D&D 5E (2014) How much is a ton in Ghosts of Saltmarsh?

[akr71]

Shouldn't a ton in Saltmarsh be the same as a ton along the Sword Coast?

 

[jasper]

You're calculating the weight of a metric ton in pounds, which is an odd thing to do. The metric ton is 1,000 kilograms. The short ton (what is generally just called a "ton" in the U.S.) is 2,000 pounds. If you consistently use the appropriate unit system (metric or imperial), calculating the weight of either type of ton is a snap. Since the D&D books use pounds, I would assume they are also using short tons and go with that.

(There is also a "long ton," which is defined as exactly 2,240 pounds, because... uh... look over there. This is the ton to use if a) you have to deal with it in the real world for some reason, or b) you think the British currency system pre-decimalization was too simple.)

And then there is gross tonnage, per @Flamestrike's link, which is a volume-based measure that requires logarithms. If that appeals to you, you may wish to consider giving up D&D and looking into GURPS.

Hey I old. I can make a mistake is you want me too. Now rake my lawn and I give your three fifty if you do a GOOD job. Don't let the yard gnomes eat you.
You are right. Okay. Use 2,000 pds That be 20,000 GP weight back in 1 E. The volume is determine by the deck plan of the ship.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

[Traveller]A ton is 13.5 cubic meters, or two squares on the deck plan.[/Traveller]

 

[NotAYakk]

[Traveller]A ton is 13.5 cubic meters, or two squares on the deck plan.[/Traveller]

That is only because ton is a volume measure based off displacement, and space is less dense than water.

(I'm here all week)

 

[jasper]

That is only because ton is a volume measure based off displacement, and space is less dense than water.

(I'm here all week)

G. You are such a wet blanket.
(I can heckle you all week. And the veal sucks.)

 

[Paul Farquhar]

That is only because ton is a volume measure based off displacement, and space is less dense than water.

(I'm here all week)

Liquid hydrogen.

 

[aco175]

For cargo in the hold, I would just go with 2000lbs or 1000kg. It makes things easier and mostly does not come up in play. You may track this, but I mostly do not. The players may ask how many longswords can I fit in the hold if I have one ton left over that is not filled with beer and other companions. I would mostly guess thinking that a sword may weigh a few pounds and packing another pound, making the number around 600 swords. It is certainly not very accurate, but works nearly all the time. I could say 200 swords and have each packed in its own oak box, or 1000 thinking that they are flat and could get crammed in nearly anyplace.

 

[aco175]

Now rake my lawn and I give your three fifty if you do a GOOD job. Don't let the yard gnomes eat you.

 

[Tonguez]

(There is also a "long ton," which is defined as exactly 2,240 pounds, because... uh... look over there.

Its because a Ton is a unit of Mass which is defined as 20 Hundredweights and a Hundredweight = 8 Stone.
Livestock and Paper is still measured using Hundredweights

*before 1500ad the germanic word Hundred was a unit of measure also known as a Twelfty or 6 score = 120. So if you were buying a Hundred of Kippers you would recieve 120 smoke-dried fish

After 1500 the Hundred in English merged with Latin Centum to become 5 score = 100

 

[jasper]

You load 16 tons and what you get?
DM. Another hole in your ship.