Rider Fatigue [Archive] - Wizards Community

Rider Fatigue [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Armendil
04-24-07, 03:33 PM Has anyone ever come up with a house rule for fatigue resulting from riding a mount in overland movement?

Usually, it's not an issue, because the mount will tire before the rider, but what if PCs switch to fresh mounts part way through the day, or ride a tireless mount? It seems to me that 16 hours of riding ought to require some constitution checks to avoid fatigue.

Here's my first crack- A rider can ride a typical mount for 12 hours/day without fatigue and must then make checks for every additional hour of riding using the forced march rules. This number of hours is doubled for especially smoothe rides (like a phantom steed or giant eagle) because there are fewer bumps and obstacles. The number of hours is halved if the mount is moving at twice its speed, or quartered if the mount is running at four times its speed. Of course these greater speeds are possible for long periods of time only with tireless mounts.

Any critiques or suggestions?
trapspringer
04-24-07, 04:12 PM Actually, I got no complaints.

Riding a phantom steed shouldn't be more difficult at greater speeds. That should be a flat-rate, time based equation.

What is your precedent for twelve hours?
Armendil
04-24-07, 04:28 PM I don't have a solid precedent for 12 hours. It seemed like a good number because its 150% of the time it would normally take to become subject to fatigue if one were walking. That allows an advantage to riding a mount even if its speed is only 20' or 30'. I thought about simply doubling the number to 16 hours, but that would mean that any rider, even one in poor health, could do nothing but ride all day and sleep for eight hours without ever tiring. That seems implausible. I've never ridden a horse, but I doubt 16 hours of bouncing on a saddle feels like lying on a bed of roses.

The reason I lowered riding times for high speeds is that it might take quite a bit of effort to hang on. I don't think a person could ride a phantom steed at speeds in excess of 60 mph for 12 hours straight without getting tired. At that speed you've got hang on tight with your knees and lean forward while holding the reigns. Could you ride a motorcycle (not an easy rider) for 12 straight hours and not get tired?

I'd add that riding in a wagon or on something like a flying carpet would never require fatigue rolls.
IronMouse
04-24-07, 05:12 PM In the Arms & Equipment Guide, there was the equine golem, a horse-like construct made of wood, which could be used as a mount. Very fast, but riding it for a long time was a pain, because it, well, was hard wood and didn't flex with the rider.
So, after 8 hours, the rider was affected as if under a forced march. The same rule you want to use.

Upping this to 12 hours for normal horses seems reasonable to me, they're probably more comfortable but riding for really long times is indeed exhausting.

Heck, try to drive a car for 12 hours without a break.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Armendil 04-24-07, 03:33 PM	Has anyone ever come up with a house rule for fatigue resulting from riding a mount in overland movement? Usually, it's not an issue, because the mount will tire before the rider, but what if PCs switch to fresh mounts part way through the day, or ride a tireless mount? It seems to me that 16 hours of riding ought to require some constitution checks to avoid fatigue. Here's my first crack- A rider can ride a typical mount for 12 hours/day without fatigue and must then make checks for every additional hour of riding using the forced march rules. This number of hours is doubled for especially smoothe rides (like a phantom steed or giant eagle) because there are fewer bumps and obstacles. The number of hours is halved if the mount is moving at twice its speed, or quartered if the mount is running at four times its speed. Of course these greater speeds are possible for long periods of time only with tireless mounts. Any critiques or suggestions?
trapspringer 04-24-07, 04:12 PM	Actually, I got no complaints. Riding a phantom steed shouldn't be more difficult at greater speeds. That should be a flat-rate, time based equation. What is your precedent for twelve hours?
Armendil 04-24-07, 04:28 PM	I don't have a solid precedent for 12 hours. It seemed like a good number because its 150% of the time it would normally take to become subject to fatigue if one were walking. That allows an advantage to riding a mount even if its speed is only 20' or 30'. I thought about simply doubling the number to 16 hours, but that would mean that any rider, even one in poor health, could do nothing but ride all day and sleep for eight hours without ever tiring. That seems implausible. I've never ridden a horse, but I doubt 16 hours of bouncing on a saddle feels like lying on a bed of roses. The reason I lowered riding times for high speeds is that it might take quite a bit of effort to hang on. I don't think a person could ride a phantom steed at speeds in excess of 60 mph for 12 hours straight without getting tired. At that speed you've got hang on tight with your knees and lean forward while holding the reigns. Could you ride a motorcycle (not an easy rider) for 12 straight hours and not get tired? I'd add that riding in a wagon or on something like a flying carpet would never require fatigue rolls.
IronMouse 04-24-07, 05:12 PM	In the Arms & Equipment Guide, there was the equine golem, a horse-like construct made of wood, which could be used as a mount. Very fast, but riding it for a long time was a pain, because it, well, was hard wood and didn't flex with the rider. So, after 8 hours, the rider was affected as if under a forced march. The same rule you want to use. Upping this to 12 hours for normal horses seems reasonable to me, they're probably more comfortable but riding for really long times is indeed exhausting. Heck, try to drive a car for 12 hours without a break.