A few questions about my world. [Archive] - Wizards Community

A few questions about my world. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Grayson7
10-20-06, 03:15 AM While I have gmed quite a bit over the years, fantasy is not my strong suit. In fact, I have rarely gmed fantasy. I am currently running a D&D campaign. My setting is fairly simple--one large continent, dominated by humans, divided into seven nations. My setting places a fair amount of emphasis on realism, at least as much as possible in a world that has dragons and magic. I have done some research by reading non-gaming sources but I haven't come up with any real satisfactory answers to some questions. So without going into details that you probably could care less about, here are my issues.

The continent has a fairly complex road system that is maintained through the combined efforts of all seven human nations. Commerce is extremely important to all of them and that is the one area where they are very cooperative with one another. However, I am trying to be realistic. Is it plausible that such a large and intricate highway be composed of say cobblestones or something of the sort or would smoothed ground be most realistic? This is mainly with regards to roads connecting cities and towns. Villages are connected to main roads by smoothed over dirt roads.

Also, how wide could these roads be realistically? I was thinking in the neighborhood of 25 feet since this was the maximum width given for a main thoroughfare in a large city (not counting sidewalks) in the Dungeon Master's Guide (page 100).

I know that in general, villages are usually not more than a couple of miles from the nearest city or town. Furthermore, guards patrol the roads for brigands and what not. Is it realistic to have guards patrolling the many miles beyond villages between towns and cities? I know that guard posts can be set up but in general, how far are these posts from towns and cities?

Also, when someone is "scouting ahead" of a party, exactly how far ahead is he scouting?

Any help in these areas would be appreciated. Thanks.
Azezel
10-20-06, 04:41 AM While I have gmed quite a bit over the years, fantasy is not my strong suit. In fact, I have rarely gmed fantasy. I am currently running a D&D campaign. My setting is fairly simple--one large continent, dominated by humans, divided into seven nations. My setting places a fair amount of emphasis on realism, at least as much as possible in a world that has dragons and magic. I have done some research by reading non-gaming sources but I haven't come up with any real satisfactory answers to some questions. So without going into details that you probably could care less about, here are my issues.

First off - as a general thing, the DMG II has almost all of the information you need about mixing realism with high fantasy.

The continent has a fairly complex road system that is maintained through the combined efforts of all seven human nations. Commerce is extremely important to all of them and that is the one area where they are very cooperative with one another. However, I am trying to be realistic. Is it plausible that such a large and intricate highway be composed of say cobblestones or something of the sort or would smoothed ground be most realistic? This is mainly with regards to roads connecting cities and towns. Villages are connected to main roads by smoothed over dirt roads.

Dig two trenches about a foot deep and pile all the soil in the middle so you have a raised strip with a gutter on eaqch side - cover the raised strip with gravel. then put a layer of big, flat stones on top of the gravel and cover the lot with sand. The Romans did this and there is a roman road near me that has not been re-surfaced since.

Also, how wide could these roads be realistically? I was thinking in the neighborhood of 25 feet since this was the maximum width given for a main thoroughfare in a large city (not counting sidewalks) in the Dungeon Master's Guide (page 100).

Less, a road between cities should be just wide enough for two carts to pass each other, the narrower the road, the cheaper it is to build - that said a really major road will be wider.

I know that in general, villages are usually not more than a couple of miles from the nearest city or town. Furthermore, guards patrol the roads for brigands and what not. Is it realistic to have guards patrolling the many miles beyond villages between towns and cities? I know that guard posts can be set up but in general, how far are these posts from towns and cities?

No it is not realistic, even in RL any guards would not have gone beyond the town walls. When we add the ocasional monster to the world - doubly so (that's what adventurers are for). Each village would have a reeve, or a constable, and a few villagers would be militiamen (in DnD women are equal, and therefore millitiawomen will exist too - thus effectively doubling the maximum size of a given area's millitia) but these would not stray beyond the village very often.

Also, when someone is "scouting ahead" of a party, exactly how far ahead is he scouting?

Depends entirely on the situation. In a dngeon, 100 yards tops, probably less. in open country, anywhere up to 24 hours riding time ahead.

Any help in these areas would be appreciated. Thanks.

