Non-magical fantasy subways

[Dannyalcatraz]

The fish bit by accident when going after the food. Hopefully it didn't take a liking to the taste of human flesh and tell its many friends.

Ohhhh, the potential for a visually prettier version of the Piranha movie franchise pops into my head…

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I've seen someone get a small chunk bit out of their leg. It wasn't being aggressive, it was a tourist the let out all the fish food in a snorkling area at once, which surrounded her in the water. The fish bit by accident when going after the food. Hopefully it didn't take a liking to the taste of human flesh and tell its many friends.

Hmmmm…you’ve just planted the seed for a much cuter version of the Piranha movie franchise pops…

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Fun fact: When you're laying on a white sand beach, you're effectively laying in a lot of parrotfish poop.

 

[aramis erak]

How would you make subways work without enslaved elementals or other overt magic? Looking to create a ruined subway system, but I want it to make at least as much sense as steampunk does (i.e. don't let the engineers in the group think too much about it, or that's all you'll hear about for the rest of the session).

The first underground trains were in mines... usually drawn by equines.

A system with vent-shafts was used for the first steam trains... medieval tech could have done steam trains, but didn't — pistons would be quite bespoke, and a steam variation of a water-wheel could have been used... (directed steam jet.)
Since water wheels go back to the dark ages... and steam boilers a few thousand years.... but it's not that efficient.

Ropeways are also doable, but really become practical only with the advent of steam pistons and durable gearing.

 

[aramis erak]

San Francisco Cable Cars still run on cables.

those cables need to be metal due to the stretchyness of plant fiber rope (and modern polymer rope, too)

 

[Bohandas]

How would you make subways work without enslaved elementals or other overt magic? Looking to create a ruined subway system, but I want it to make at least as much sense as steampunk does (i.e. don't let the engineers in the group think too much about it, or that's all you'll hear about for the rest of the session).

pulled by animals trained to work underground maybe?

 

[Piperken]

How would you make subways work without enslaved elementals or other overt magic? Looking to create a ruined subway system, but I want it to make at least as much sense as steampunk does (i.e. don't let the engineers in the group think too much about it, or that's all you'll hear about for the rest of the session).

A canal (pound lock) system is basically a subway above ground. No magic or much machinery needed. Maybe the subway can utilize this kind of idea for the parts that still function?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

pulled by animals trained to work underground maybe?

Giant cave lizards are common beasts of burden in D&D underground. Real world, pit ponies.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I was just thinking that there’s a lot of megafauna in typical D&D settings that could power a subway system pretty convincingly.

Using a treadmill, wheel or similar mechanism, either directly pulling chains, or lifting weights (to be dropped), etc., powered by their food of choice…

 

[Paul Farquhar]

those cables need to be metal due to the stretchyness of plant fiber rope (and modern polymer rope, too)

Chains are a slightly lower tech alternative to steel cables.