A look at technology levels
- Thread starter Rhianni
- Start date
My apologies in taking longer then I had planned to post this second peice.
My job requires me to be on stand by, and I was called in to cover 2 different shifts in the last 24 hours.
In several different stories there is made refrence to various forms of locks on household doors. These include tumbler and combination looks. For story purpose think of these as you would most non-magical locks in any standard D&D game. But remember, if a person can afford an expensive lock, then they usually have something of greater value on the other side of the door.
Almost all forms of lighting are by flame. Candles, tourches, fireplaces, lamps are the norm in this setting. The only other forms of light are either magic or, in the case of the cities Xuthal and Xuchotl, ever burnig "radium gems" or "green fire-stones".
Most of the western kingdoms seem to have a well established road system. There is little to no refrence to anyone ever getting stuck in the mud or weather conditions halting travel when they are on any of the road systems. In turn, this implies that the roads are well maintained.
The "Road of Kings" is a single road that stretches across the greater known portion of the Hyborian World. This is used as the main trade route and each kingdom that it goes through does it's best to both maitain it and have traveling patrols to prevent attacks on caravans.
While roads seem to be a norm, bridges are another matter. Numerous times fords must be found in order to cross rivers, and no where is there ever a statement about grand bridges.
I will not go into the areas dealing with weapons and armor. Suffice it to say that almost all historical forms of both can be found.
The horse and camel are both domesticated and used as both draft and riding animals. Chariots are a common sight in most kingdoms and even found as weapons of war. Wagons are also mentioned.[/i]No ggreat details are ever presented about these last two. again sever things can be implied by the general level of technology. Chariots would be largely an idem of the rich and well to do, decerated in the most lavish fashion the owner could afford. Wagons would come in a varity of forms from the 2 to 4 wheels. Also, I would not thinl it extreme to find that in some areas cattle are also used as draft animals. While not as quick as horses, a team of 4,6 or 8 could pull a heavy trade wagon much farther then a team of horses, and require less speical treatment to keep them healthy.
Ships and water travel are also a common form of moving merchandise between nations and as a way to wage war.
Most merchant ships are a combination of sail and oars, while all military ships are presented as galleys. Both merchant, war and pirate vessels that travel the western ocean seem to be more designed to be "coast-huggers" rather then deep water ships. Those that travel on the Vilayet Sea seem to follow the coast till they reach a spot where the distance between the two shores is the shortist and then cross the deeper areas.
That covers the majority of material that was in the article. i hopre that players and GMs will find it useful in either describing or visualizing Howard's world.
My job requires me to be on stand by, and I was called in to cover 2 different shifts in the last 24 hours.
In several different stories there is made refrence to various forms of locks on household doors. These include tumbler and combination looks. For story purpose think of these as you would most non-magical locks in any standard D&D game. But remember, if a person can afford an expensive lock, then they usually have something of greater value on the other side of the door.
Almost all forms of lighting are by flame. Candles, tourches, fireplaces, lamps are the norm in this setting. The only other forms of light are either magic or, in the case of the cities Xuthal and Xuchotl, ever burnig "radium gems" or "green fire-stones".
Most of the western kingdoms seem to have a well established road system. There is little to no refrence to anyone ever getting stuck in the mud or weather conditions halting travel when they are on any of the road systems. In turn, this implies that the roads are well maintained.
The "Road of Kings" is a single road that stretches across the greater known portion of the Hyborian World. This is used as the main trade route and each kingdom that it goes through does it's best to both maitain it and have traveling patrols to prevent attacks on caravans.
While roads seem to be a norm, bridges are another matter. Numerous times fords must be found in order to cross rivers, and no where is there ever a statement about grand bridges.
I will not go into the areas dealing with weapons and armor. Suffice it to say that almost all historical forms of both can be found.
The horse and camel are both domesticated and used as both draft and riding animals. Chariots are a common sight in most kingdoms and even found as weapons of war. Wagons are also mentioned.[/i]No ggreat details are ever presented about these last two. again sever things can be implied by the general level of technology. Chariots would be largely an idem of the rich and well to do, decerated in the most lavish fashion the owner could afford. Wagons would come in a varity of forms from the 2 to 4 wheels. Also, I would not thinl it extreme to find that in some areas cattle are also used as draft animals. While not as quick as horses, a team of 4,6 or 8 could pull a heavy trade wagon much farther then a team of horses, and require less speical treatment to keep them healthy.
Ships and water travel are also a common form of moving merchandise between nations and as a way to wage war.
Most merchant ships are a combination of sail and oars, while all military ships are presented as galleys. Both merchant, war and pirate vessels that travel the western ocean seem to be more designed to be "coast-huggers" rather then deep water ships. Those that travel on the Vilayet Sea seem to follow the coast till they reach a spot where the distance between the two shores is the shortist and then cross the deeper areas.
That covers the majority of material that was in the article. i hopre that players and GMs will find it useful in either describing or visualizing Howard's world.
Ian Sturrock
Mongoose
Mongoose Old Bear said:
Yeah, though apparently he would have worn plate for the initial battle in The Hour of the Dragon, had he been capable of fighting.
I took this to mean in d20 terms that Conan didn't have heavy armour proficiency at the time of Black Colossus, but did by the time of Hour of the Dragon.
Ian Sturrock
Mongoose
Mongoose Old Bear said:
Aw, if only -- that would be my dream job!
