[Swordbearer] Pack Animals

[lev at rpgreview.net]

> Hello everybody.

Hi Kai,

> So, I’ve finally given in to my old-school urges and decided to run a
> West Marches style game using Swordbearer.

A good choice :)

> I got a question about pack animals. A mule can transport an abstract
> load - i.e., one load of firewood, or one load of treasure, or of food,
> etc; a mule with a cart can transport two loads, say, one of wood AND
> one of food. How do I handle smaller stuff?

The rules state (Heritage edition, p21) that "one or more of the ten items
could be an animal.... Pack animals, wagons etc can carry one specific
type of cargo or load, but these can include general goods related to a
specific skill or activity".

In which case "an adventurer's mule" would include the sort of the things
that "an adventurer" would carry.

> longer hike. I take it that, according to the rules, I can just lump all
> that stuff together as one load of expedition gear, right? Which means
> if someone wants to add a single additional item that does not fit that
> description (say, one item of treasure or one sword), a second mule (or
> a cart) is needed. Correct? Same goes for humanoid bearers, I understand.

Not really; I would rule that all of this could fall under "adventurer's
gear". As long as it's in the bounds of reality e.g. from Wikipedia

"The median weight range for a mule is between about 370 and 460 kg (820
and 1,000 lb).[4] Although it depends on the individual animal, an army
mule can "carry up to 72 kg and walk 26 km without resting."[5] In
general, a mule can be packed with "dead weight" of up to 20% of its body
weight, or approximately 90 kg (200 lb).[6] The average equine in general
can carry up to approximately 30% of its body weight in "live" weight,
such as a rider.[7] However, while a few mules can carry live weight up to
160 kg (350 lb) the superiority of the mule becomes apparent in their
additional endurance.[6]"

> I was tempted to rule that bearers, mules etc. can each carry ten items,
> just like other characters, but then I realized that the ten item limit
> works together with the social status rules for limiting purchases and
> possessions ... Nice.

That's true, but it's for ownership not carrying, although the church
scold may receive a quizzical eyebrow on why she's carrying the gold
embossed holy book of the one-true faith of the magic carrot..

"It's the High Priestesses! She wants me to take it to temple!" etc.

Hope this helps,


Lev