Mounts and Vehicles

Covering long distances or hauling significant amounts of cargo often requires more than an adventurer’s own two feet. Mounts provide speed and carrying capacity, while vehicles allow for transporting large groups or heavy loads. Costs listed below are typical baseline prices and can vary significantly based on quality, training, location, and availability. Overland Speed assumes reasonable terrain and conditions for about 8-10 hours of travel per day.

Mounts

Purchasing a mount usually includes basic halter equipment, but specialized riding tack or harness is often a separate purchase. Animals listed here require appropriate feed and care (see Tack, Harness, and Vehicle Related Gear below).

• Donkey or Mule: Cost: 8 GP; Speed: Slow (Overland 20 miles/day); Capacity: 420 lbs; Notes: Known for being sturdy and sure-footed, but sometimes stubborn. Excellent pack animals, especially in difficult terrain (see Pack Beasts and Burden, p. XX).
• Pony: Cost: 10 GP; Speed: Average (Overland 30 miles/day); Capacity: 225 lbs; Notes: Suitable for smaller riders (Halflings, Gnomes, children) or lighter loads. Requires Riding Tack.
• Horse, Pack: Cost: 30 GP; Speed: Average (Overland 30 miles/day); Capacity: 450 lbs; Notes: A common, sturdy horse bred for carrying loads. Can be ridden but is not as fast or comfortable as a Riding Horse. Requires Riding Tack if ridden. (See Pack Beasts and Burden, p. XX for full profile).
• Horse, Draft: Cost: 50 GP; Speed: Slow (Overland 25 miles/day); Capacity: 540 lbs; Notes: Bred for strength and pulling heavy loads like wagons or plows, not speed. Requires Harness for pulling vehicles.
• Horse, Riding: Cost: 75 GP; Speed: Fast (Overland 40 miles/day); Capacity: 480 lbs; Notes: Common riding horse suitable for travel, offering a balance of speed and carrying capacity. Requires Riding Tack.
• Warhorse: Cost: 400 GP; Speed: Fast (Overland 40 miles/day); Capacity: 540 lbs; Notes: Specially bred and trained for combat, less likely to panic than a standard riding horse. A significant investment. Requires Riding Tack. (See Mounted Combat, p. XX for example stats).

Vehicles

Vehicles require draft animals (usually draft horses or mules, sometimes oxen) to pull them unless otherwise noted (like boats). Speed is determined by the pulling creatures. Capacity often lists passengers and/or cargo weight.

Land Vehicles

• Cart: Cost: 15 GP; Speed: Animal’s Speed; Capacity: 800 lbs cargo; Notes: A simple two-wheeled cart, usually pulled by one draft animal with a harness.
• Wagon: Cost: 35 GP; Speed: Animal’s Speed; Capacity: 2000 lbs cargo (or ~8 passengers); Notes: A four-wheeled wagon, requires two draft animals with harnesses. Often covered for protection from elements.
• Carriage: Cost: 100 GP; Speed: Animals’ Speed; Capacity: 4-6 passengers + driver, 500 lbs cargo; Notes: Enclosed passenger vehicle, usually requires two faster horses (Riding or similar) with harnesses. More comfortable than a wagon; often a symbol of status.

Water Vehicles

• Rowboat: Cost: 5 GP; Speed: Slow (oars, ~1 mph); Capacity: 3-4 people or 400 lbs cargo; Notes: Suitable for calm rivers, lakes, or coastal waters. Includes oars.
• Keelboat: Cost: 3,000 GP; Speed: Average (sails/oars, ~3 mph); Capacity: ~15 people + 5 tons cargo; Notes: Can navigate rivers and coastal waters. May require a small crew (GM determines details).
• Sailing Ship: Cost: 10,000 GP+; Speed: Fast (sails, ~5-7 mph, wind dependent); Capacity: 20+ crew/passengers + 100+ tons cargo; Notes: Ocean-going vessel, requires a trained crew. Cost, size, and stats can vary greatly.

Tack, Harness, and Vehicle Related Gear

• Bit and Bridle: Cost: 1 SP 5 CP (15 CP); Weight: 1 lb; Notes: Basic equipment for guiding a mount.
• Harness (for pulling): Cost: 4 SP (40 CP); Weight: 10 lbs; Notes: Leather harness required for an animal to pull a cart or wagon.
• Riding Saddle: Cost: 2 GP (200 CP); Weight: 25 lbs; Notes: Standard saddle for riding mounts like horses or ponies. Essential for comfort and control during long rides or combat.
• Saddlebags (Pair): Cost: 6 SP (60 CP); Weight: 8 lbs; Notes: Bags attaching to a saddle for carrying gear (holds ~30 lbs total).
• Stabling (per day): Cost: 5 CP; Weight: N/A; Notes: Cost to house one mount in a town stable, usually includes basic feed and water.
• Animal Feed (per day): Cost: 5 CP; Weight: 10 lbs; Notes: Sufficient oats, hay, or other appropriate feed for one large animal (horse, mule) for one day.

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File Created: 05/07/2025
Last Modified: 05/07/2025