Rules question - How would you handl a chariot?

[Greenfield]

I did mention that it was a horrible joke, didn't I?

Still, even Snopes lists the standardization of rail gauge as "partly true", tracing American standards to the British manufacturers, and from America back to Britain. And it does acknowledge that they built their first rail equipment based on standard carriages. That there were some odd standards adopted in some places doesn't mean that the British standard didn't prevail.

Still, it presumes that there were "standard" carriages, and there weren't. They all fit into a general range, because they had to fit the roads, but that was the only "standard" in place.

The width of a load on a rail car isn't so much limited by tunnels, as SNOPES tries to dispute in a fairly weak straw-man argument, but by how closely the rail lines laid sets of rails side by side, both in high traffic corridors and in freight yards. Too wide a load on a train would run the risk of hitting another train in passing. So the standard is, no loads wider than the cars themselves. And if you've ever seen a train platform, particularly modern passenger rail like subways, the cars come within inches of the platform. No wide loads possible.

Interesting to note that Russia, an area that Rome never conquered, used a narrow gauge for their rail lines. But they did it on purpose, to ensure that invaders couldn't use the rails to easily ship troops, arms and equipment across the borders and into their country.

It also acted to obstruct fast and efficient trade, of course. Bad choice in the long run.

As for the whole series though, Roman chariot to space shuttle? Yeah, it's got way too many moving parts. But that's what makes it funny.

 

[Random Bystander]

I did mention that it was a horrible joke, didn't I?

Still, even Snopes lists the standardization of rail gauge as "partly true", tracing American standards to the British manufacturers, and from America back to Britain. And it does acknowledge that they built their first rail equipment based on standard carriages. That there were some odd standards adopted in some places doesn't mean that the British standard didn't prevail.

Still, it presumes that there were "standard" carriages, and there weren't. They all fit into a general range, because they had to fit the roads, but that was the only "standard" in place.

The width of a load on a rail car isn't so much limited by tunnels, as SNOPES tries to dispute in a fairly weak straw-man argument, but by how closely the rail lines laid sets of rails side by side, both in high traffic corridors and in freight yards. Too wide a load on a train would run the risk of hitting another train in passing. So the standard is, no loads wider than the cars themselves. And if you've ever seen a train platform, particularly modern passenger rail like subways, the cars come within inches of the platform. No wide loads possible.

Interesting to note that Russia, an area that Rome never conquered, used a narrow gauge for their rail lines. But they did it on purpose, to ensure that invaders couldn't use the rails to easily ship troops, arms and equipment across the borders and into their country.

It also acted to obstruct fast and efficient trade, of course. Bad choice in the long run.

As for the whole series though, Roman chariot to space shuttle? Yeah, it's got way too many moving parts. But that's what makes it funny.

I don't think we are really disagreeing here; Snopes does list it as "partially true". And I was probably too reactionary to perceived misinformation of ancient history on the forum.

You see, I used to be a Katana Fanboy.

...I am so ashamed.

 

[Grogg of the North]

According to the A&EG, chariots are governed by handle animal. I suppose ride would work in a pinch but I'd probably apply Super Secret DM Modifiers. Chariots also grant cover to their occupants.

As for the archer, I would probably treat it as mounted archery. Taking the feat represents your training and learning how to balance your weight when you hook your knee under the rail and such. Also, for the sake of simplicity, I would say that the entire chariot acts on the driver's initiative.

 

[the Jester]

Sword & Fist, poor as it is, is the only place I can recall chariot warfare being discussed. It uses Handle Animal, as Grogg of the North posted above, and I seem to recall it suggesting a parallel line of feats to the Mounted Combat ones, but I'm not sure they were detailed. I'm not at home so IDHMBIFOM, so maybe someone else could verify for me? If not, I'll try to remember to check back into this thread after I get home and have a chance to dig out my copy of S&F (assuming I can find it).

 

[Samloyal23]

The 2E historical guides had numerous special abilities listed for chariot users. The forebears of the Feat are in there. Everything from chariot archery to walking the post between your horses is in there. Check the manuals for Celts, Romans, and Greeks it is in there somewhere.