Do people still find the 2nd ed Travel Distance chart useful in 3rd ed?

[Eldagusto]

So I keep thinking about popping open my 3rd ed book just for the travel distance rules. Is there any particular flaw in using it for figuring out basic distances from a village to a city or a capitol to a capital?

[Isator Levi]

I think the chart is useful just as a basic reminded of what kinds of distances various things are likely to cover, but it doesn't really need the associated calculations based on roads and maps and things. I think that in any case where such a complication might be meaningful, it should be incorporated into (if it's not big enough to be the focus of) a scene taking place in that transition, just to help there be a bit more action than simply stating "two weeks pass, and you arrive in Nexus".

[TheCountAlucard]

Shit, I didn't have a use for it in Second Edition.

[Eura]

I think the only time I used travel time was in a game where we were constantly traveling and used it to find out how much training time we had before hitting the next town/event.

[Solar]

I think such things are useful but in my group now they'd only really be good for working out the movement of mortals connected to the campaign. I reckon that a mortal refugee train can probably do twenty miles a day, and that seems reasonable. My group has two Sorcerers with spells that allow them to fly pretty effing fast, though. I almost wish that they had kept such things out of the game, really, it does make distances feel a lot shorter, but I get that summoning a whirlwind to travel in is classic sorcerer territory and also not exactly much of a stretch. I just think that with it and Flight of the Brilliant Raptor a PC can start to feel less like a Sorcerer and more like an F-16, though I suppose to an extent that comes down to how one plays it.

[nalak42]

I knew that chart existed. I could never find the bloody thing to use.

[BlueWinds]

I think such things are useful but in my group now they'd only really be good for working out the movement of mortals connected to the campaign. I reckon that a mortal refugee train can probably do twenty miles a day, and that seems reasonable. My group has two Sorcerers with spells that allow them to fly pretty effing fast, though. I almost wish that they had kept such things out of the game, really, it does make distances feel a lot shorter, but I get that summoning a whirlwind to travel in is classic sorcerer territory and also not exactly much of a stretch. I just think that with it and Flight of the Brilliant Raptor a PC can start to feel less like a Sorcerer and more like an F-16, though I suppose to an extent that comes down to how one plays it.

I've never been a fan of fast travel in Exalted. There end up being two different scales, one for Exalted and one for everyone else in the world - and I don't like the disconnect. It sends the message of "mortals don't matter, armies suck, don't invest in anything you can't carry with you." It makes the map feel smaller, and not in a good way.

My solution? Stormwind rider travels 20mph, not 75. They're still the fastest thing in the setting. That's damn impressive! A day's travel in an hour! A weeks travel in a day! When you set expectations properly it feels just fine to the players.

I'd say a refugee train is more like 10 miles per day, or slower depending on conditions. 25 miles per day is legion speed - how fast a group of fit, well rested, organized soldiers can travel.

Also, yes, the chart was useful - I referenced it all the time as a ST - but it was impossible to find before I just memorized the page number.

[Hark]

I play Exalted sandbox so that 2e chart sees a lot of use. Not just for PC but NPCs need it too. If I have the time to invest in making a game very in depth it also factors very heavily into how quickly news travels across Creation. Players with fast travel could easily arrive at places before stories of their deeds. I also use it to determine when players come into contact with news of what is happening elsewhere in Creation. When the players get a plot hook and how long it takes them to respond, if they respond, determines how advanced the situation becomes.

So yeah, travel info is really important for a sandbox game.

[Eldagusto]

I always felt Exalted should be able to do phenomenally just by jogging.


So for running somewhere would you roll athletics or resistance and stamina?

What would one roll represent an hour in normal conditions or distance. Would distance be the way to go so you can represent an insane roll as great distance?

I figured Solars that can double the dice pool of a national marathon runner, should be outdoing a horse in speed with basic non super speed charms. And a tireless lunar that goes eagle form should zoom past a normal eagle.

The shards chase rules are they good to salvage for third ed? Is it the first to get ten successes or the first to get 10 more successes then the other the one to win in a basic arrest him scene?

[KFinigan]

I always felt Exalted should be able to do phenomenally just by jogging.


So for running somewhere would you roll athletics or resistance and stamina?

What would one roll represent an hour in normal conditions or distance. Would distance be the way to go so you can represent an insane roll as great distance?

