D&D General How many air-blown waterskins are needed, if wearing metal armors, to prevent sinking in water?

[Vaalingrade]

If you have a backpack and a history of shopping, you can have waterskins.

Probably not a dozen.

 

[greg kaye]

Either inside or outside the backpack, I think you'd be alright.

(please remember that our aim is to make the character look ridiculous).

 

[Willie the Duck]

In the scenario I'm thinking of, boat owners insist on passengers having appropriate buoyancy aids in the same way as might happen in modern times.

Now that we understand the goal, it makes sense. I guess I don't see any reason why you couldn't do so. I would think in a society where this happens, that more purpose-made devices would quickly spring into being (not unlike a modern inner tube, but shaped who-knows-how and called something delightfully vague like 'knight's beach friend' or 'Poseidon's pardons').

(please remember that our aim is to make the character look ridiculous).

Ah, well then, carry on. I guess go with a string of waterskins. Note that this sounds like a 'perfectly sound in theory' solution which would end up failing spectacularly in practice (this one coming apart, the next catching on a branch and trying to strangle the wearer, etc.). And that if these were modern canteens, rope, and fasteners; using IRL medieval goatskin waterskins with whatever fastening devices available it could be even more chaotic (and hilarious, depending).

Yeah I mean if you have a bunch of air-filled waterskins and an easy way to contain them - say, a net or a light bag that won't easily become waterlogged, go for it. But I think in most situations you'll get greater total buoyancy and controllability of said buoyancy from a log or similar, and they're probably more available in most situations, it's just real heavy until you get it into the water.

I'm intrigued by gaming situations where a dozen waterskins per party member are more plentiful than logs.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I'm intrigued by gaming situations where a dozen waterskins per party member are more plentiful than logs.

I think we examine a sufficient number of 1E and 2E character sheets we will eventually find such an occurrence.

 

[greg kaye]

I'm intrigued by gaming situations where a dozen waterskins per party member are more plentiful than logs.

Swamps and aquatic.
I'm considering a sea-based introduction to Ghosts of Saltmarsh.
But availability isn't an issue. I'm asking what might logically be required.

Otherwise, it could be a case of striping off quick, and bye-bye to that expensive chain armour.

In swamps, characters have been known to tie one skin to a rope so as to leave a buoy in the location where a character may have sunk. then other party members could grab the rope and haul the sinker back up.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Swamps are the natural habitat of the North American Floating Log.

Also, the alligator, which is a log that's also an autonomous melee weapon.

 

[greg kaye]

Swamps are the natural habitat of the North American Floating Log.

Also, the alligator, which is a log that's also an autonomous melee weapon.

Depending on the DM, characters might always make survival checks.
Logs in swamps also might become at least partly waterlogged but, all the same, I'd also like to see already armoured and laden characters carry logs across swamps in case they started sinking.

Also, I'm not insisting that characters take equipment to stop them sinking.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Logs in swamps also might become at least partly waterlogged but, all the same, I'd also like to see already armoured and laden characters carry logs across swamps in case they started sinking.

Swamps... have trees.

I'm not sure what you're envisioning where the group is trooping along and suddenly and with zero warning, flotation becomes important enough that they should have had a dozen waterskins for the fighter but do not have access to something that does the job better like a tree, or a barbarian.

Seriously, folks, never leave home without a Barbarian. Not only are they a fighter that's actually allowed to do interesting things, but they're a blunt force object, a lockpick, a handy flotation device and elevator thanks to being good at Athletics and being Strong, and an emergency food source because there is usually a variety of fungus growing between their toes.

 

[greg kaye]

Swamps... have trees.

Some do. Seas less so. Make your survival checks and enjoy carrying waterlogged (clue's in the name) logs across swamps in case of sinking.

 

[Oofta]

Swamps and aquatic.
I'm considering a sea-based introduction to Ghosts of Saltmarsh.
But availability isn't an issue. I'm asking what might logically be required.

Otherwise, it could be a case of striping off quick, and bye-bye to that expensive chain armour.

In swamps, characters have been known to tie one skin to a rope so as to leave a buoy in the location where a character may have sunk. then other party members could grab the rope and haul the sinker back up.

You can't strip off armor quickly. It takes 5 minutes to get out of heavy armor. If you've decided for whatever reason that you want to nerf PCs or make them look ridiculous because they wear heavy armor it's your choice. I'd just write up a monk or barbarian if I chose to play at all.

As I've said before, I don't understand the mindset. If someone is carrying a shield, weapon and a backpack are you going to make them drop that if they end up in the water as well? What about that 8 strength dex based fighter carrying around 115 pounds of gear? Why do DMs suddenly care about being "realistic" for this one thing when we ignore so much else?