D&D 5E How fast do Kobolds dig tunnels?

[cmad1977]

As fast or slow as narrative demands.

 

[jasper]

Thanks for the inputs. The kobolds are being forced to mine for food. Or crossbow to the face and tossed the dead body to the underdark.
I going with 5 foot cube per hour. This includes hauling away. So some off shift kobolds are mining an escape tunnel and other things. So 8 hours is 40 foot long tunnel.
Now to look at my dungeon/wildness guild to see which one had the mining for profit chapter. Oh. the PCs have corrupted the union leader who is signing for extra supplies for the mine. The kobolds have mining for 10 days.

 

[Krachek]

I thinking of hitting up the 1E DMG for this. But has 5E ever put out how fast do Kobold dig tunnels? Mine tunnels? Etc. I have 20 kobolds. Working two shifts of ten.

I see kobold as lazy and cupid fellow. They don’t want to work!
Unless you give them hard incentive like killing one or two per day, you won’t make a group of kobold work for you! Without explosive or machinery 20 kobolds won’t dig very far, better use 200 kobolds.

 

[jasper]

I see kobold as lazy and cupid fellow. They don’t want to work!
Unless you give them hard incentive like killing one or two per day, you won’t make a group of kobold work for you! Without explosive or machinery 20 kobolds won’t dig very far, better use 200 kobolds.

That would put all the Icewind Kobolds in Icewind Dale in one location. HMMM.

 

[jasper]

FYI. Found my Dungeoneer's Survival Guide from 1E. Pages 49-53 cover mining. Kobolds dig 30 cubic feet per 8 hours. Which is about 150 cubic feet, a 5 by 5 by 5 is 125. So the quick estimate of 5 feet section is nearly spot on.

 

[Al'Kelhar]

Thanks for the inputs. The kobolds are being forced to mine for food. Or crossbow to the face and tossed the dead body to the underdark.
I going with 5 foot cube per hour. This includes hauling away. So some off shift kobolds are mining an escape tunnel and other things. So 8 hours is 40 foot long tunnel.
Now to look at my dungeon/wildness guild to see which one had the mining for profit chapter. Oh. the PCs have corrupted the union leader who is signing for extra supplies for the mine. The kobolds have mining for 10 days.

So, your PCs have enslaved a bunch of kobolds who they will kill if they fail to dig fast enough, have brought in some corrupt locals to oversee operations, and are doing it to make a profit. Nice. Lessons from history suggest such arrangements don't end up well, for anybody.

 

[jasper]

So, your PCs have enslaved a bunch of kobolds who they will kill if they fail to dig fast enough, have brought in some corrupt locals to oversee operations, and are doing it to make a profit. Nice. Lessons from history suggest such arrangements don't end up well, for anybody.

SHHHHHH. They think they are getting away with things. Okay 4 counts of murder so far. But the townspeople are not totally stupid. Also, some of the players have access to this site. So if you want to know more PM me.

 

[Umbran]

I found a tunneling article, which references ancient techniques from 6 BC in which engineers through solid rock were documented tunneling around 9 meters per year, (almost 30'). Modern techniques have roughly tripled that rate.

Modern tunnel boring machines can get through a heck of a lot more than that.

 

[toucanbuzz]

Modern tunnel boring machines can get through a heck of a lot more than that.

I'm guessing they meant by-hand. As to digging through packed earth, beats me. I'm a narrative guy. The kobolds dig as fast as I need them to dig to make a good storyline.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Twice as long as it takes them to dig half a tunnel.