I like being appreciated.
Grayson7
10-20-06, 05:12 AM Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I really appreciate the reply. I do have the DMG 2 and I have read it. I just didn't get the answers to the few remaining questions that I had left (unless I missed them). I even purchased the books: Life in the Medieval City, Life in the Medieval Village, and Life in the Medieval Castle (I think those were the titles...I'm not at home). I almost didn't ask the questions. I thought that I might get ripped for trying to be somewhat realistic in a fantasy setting instead of getting any useful answers. Thanks again.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Grayson7 10-20-06, 03:15 AM	While I have gmed quite a bit over the years, fantasy is not my strong suit. In fact, I have rarely gmed fantasy. I am currently running a D&D campaign. My setting is fairly simple--one large continent, dominated by humans, divided into seven nations. My setting places a fair amount of emphasis on realism, at least as much as possible in a world that has dragons and magic. I have done some research by reading non-gaming sources but I haven't come up with any real satisfactory answers to some questions. So without going into details that you probably could care less about, here are my issues. The continent has a fairly complex road system that is maintained through the combined efforts of all seven human nations. Commerce is extremely important to all of them and that is the one area where they are very cooperative with one another. However, I am trying to be realistic. Is it plausible that such a large and intricate highway be composed of say cobblestones or something of the sort or would smoothed ground be most realistic? This is mainly with regards to roads connecting cities and towns. Villages are connected to main roads by smoothed over dirt roads. Also, how wide could these roads be realistically? I was thinking in the neighborhood of 25 feet since this was the maximum width given for a main thoroughfare in a large city (not counting sidewalks) in the Dungeon Master's Guide (page 100). I know that in general, villages are usually not more than a couple of miles from the nearest city or town. Furthermore, guards patrol the roads for brigands and what not. Is it realistic to have guards patrolling the many miles beyond villages between towns and cities? I know that guard posts can be set up but in general, how far are these posts from towns and cities? Also, when someone is "scouting ahead" of a party, exactly how far ahead is he scouting? Any help in these areas would be appreciated. Thanks.
Azezel 10-20-06, 04:41 AM	While I have gmed quite a bit over the years, fantasy is not my strong suit. In fact, I have rarely gmed fantasy. I am currently running a D&D campaign. My setting is fairly simple--one large continent, dominated by humans, divided into seven nations. My setting places a fair amount of emphasis on realism, at least as much as possible in a world that has dragons and magic. I have done some research by reading non-gaming sources but I haven't come up with any real satisfactory answers to some questions. So without going into details that you probably could care less about, here are my issues. First off - as a general thing, the DMG II has almost all of the information you need about mixing realism with high fantasy. The continent has a fairly complex road system that is maintained through the combined efforts of all seven human nations. Commerce is extremely important to all of them and that is the one area where they are very cooperative with one another. However, I am trying to be realistic. Is it plausible that such a large and intricate highway be composed of say cobblestones or something of the sort or would smoothed ground be most realistic? This is mainly with regards to roads connecting cities and towns. Villages are connected to main roads by smoothed over dirt roads. Dig two trenches about a foot deep and pile all the soil in the middle so you have a raised strip with a gutter on eaqch side - cover the raised strip with gravel. then put a layer of big, flat stones on top of the gravel and cover the lot with sand. The Romans did this and there is a roman road near me that has not been re-surfaced since. Also, how wide could these roads be realistically? I was thinking in the neighborhood of 25 feet since this was the maximum width given for a main thoroughfare in a large city (not counting sidewalks) in the Dungeon Master's Guide (page 100). Less, a road between cities should be just wide enough for two carts to pass each other, the narrower the road, the cheaper it is to build - that said a really major road will be wider. I know that in general, villages are usually not more than a couple of miles from the nearest city or town. Furthermore, guards patrol the roads for brigands and what not. Is it realistic to have guards patrolling the many miles beyond villages between towns and cities? I know that guard posts can be set up but in general, how far are these posts from towns and cities? No it is not realistic, even in RL any guards would not have gone beyond the town walls. When we add the ocasional monster to the world - doubly so (that's what adventurers are for). Each village would have a reeve, or a constable, and a few villagers would be militiamen (in DnD women are equal, and therefore millitiawomen will exist too - thus effectively doubling the maximum size of a given area's millitia) but these would not stray beyond the village very often. Also, when someone is "scouting ahead" of a party, exactly how far ahead is he scouting? Depends entirely on the situation. In a dngeon, 100 yards tops, probably less. in open country, anywhere up to 24 hours riding time ahead. Any help in these areas would be appreciated. Thanks. I like being appreciated.
Grayson7 10-20-06, 05:12 AM	Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I really appreciate the reply. I do have the DMG 2 and I have read it. I just didn't get the answers to the few remaining questions that I had left (unless I missed them). I even purchased the books: Life in the Medieval City, Life in the Medieval Village, and Life in the Medieval Castle (I think those were the titles...I'm not at home). I almost didn't ask the questions. I thought that I might get ripped for trying to be somewhat realistic in a fantasy setting instead of getting any useful answers. Thanks again.