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Daviot
Senior Scribe
USA
372 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Apr 2011 : 04:28:03
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My Fellow Scribes,
I've hit a snag, and need sources and suggestions. I'm putting together an adventure that isn't explicitly Realmsian, though it could be plopped down on the Golden Way.
The concept: a somewhat-small "exploratory" caravan of Bactrian camels and sturdy horses (used to said camels) moving across the steppe. Said caravan is a walking caravan (no wagons), split into two groups: the "pathfinding" forward group, with the caravan master, guide, and the lighter cargo who navigate any troubling terrain ahead of the slower, less mobile rear group.
The PC's are the de-facto guard sergeants of the rear group.
The question: How big might such a caravan be? What would the staff be, in terms of staff, guards, and camp followers? I've been digging through sources, and while they frequently list what a coster or caravan moves, there's sparse data to be found on the actual headcounts and proportions of people and animals. Hand of Fire's caravan was 32 wagons + a cook wagon + a "strongwagon", but there's no data to be found on the actual total number of people accompanying it.
Thanks in advance.
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One usually has far more to fear from the soft-spoken wizard with a blade and well-worn boots than from the boisterous one in the ivory tower.
My Tabletop Writing CV. |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2011 : 06:17:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
There's an Al-Quadim source-book on Caravans (which is the title of the book) from 2nd ed. It might be hard to find, but I think it did have info on camels and load weights, rations needed, and the like. Not sure about actual head-counts, but it did have a sample caravan for an idea of what to use.
Caravans is actually available as a free PDF download from Wizards.
I'd also recommend you read the "Play the Market" chapter of Power of Faerûn for guidance on running a mercantile campaign.
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Daviot
Senior Scribe
USA
372 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2011 : 19:53:25
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Caravans is actually available as a free PDF download from Wizards.
I'd also recommend you read the "Play the Market" chapter of Power of Faerûn for guidance on running a mercantile campaign.
I have Power of Faerûn, it was the TSR Caravans book I was lacking.  |
One usually has far more to fear from the soft-spoken wizard with a blade and well-worn boots than from the boisterous one in the ivory tower.
My Tabletop Writing CV. |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2011 : 20:08:11
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Better yet - in The Horde campaign expansion there is a set of charts & tables for you to roll-up your own caravans!
I'm fairly certain it was in the free pdf's section of the WotC site, but I unfortunately did not save the individual links of those files (they are all still there). Hopefully Sage and/or Wooly will have those.
If my pdf is the same as their's (and it should be), you will find precisely what you need on pgs.154-155. If you have the box, it was in those card-stock encounter-thingies that came with the set.
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"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 11 Apr 2011 20:09:34 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36805 Posts |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4689 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2011 : 23:25:55
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I need a better unzip file.
What it comes down two are about three factors, how much in goods to be transported, how long the trip is though conditions to have enough supplies to complete trip and how much security is deemed required.
The first is easy move 1,000 pounds or feathers or 1,000 pounds of gold you need the same amount of animals.
Travel though a desert requires bring greater amount of water and food. Travel between towns supplies can be purchased along the way. Animals are required to carry supplies to support the needs of all, animals and people.
Security, it depends on the danger on route of travel and as a lower factor though not to be ignored, the value of cargo.
If raiders know you are carrying feathers it is less likely they will raid, then for gold - unless in your world feathers are worth more then gold. Of course if raiders do not know what is being carried or want the animals or slaves that risk is the same of being raided.
Of course supplies need to be there for the guards as well. |
"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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Daviot
Senior Scribe
USA
372 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2011 : 00:28:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
If my pdf is the same as their's (and it should be), you will find precisely what you need on pgs.154-155. If you have the box, it was in those card-stock encounter-thingies that came with the set.
BAM! I've had WotC's PDF of The Horde for quite some time, but The personnel ratios in the caravan generator are EXACTLY what I was looking for.  |
One usually has far more to fear from the soft-spoken wizard with a blade and well-worn boots than from the boisterous one in the ivory tower.
My Tabletop Writing CV. |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2011 : 00:40:54
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No problem.
I knew I saw them somewhere - I have a great memory for details, but not where they are located.
I just got lucky this time (or rather, you did). 
And YES, Sage - I am STILL looking for that Illithid scribe of Candlekeep (I am NOT crazy!)  |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2011 : 01:39:03
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
And YES, Sage - I am STILL looking for that Illithid scribe of Candlekeep (I am NOT crazy!)
Strangely enough, now, whenever I come across an illithid-reference in the Realmslore, I'm of a partial mind to find this tidbit myself.
Blast you Markus!  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Daviot
Senior Scribe
USA
372 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2011 : 04:06:51
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Here's what I came up with. The caravan is mainly a walking caravan (no wagons), and the number of guards is intentionally low, the fluff reason that the route hasn't been used in decades and thus banditry is not expected, nor has this caravan been advertised. From a crunchy standpoint, it also keeps the numbers low for those who want to play out the entire rear group on a battlemap. Provisions are assumed to be split evenly and redundantly among the animals; the "supply" camels are carrying repair parts, liniment and medical supplies, the blacksmith's gear, and similar logistical support equipment.
Front Group:
•Mostly horses, with a few camels for a few essentials.
-Caravan master + riding horse
-Caravan master’s son + riding horse
-Master merchant [doubles as translator]
-Scout
-Cloth merchant
-Spice merchant [also covers nuts, oils]
-Blacksmith
-4x horse grooms
-1x camel drover
•Goods: linen [4h], almonds [1h], dates[2h], saffron [1h], incense and fragrant oils [3c]
-Supply camel
-6x backup/riding horses
Total horses: 16
Total camels: 4
Guards:
-Guard Commander + warhorse
-Caravan mage
-Caravan priest
-10 guards
-Traveling Sage
Rear Group:
•Mostly camels, with horses for pursuit/emergencies
-Assistant master merchant
-Wood merchant
-Gem/glass merchant
-1x horse groom
-4x camel drovers
•Goods: sandalwood planks[4*], ebony planks [2], glasswares[2], raw nephrite jade and lapis lazuli[2]
•4 porters with bolts of cotton
-2x Supply camels
-4x backup camels
-4x riding horses
Total horses: 4
Total camels: 16
Guards:
-4 PC’s
-Guard sergeant (defers to the PCs’ judgment)
-6 guards
-2 temple dogs
-Traveling storyteller
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One usually has far more to fear from the soft-spoken wizard with a blade and well-worn boots than from the boisterous one in the ivory tower.
My Tabletop Writing CV. |
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Halidan
Senior Scribe
USA
470 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2011 : 18:17:02
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It looks solid for me. Being the grognard that I am, I use a different resource for determining what's on a caravan and who's with it. Back in 1984, a small company called Gamelords put out a supliment for thier Thieves Guild RPG called Bandit Raids and Caravans. It was written by the late Kerry Lloyd.
It has all sorts of charts for randomly determining both how strong a particular bandit gang is and what is being carried in the caravan they're preying on. The Al-Quadim Caravans tables are good, but biased to desert based commodities. Thieves Guilds tables are more flexible and can be adjusted to any type of origin or destination, reguardless of terrain. |
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Of the Moon
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,"
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Help: The Logistics of Caravans
