Time Zones and the Realms

[Invictikore633]

Just a quick question

Has anyone seen any reference material on Time Zones in the Realms. I have a Teleporting character, that keeps running into issues

DC

Invictikore633
\\www.aldenminor.com

 

[Oaken25]

I would say that times zones dont exist, at least not like we think of them.

A tenday is a tenday and judging by the old material, most people don't keep track of time that much or not as specific about it as we are. If some one says they will meet in a tenday it could be any where from 8 days to 12 days.

Time zones are really a modern invention when clocks were invented. Granted there are water clocks in FR but nobles are usually the only ones who can afford them, and they are probably not as accurate as modern clocks.

However if you wanted to use time zones, just make it up. . Say if it's morning in Waterdeep then maybe it would be evening in Thay.....

 

[Pseudonym]

Has anyone seen any reference material on Time Zones in the Realms. I have a Teleporting character, that keeps running into issues

From the Realms-L FAQ @ http://www.candlekeep.com/fr_faq.htm#_Toc16090521

3.13. Does Toril have time zones?
From: Trent Raley

Toril

Circumference = 23,400 approx
24 time zones
Axial tilt is ~ 19-25 degrees
Prime Meridian is Myth Drannor
Other time zones are based on meridian lines of globe function in Forgotten Realms Interactive Atlas (two per square).
Time zones are 975 miles wide.
Nit-pick -- that is 975 miles wide at the equator of course. This will dwindle down to zero as you approach the poles.

And Bryon Wischstadt added:

You should have been a Luka's Bar during GenCon when we worked this out! (I took notes) Something Trent didn't mention (we're co-DMs) is that with gates transporting the user instantly (as ::ahem:: *most* do) we got to thinking about adding another bit of realism to the game. We wanted to know what time of day it was when the party arrived in their new destination halfway across Faerun. From the player's perspective, they step through a gate mid-morning and arrive at a place that is still dark... this is a nice cue to the players that they have moved quite a distance. (They don't know the destinations of the gates) As you can see it's quick and relatively simple--add 2 hrs per grid on the atlas--and you'll end up with something kinda cool from both the DM and players' perspectives. As Trent said "Hope this helps"... Enjoy!

 

[Emiricol]

Time zones didn't exist until the railroads made them a safety and efficiency necessity. Every town kept local time, adjusting clocks to High Noon on a regular basis.

I can't think of a good reason why the Realms would need timezones, or who besides wizards would use them.

"What do you mean it's noon? Sun's not overhead yet you daffy wizard!"

 

[jester47]

Since there are wizards and portals on Toril, I would say that it would be handy info for the DM to have to make the descriptions more interesting. I do not think that the inhabitants would use such a thing. The wize might be aware of the effect, but few would care about it actually.

Aaron.

 

[DarkSoldier]

Time zones didn't exist until the railroads made them a safety and efficiency necessity. Every town kept local time, adjusting clocks to High Noon on a regular basis.

Sir Sandford Fleming came up with the idea of Standard Time while in charge of the inital survey of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Some trivia that all us Canadians know and that I want to share.

 

[Tonguez]

Sir Sandford Fleming

Wow I didn't realise James Bond was a canadian invention
(oh and in case your blond )

Oh and I agree - use local time its much easier
(basically for most of history the only accurate time was Sunrise-Noon-Sunset, Noon is when the Sun is at its zenith)

 

[Deadguy]

Regarding actual 'time zones' I am sure that Faerun doesn't actually possess any. However the question can reasonably be rephrased as how does longitude affect local time in the Forgotten Realms. In principle that's calculable. Myself, though, I'd go for a gut impression. If they leave Waterdeep at breakfast, they arrive in Cormyr in time for lunch!

 

[Mystery Man]

In the Grey Box there is a picture comparing the U.S. to Faerûn in relative size. You could gestimate if you wanted to as to the different time zones.

 

[Amrynn Moonshadow]

specific time zones? not as we know them today. (first of all, no canadian/scottish genius living on toril at the moment)

but time effects, obviously. it's a planet. it rotates. etc . . .

when it's lunch time in maxtica it's midnight in zakhara. pretty much opposite sides of the globe (or possible inbetween zakhara and kara-tur).

time is kept by the passing of the sun. when mr. big bad red wizard is waking up to milk the slaves (ew...) some of the foppish nobles of waterdeep are finally getting their bodyguards to drag them home to their wives . . .