I figured Solars that can double the dice pool of a national marathon runner, should be outdoing a horse in speed with basic non super speed charms. And a tireless lunar that goes eagle form should zoom past a normal eagle.

The shards chase rules are they good to salvage for third ed? Is it the first to get ten successes or the first to get 10 more successes then the other the one to win in a basic arrest him scene?

I would use both resistance and athletics. Resistance to run longer than your limits. Athletics to run faster than your default.

[Robert Vance]

I don't know if it's consistent with various systems in Ex3 (i.e. Sail and ship speed), but I still eyeball the table when I want to get a sense of how long a journey will take.

The shards chase rules are they good to salvage for third ed?

The chase rules are just an extended roll with some extra widgets. Oughta work just fine with minimal conversion.

[TheCountAlucard]

I always felt Exalted should be able to do phenomenally just by jogging.

Jogging is great when there's a good solid, well-traveled road under your feet, with a minimum of bandits.

Not exactly a guarantee in Creation.

Ever accidentally land a step wrong, turn your ankle, et cetera.? It's a lot worse when you're going really fast.

So for running somewhere would you roll athletics or resistance and stamina?

I wouldn't have them roll anything, unless the results were going to be significant to the story. If they're trying to beat someone there, maybe.

What would one roll represent an hour in normal conditions or distance.

See above.

Would distance be the way to go so you can represent an insane roll as great distance?

See above.

I figured Solars that can double the dice pool of a national marathon runner…

Absent other Charms, a Solar "that can double the dice pool of a master blacksmith" isn't making a horseshoe any faster when he applies his amazing dice pool.

…should be outdoing a horse in speed with basic non super speed charms.

You're welcome to your opinion, but, having watched both Usain Bolt and a horse run (admittedly not against each other, but still…), I respectfully disagree.

[Eldagusto]

You're welcome to your opinion, but, having watched both Usain Bolt and a horse run (admittedly not against each other, but still…), I respectfully disagree.

Humans in Creation can literally have the potentially to beat a gorilla in an arm wrestling match, or tackle a bison to the ground. Basic charms allow you to leap over a twenty foot wall.

Absent other Charms, a Solar "that can double the dice pool of a master blacksmith" isn't making a horseshoe any faster when he applies his amazing dice pool.

If you request it like, you are at a horseshoe making contest, I don't see why not. Especially if your crafting project is making a batch of horseshoes.

I wouldn't have them roll anything, unless the results were going to be significant to the story. If they're trying to beat someone there, maybe.

Why else would they be running. For instance two running rolls I had were to represent running a couple miles to get somewhere quickly/keep up with a more in shape character.

Jogging is great when there's a good solid, well-traveled road under your feet, with a minimum of bandits.

Not exactly a guarantee in Creation.

Ever accidentally land a step wrong, turn your ankle, et cetera.? It's a lot worse when you're going really fast.

Yes well that is what the roll is for, to see if you succeed in making a major hustle. Exalted can pull off some non standard running, like the tree branch jumping in Naruto, or running like a wolf through the forest or hills.

[Eldagusto]

I don't know if it's consistent with various systems in Ex3 (i.e. Sail and ship speed), but I still eyeball the table when I want to get a sense of how long a journey will take.


The chase rules are just an extended roll with some extra widgets. Oughta work just fine with minimal conversion.

Its very useful for me figuring out how far a way say village is if it takes a week to travel to and from.

[TheCountAlucard]

Humans in Creation can literally have the potentially to beat a gorilla in an arm wrestling match, or tackle a bison to the ground. Basic charms allow you to leap over a twenty foot wall.

Relevant text bolded. There's a difference between using an Excellency and using Monkey Leap Technique, just like there's a difference between using an Excellency and Craftsman Needs No Tools, or an Excellency versus Racing Hare Method.

Absent magic making them capable of such, a human just plain does not run as fast as a horse can.

If you request it like, you are at a horseshoe making contest, I don't see why not.

Because he's not doing anything to make them go faster.

Especially if your crafting project is making a batch of horseshoes.

What difference would that make?

Why else would they be running.

Because you were saying that "Exalted should be able to do phenomenally just by jogging." If an Exalt can just fast-travel with no consequences, he's going to. Which is why I don't think they should be running as fast as horses by default, Excellency or no.

lExalted can pull off some non standard running, like the tree branch jumping in Naruto, or running like a wolf through the forest or hills.

That still requires more than an Excellency.