I know that lots of folk will say "but i want to play a big goddam hero", but i think that most of us really underestimate the difficulties that travel through rough terrain or even inclement weather can have on an intrepid party.

Shit, wandering through 6 inches of snow in a minor storm ain't pleasant even waddled up nice and warm - and without all the adventuring gear, arms & armour the characters have to put with. Let alone doing all that whilst traversing a tricky mountain ridge on your way to the Tomb of the Frost-bitten Bear.

So, given that preamble and for another project i have on the back-burner, i want to rate both weather conditions and environmental hazards from Rank 0 to Rank 8. 0 being everyday stuff, and 8 being Legendary.

Anyone want to help in compiling a list and what conditions relate to each Rank of the hazard?

A few opening ideas...

Weather Conditions
Wind
Rain
Snow
Heat
Cold
Dust Storm
Hail
Ash

Environment
Cliffs
Sucking Bogs
Flood-Plains
Rain Forest
Desert
Caves
Mountains
Moors
Savannah
Mangrove Swamp
Quicksand
Sink-Holes

Quote from: One Horse Town;642206Environment
Moors

Low rainfall, moderate winds, high probability of Jihad?

Quote from: Premier;642207Low rainfall, moderate winds, high probability of Jihad?

Ahhh... durka durka.

Quote from: One Horse Town;642206I know that lots of folk will say "but i want to play a big goddam hero", but i think that most of us really underestimate the difficulties that travel through rough terrain or even inclement weather can have on an intrepid party.

Shit, wandering through 6 inches of snow in a minor storm ain't pleasant even waddled up nice and warm - and without all the adventuring gear, arms & armour the characters have to put with. Let alone doing all that whilst traversing a tricky mountain ridge on your way to the Tomb of the Frost-bitten Bear.

So, given that preamble and for another project i have on the back-burner, i want to rate both weather conditions and environmental hazards from Rank 0 to Rank 8. 0 being everyday stuff, and 8 being Legendary.

Anyone want to help in compiling a list and what conditions relate to each Rank of the hazard?

A few opening ideas...

Weather Conditions
Wind
Rain
Snow
Heat
Cold
Dust Storm
Hail
Ash

Environment
Cliffs
Sucking Bogs
Flood-Plains
Rain Forest
Desert
Caves
Mountains
Moors
Savannah
Mangrove Swamp
Quicksand
Sink-Holes

This is a bit of a derail, but those environmental hazards you are mentioning are on habitable terrestrial worlds. It gets even harder when you talk about effects of environmental hazards found in modern or science fiction games because, let's face it, most people have less than a comic book understanding of things like radiation.

As far as hazards for your list, do not forget contaminated water (that clear cool brook only looks clean) and insects (they do not have to bite or sting to be a hazard, they could eat your rations while you are sleeping).

Quote from: One Horse Town;642206A few opening ideas...

Weather Conditions
Wind

• wind chill, it makes the cold much colder
• debris and flying objects
• unable to move properly
• missile weapons lose range and accuracy
• visibility is reduced
• can spray the characters with unpleasantness

Rain

• a little rain never hurt anyone, a lot can kill you
• muddy conditions, including landslides and mudslides
• equipment damage, bowstrings and other
• flash floods, floods in general
• vehicles and animals getting stuck
• visibility is reduced, movement is reduced, missile weapons lose range and accuracy, just take that as a given for most similar conditions
• causes the cold to become a lot colder
• can't build a fire properly
• exposure becomes a lethal weapon, need shelter

Snow

• slower movement and reaction times
• exposure
• frostbite
• slippery conditions
• snow drifts
• polar bears, I hate polar bears
• scavengers also
• weapons getting stuck together
• lighting fires becomes a problem

Heat

• dehydration
• heatstroke

Ash

• choking
• visibility etc
• poisoning
• water sources getting poisoned
• blindness

Some of these are basically repeats, so apply as needed. All of these change based on whether or not you're at sea or if they are mixed conditions or whatever. I do a fair bit of 'bushcrafting' in temperate western Europe so I know almost nothing about extreme heat. Rain on the other hand I have fifty words for, few repeatable in polite company...

Environment
Sucking Bogs

• getting lost, one stretch of bog looks exactly like another and contrary to popular opinion it's not flat, that's swamps
• bog holes
• horse flies
• shifting terrain and safe paths
• country folk who mistake you for a sheep

I dunno, a lot of these seem a bit 'what are you looking for'.

