:13 PM	actually waterdeep wize I've always figured it was somewhat like seattle or vancouver.
Yakostovian 09-30-06, 08:44 PM	actually waterdeep wize I've always figured it was somewhat like seattle or vancouver. Seatlle is about the 47th parallel, but where waterdeep is on the map does not appear to be exactly 3/4 from the bottom (the map I am refering to is from FRCS pg 231) Looks more like Portland Oregon to me (which is similar to seattle, but with slightly more sunshine)
Zargain 10-01-06, 10:40 PM	Waterdeep lies slightly above the 45th degree north latitude line on Toril. I hope this helps ;)
Yakostovian 10-01-06, 10:48 PM	Originally Posted by Bottom of pg. 79 FR setting book Waterdeep lies slightly above the 45th degree north latitude line on Toril. All I have to say is: Damn, I've been trumped. Hooray to you. You get a cookie. (Not intended to be sarcastic) Notice, I hold no hard feelings over proving me wrong. I would rather the rest of the members on the boards be well informed than some jackass (me) spouting off a bunch of information that "must be correct, since I cannot be wrong" Good find BTW.
Zargain 10-01-06, 11:08 PM	All I have to say is: Damn, I've been trumped. Hooray to you. You get a cookie. (Not intended to be sarcastic) Notice, I hold no hard feelings pver proving me wrong. I would rather the rest of the members on the boards be well informed than some jackass (me) spouting off a bunch of information that "must be correct, since I cannot be wrong" Good find BTW. Yeah, I saw this thread the other day and I knew there was a part in the FR book that mentioned it but I was a bit busy when I first saw it. I'm suprised no one else found it before me, I found this thread the day after it was posted a few days ago...