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MalariaMoon
Learned Scribe
324 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Feb 2011 : 09:05:29
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Hi all, and happy Year of the Cat if you're in Vietnam (which you're probably not).
Please indulge me on this one, as I'm sure it's been covered in previous posts, although I've searched unsuccessfully.
What units of measurement are used in the Realms?
In particular I'm interested in measuring length (both long and short distances) and weight, but any other units would of course be interesting to hear about.
In my campaign I've been referring to 'rides' for long distances - based on how far one can normally travel by horse in a day. I think this is an established Realms measurement, though I can't recall where I picked it up. For shorter distances I came up with 'spearlengths' and 'bowshots' as fairly obvious points of reference.
However, when I described the weight of gold dust a merchant was awarding my adventurers, I was at a loss. Any ideas?
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2011 : 09:22:14
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Units of volume, weight and distance have never been laid out as time has. Pints, quarts and gallons are mentioned in some sources, but they may be 'we don't have space to get into the real situation' approximations/placeholders, as with references to hours. I doubt it's standardised; there's probably a forest of more-or-less agreed measures [handkeg, barrel, etc.] within individual trades in particular kingdoms or trade routes.
Re: lengths and distances: the fingerwidth/finger, handwidth/hand, handspan, and pace are well-established Realms measures. Foot, yard and mile may or may not be translations or conversions of the appropriate Faerūnian terms; Id personally tend to do without feet, generally avoid 'yard' in favour of 'pace', but keep 'mile' as it's so common in the published lore. Of course, heights are often given comparatively rather than by units: as high as four men, more than a bowshot distant, and so on. |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
8066 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2011 : 13:24:10
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My players and I typically use standard imperial units for simple convenience; D&D is one of those oddball areas that still defies proper metric measures. I often throw my players a loop by using obscure and obsolete units like these or these when they find maps and writings.
Sage has it correct: most medieval units are named and defined by local usage, and most of these only within certain trades ... this is also why many trades today maintain the usage of traditional units, why we order pints and kegs of beer, why the international standard "railspan" is said to be derived from the same 56½-inch "wheelspan" measure of Celtic war chariots. |
[/Ayrik] |
Edited by - Ayrik on 12 Feb 2011 18:57:37 |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2011 : 21:17:11
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| But a rail-LENTH is about 80 feet, according to "How It's Made".... Paces make more sense than yards in the Realms, The foot would probably still be non-standardized (as it originally meant the length of a king's foot, so changed when a king died and a new one took over). Kegs, barrels, bushels and tuns would be normal measures, along with hands for horses, and bolts for cloth. |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
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My stories:
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Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee)
http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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MalariaMoon
Learned Scribe
324 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2011 : 04:55:36
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Thanks to you all.
Question answered, and I've learnt a few real world facts to boot! |
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Thieran
Learned Scribe
Germany
293 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2011 : 23:54:46
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Units of volume, weight and distance have never been laid out as time has. [...]
So there is some more information on time keeping terminology in the Realms? I found a reference to time keeping in the Realms by Ed Greenwood (as quoted by The Sage) through the forum search, but is there more?
I wondered whether there are/whether you can think of other plausible Realms terms for minutes, hours (both of which should never be used according to EG) and days. Though I am aware that different cultures and peoples of Faerūn refer differently to the same things, I would also be interested in "standard"/"neutral" terminology (as a narrator, not a character, would use it).
I would be particularly interested in how minutes and hours would be called in an Underdark drow city (if I remember correctly, "cycle" is used for "day" at least in Menzoberranzan, because of Narbondel), as neither "bells" nor "candles" make much sense there.
Example time keeping terms (as suggested by Ed Greenwood):
short-term waits: "breaths"
hours: in cities, temples and monasteries: "bells" or "candles"
span of time up to about three minutes: "but a little while" (dwarves), "a long song" (halflings)
a minute: "a tune" (halflings)
ten minutes: "three long songs" (halflings) |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4704 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2011 : 00:49:54
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Menzoberranzan time is kept with some magic, time candles as well I believe.
A central stalagmite is lite the start of each day, the light travels up the stalagmite marking the passage of the day. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2011 : 01:00:55
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| He already mentioned Narbondel. I think he was referring to how shorter spans would be kept there, such as minutes or hours. Narbondel is not especially good for judging more than the general time of "day". I would imagine the temples use hourly gongs, pyrotechnic displays (like a fire that blazes in a brazier for a minute or two every hour) or temple bells. I used gongs for my own drow cities, as they would be loud enough to be heard over a great distance, especially in caverns. |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories:
http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee)
http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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Thieran
Learned Scribe
Germany
293 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2011 : 01:08:58
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Thanks, Alystra!
quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
He already mentioned Narbondel. I think he was referring to how shorter spans would be kept there, such as minutes or hours.
That's right - actually I am not very interested in Menzoberranzan specifically, I just used Narbondel/"cycles" as the only example I could think of.
Any more thoughts on my original questions would be most welcome. |
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Units of Measurement