Quote from: The Traveller;642305Weather Conditions
Wind

• wind chill, it makes the cold much colder
• debris and flying objects
• unable to move properly
• missile weapons lose range and accuracy
• visibility is reduced
• can spray the characters with unpleasantness

Rain

• a little rain never hurt anyone, a lot can kill you
• muddy conditions, including landslides and mudslides
• equipment damage, bowstrings and other
• flash floods, floods in general
• vehicles and animals getting stuck
• visibility is reduced, movement is reduced, missile weapons lose range and accuracy, just take that as a given for most similar conditions
• causes the cold to become a lot colder
• can't build a fire properly
• exposure becomes a lethal weapon, need shelter

Snow

• slower movement and reaction times
• exposure
• frostbite
• slippery conditions
• snow drifts
• polar bears, I hate polar bears
• scavengers also
• weapons getting stuck together
• lighting fires becomes a problem

Heat

• dehydration
• heatstroke

Ash

• choking
• visibility etc
• poisoning
• water sources getting poisoned
• blindness

Some of these are basically repeats, so apply as needed. All of these change based on whether or not you're at sea or if they are mixed conditions or whatever. I do a fair bit of 'bushcrafting' in temperate western Europe so I know almost nothing about extreme heat. Rain on the other hand I have fifty words for, few repeatable in polite company...

Environment
Sucking Bogs

• getting lost, one stretch of bog looks exactly like another and contrary to popular opinion it's not flat, that's swamps
• bog holes
• horse flies
• shifting terrain and safe paths
• country folk who mistake you for a sheep

I dunno, a lot of these seem a bit 'what are you looking for'.

Awesome. I'll get this written up.

Quote from: One Horse Town;642319Awesome. I'll get this written up.

There are loads more, that's just the tip of the iceberg, I'm too wrecked to make an exhaustive list. Speaking of icebergs, supercooled still pure mountain lakes have potential, this is water that remains liquid even below freezing - until disturbed. Volcanic ash lightning is the ultimate in natural lightshows, these are a feature of the ash rather than the volcanoes so applicable:





And it was scalding hot ash and mud that made Pompeii. Climbing steep surfaces in the rain is very difficult, getting submerged in cold water for a few minutes can have effects on reaction time that last hours, but can delay the terminal finale of otherwise fatal wounds for a similar period, as can snow. Exposure and the cold in general can also dull wits and numb minds, so intelligence and wisdom/charisma penalties.

I'm not a big outdoorsman, but let me add a couple of notes to Traveller's excellent points:

Wind - Even far before reaching hurricane level, strong wind could push you to your death at the edge of a cliff or similar formation, especially since high, exposed places will tend to have strong winds.

Rain - Water in general is good breeding ground for microorganisms. Cold & wet weather is ideal for certain viruses (just think of the annual flu and cold seasons), while tropical water can host really harmful bacteria. Perhaps not the rainwater, specifically, but heavy rainfall probably WILL increase exposure thanks to all the puddles, mud, seasonal lakes, etc..

Snow - Whiteout may make navigation practically impossible, and it doesn't even need heavy snowfall - just the snowy ground can create an effect under the right circumstances, especially in arctic areas.

Quote from: Premier;642348Snow - Whiteout may make navigation practically impossible, and it doesn't even need heavy snowfall - just the snowy ground can create an effect under the right circumstances, especially in arctic areas.

Yes, and temporary or permanent snow blindness, an important one. Inuit snow goggles:



Books and scrolls had better be well sealed away in heavy rain too.

Without food, you can die in weeks.

Without water, you can die in days.

Without shelter, you can die in hours, or even minutes.


Wind and water can be insanely deadly, in the right conditions.

Quote from: Black Vulmea;642403Without food, you can die in weeks.

Without water, you can die in days.

Without shelter, you can die in hours, or even minutes.

The rule of threes, in the wild it's all ye know and all ye needs to know.

Good thread! It reminds me I need to write up some details and guidelines for the monsoon season in Arrows of Indra.

Quote from: Black Vulmea;642403Without food, you can die in weeks.

Without water, you can die in days.

Without shelter, you can die in hours, or even minutes.


Wind and water can be insanely deadly, in the right conditions.

It's Army doctrine that whenever we would go to a new area, the order of priority is:

1. Establish Security
2. Establish Shelter
.
.
.
Food and the rest way down the line