Daily Movement Rates

Sometimes a GM may find it easier to describe movement rates in terms of the distance that can be covered under various circumstances over the course of a day, instead of determining exact speeds and hours traveled. This is especially true when the mode of travel is primitive. Movement rates for vehicles may be found in various vehicle descriptions.

Modes of Travel
Marching	40 miles (64 km) per day
Mounted	60 miles (96 km) per day
Caravan	20 miles (32 km) per day

Terrain Modifiers
Road	Normal
Offroad	× .75
Forest	× .5
Jungle	× .25
Swamp	× .25
Hilly	× .5
Rocky	× .5
Mountainous	× .25

Weather Modifiers
Medium Rain	× .75
Heavy Rain	× .5
Medium Snow	× .5
Heavy Snow	× .25
Sandstorm	× .1
Blizzard	× .1

In the charts above, Modes of Travel refers to unmodified daily movement rates. Marching assumes a disciplined, steady pace on foot. Mounted refers to travel by horse, pony, camel, or other similar beasts. Caravan refers to travel by wagon, cart, or simple walking.

The movement rate is modified by conditions of terrain and weather. Terrain modifiers are applied first by multiplying the movement rate by the appropriate modifier. The product is then multiplied by any extant weather modifiers. For example, if a party is marching over hilly terrain in the snow, the movement rate would be 5 miles per day (20 × .5 = 10; 10 × .5 = 5).

In swamps or mountainous terrain, mounted characters move at the marching movement rate.

Certain obstacles, such as a river to be forded, may delay progress, but the time lost depends on individual circumstances to be determined by the GM.

[Originally posted in Fudgery.net in 2006.]

[This article is not specific to Fudge, of course, but it is of universal utility (much like Fudge) and originally appeared in Fudgery.net, which I think is sufficient justification to re-post it in Creative Reckoning.]