| Post/Author/DateTime | Post |
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| #1pukunuiOct 21, 2014 14:14:08 | What are people's thoughts on the overland travel speeds presented in the PHB? I'm beginning to feel like they might be a little overly generous. At a normal pace, you can walk 300 feet in a minute. I'm not sure I could walk the length of a football field that quickly without exerting myself (eg. going at a fast pace). We haven't got any American football fields in this country (that I'm aware of) for me to be able to test this, though.
On the flip side, I've just read through B2 - Keep on the Borderlands for the first time ever, and I note that it states you can only move across one 100-yard square on the wilderness map per hour if you are searching (eg. moving at a slow pace) or three if you are traveling normally. So that's 300 feet per hour, rather than 300 feet per minute. Big difference there.
What do you guys think? Are 5e's travel speeds too fast, too slow, just right? What do you reckon? |
| #2iserithOct 21, 2014 14:19:29 | Google says average walking speed for a person is 3.1 miles per hour. Three hundred feet per minute translates to 3.41 miles per hour so it seems like adventurers are 10% faster than the Average Joe. |
| #3pukunuiOct 21, 2014 14:24:04 |
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| #4GnarlOct 21, 2014 14:40:04 | I think the travel speeds are fine. It's actually a bit slow for someone used to hiking. If you factor in caried gear, toilet breaks and lunch breaks, it's not unbelievable. |
| #5setiOct 21, 2014 15:48:41 | I think they are fine rules as well.
Remember, obesity, old-age, etc. are also never assumed for adventurers in D&D. Heck, there haven't (to my knowledge) even been any obesity, out-of-shape, or disabled rules, LOL. I guess just having low CON/STR/DEX scores... |
| #6pukunuiOct 21, 2014 15:52:40 |
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| #7ankiyavonOct 21, 2014 16:02:31 |
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| #8GrazelOct 21, 2014 21:02:00 | They seem fine to me, I know it doesn't take me more than a minute to walk the length of a football field and I'm not exactly in shape (though I tend to have a long stride and a faster walking pace then most people). On average I walk about 4mph, sometimes 5mph if I'm not tired, sore, or overheating (don't do well with higher temperatures) so 3mph sounds about right for overland travel on average assuming breaks, gear, watching for danger, etc.
Also keep in mind that people move at a different speed if they're just casually walking (mall shopping, scenic stroll along a wooded path) opposed to trying to reach a distant destination or going somewhere with a time-sensitive purpose. |
| #9bawylieOct 21, 2014 21:20:56 | I travel using Friday the 13th's Jason Voorhies engine. I just show up when narrative merits. Often behind you. |
| #10KalaniOct 21, 2014 22:36:05 | Some people use the Wizard method of travel..... Arriving precisely when they mean to.
I personally prefer the Doctor method of travel.... Basically Run!
(not that I do much running myself I might add) |
| #11paulstraitOct 21, 2014 23:17:59 | My players bought horses and then were dissapointed that a man on horseback doesn't seem to travel faster on a daily basis than a man walking on their feet. I don't know anything about horses, but it doesn't totally feel right to me. |
| #12pukunuiOct 21, 2014 23:19:32 |
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| #13NimrodVanHallOct 22, 2014 0:08:23 | My main issue with the overland travel pace rules at this point in time is that a strength 8 halfling in a fullplate can cover the same ground in a day as an unencumbred level 20 wood elven monk. |
| #14paulstraitOct 22, 2014 0:10:37 | Well, horses need to stop like people do, but in the meantime, don't they walk a little faster? |
| (Reply to #9)AaronOfBarbaria |
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| #16Chiisai_UsagiOct 22, 2014 2:21:28 | The normal movement speed of a horse is double a man. This question came up last night and after reviewing it, it seems it was meant as a 'normalized' chart from which to derive speeds. Unless, of course, one wants to presume that a horse and a halfling move at the exact same speed.
So double it for riding horses, subtract 33% for short folk, etc, add 33% for draft horses, and so on. |
| (Reply to #13)AaronOfBarbaria |
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| (Reply to #14)arnwolf666 |
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| (Reply to #7)Timborama |
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| #20ankiyavonOct 22, 2014 12:35:53 | On horses: There have been studies done, and over long distances (multiple days of travel), a human on foot is actually faster than a horse.
Humans eat faster and need less rest (in this situation; carrying someone makes a horse need a lot more rest than they normally would), so even though we walk more slowly (and we walk much more slowly than their max speed), we can cover long distances faster.
You may say to yourself "but I know horses were used for long distance travel! What's the deal?" |
| #21pukunuiOct 22, 2014 13:20:53 | The rules do allow for faster travel if you have access to a fresh mount every few miles. |
| #22ChrisCarlsonOct 22, 2014 19:35:56 | Riding horses overland isn't born of a desire for speed. But of laziness! That's why I ride them, anyway... |
| #23GrazelOct 22, 2014 22:22:15 |
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| #24paulstraitOct 22, 2014 22:24:05 |
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| #25ankiyavonOct 22, 2014 22:39:26 |
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| #26pukunuiOct 22, 2014 22:57:33 |
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| #27Sands666Oct 22, 2014 23:50:04 |
What would be great is if they just had a table for movement rate and travel speed rate in the dmg for all creatures. That would be the easiest way to go with the presented rules. Or maybe someone in the community could come up with one. When I calculate movement I base it off the base speed of a creature (ie 30' for humans). Calculating it this way doesn't exactly work out to get the exact results the table in the phb gives, but it's close enough for me. Scaling things off base speed simplifies things enough to let the game run quicker, just wish I had a chart for it. Old age and other things that cause slower movement are interesting to think about. I think I would only use that if it made sense for story though and maybe just make movement difficult terrain or render their movement equal to some condition. Again all for speed in running. Pun intended!
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| #28ChrisCarlsonOct 23, 2014 7:18:52 |
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| (Reply to #27)Azzy1974 |
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