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8.2 Overland Movement

This section provides rules governing overland movement speeds. Not every game should think about overland movement travel speed in a detailed way. It’s fine to just spend “a few days” walking around between various important locations. However, sometimes the details are important, such as when you are on a strict timetable. The GM can tell you when overland movement matters.

8.2.1 Standard Travel Days

Characters covering long distances cross-country use overland movement. Overland movement is measured in miles per hour or miles per day. A day normally represents 8 hours of actual travel time. However, sailing ships and other methods of travel that keep moving without requiring a rest are listed with a full 24 hours of travel time.

You can make an Endurance check to push beyond a standard 8-hour travel day. In addition, you can make an Endurance check to travel faster within a normal travel day. For details, see Endurance.

Standard travel distances on foot are listed in Table 8.1: Travel Distance By Movement Speed. When using mounts or ships, Table 8.2: Mounts and Vehicles will be more convenient.

Table 8.1:Travel Distance By Movement Speed
— — — Speed — — —

15 feet 20 feet 30 feet 40 feet

One Hour (Overland)

Walk

1-1/2 mile 2 miles 3 miles 4 miles

Hustle (Exertion)

3 miles 4 miles 6 miles 8 miles

One Day (Overland)

Walk

12 miles 16 miles 24 miles 30 miles

Hustle (Exertion)

— — — —

Table 8.2:Mounts and Vehicles

Mount/Vehicle

Per Hour Per Day

Mount (carrying load)

  Light horse or warhorse

5 miles 40 miles

  Draft horse

4 miles 32 miles

  Pony or war pony

4 miles 32 miles

  Donkey or mule

3 miles 24 miles

  Dog, riding

4 miles 32 miles

  Cart or wagon

2 miles 16 miles

Ship

  Raft or barge (poled or towed)1

1/2 mile 4 miles

  Keelboat (rowed)1

1 mile 8 miles

  Rowboat (rowed)1

1-1/2 miles 12 miles

  Sailing ship (sailed)

2 miles 48 miles

  Warship (sailed and rowed)

2-1/2 miles 60 miles

  Longship (sailed and rowed)

3 miles 72 miles

  Galley (rowed and sailed)

4 miles 96 miles

1 Rafts, barges, keelboats, and rowboats are used on lakes and rivers. If going downstream, add the speed of the current (typically 3 miles per hour) to the speed of the vehicle. In addition to 10 hours of being rowed, the vehicle can also float an additional 14 hours, if someone can guide it, so add an additional 42 miles to the daily distance traveled. These vehicles can’t be rowed against any significant current, but they can be pulled upstream by draft animals on the shores.

8.2.2 Overland Terrain

Travelling over a flat, paved highway is much faster than trailblazing through a jungle. You can use Table 8.3: Terrain and Overland Movement as a reference for common terrain.

A highway is a straight, major, paved road. A road is typically a dirt track. A trail is like a road, except that it allows only single-file travel and does not benefit a party traveling with vehicles. Trackless terrain is a wild area with no significant paths.

Table 8.3:Terrain and Overland Movement

Terrain

Highway Road or Trail Trackless

Desert, sandy

x1 x1/2 x1/2

Forest

x1 x1 x1/2

Hills

x1 x3/4 x1/2

Jungle

x1 x3/4 x1/4

Moor

x1 x1 x3/4

Mountains

x3/4 x3/4 x1/2

Plains

x1 x1 x3/4

Swamp

x1 x3/4 x1/2

Tundra, frozen

x1 x3/4 x3/4

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