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Signmaker
2007-11-07, 06:18 PM
For my new campaign (Most likely 7-10th level characters, maybe a bit higher), I was thinking of introducing a new way of making gp, having encounters, and gambling.

War Wagon Fights.

Being deprived of money, I don't have Arms and Equipment, so I don't know the basic setup of a Halfling War Wagon. However, I do know that they exist, and that clever adjustments can be made to make them quite fun to play (Who doesn't want to ride in a war wagon through a deserted city battling other wagons?)

A few issues arise, though.

One. I don't know how to figure out the price per pound (or per volume) of many key materials that may be used in making a war wagon. This includes: Iron, Cold Iron, Darkwood, and various other materials that could be used as "Armor Plating"

Two. I don't know how to price the components that control the wagons (Wheels, Steering Wheel, etc.) or how to factor in some method of self-propulsion (Horses die easily, and would thus be targeted quite easily as well)

I'll likely run in to more issues, but I'd like to hear out your suggestions and opinions before bringing up more questions. It would be REALLY helpful if at least Issue One was resolved.

BRC
2007-11-07, 06:23 PM
Some nifty ideas for this type of thing was discussed in This Thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62169). However, in terms of self-propulsion, if the party has a caster of at least 8th level they can cast Animate Objects up to a Huge object, then pay 15700 gp to get that animation permanant, giving the wagon/tank self-propulsion and attacks. This is much cheaper than the price of self-propulsion given by some sourcebook my DM has (100000 gp!, though I think thats more for things like ships, not wagons). However if you want to make it a major part of the campaign, remember this:
Screw the rules, I'm the DM!. Maybe your world has the internal combustion engine, or some easy-to-get magical item that can function as a motor (Heck, they have ones that literally let you drop somthing in a pocket dimension, a magitech motor his hardly stretching the suspension of disbeleif). Then you can price it however you want, maybe different prices for different speeds.

Signmaker
2007-11-07, 06:48 PM
I've seen that thread, but that doesn't really help me in figuring out GP costs of the basic build. Though, an anti-undead war tank DOES sound pretty awesome..

BRC
2007-11-07, 06:56 PM
I vaugly remember a halfling war wagon costing somthing involving the number 14, I don't remember if it was hundred or thousand.
Either Way the way I would do it is let the party build and design their own, then price it after they show you their plan.

goat
2007-11-07, 06:57 PM
One. I don't know how to figure out the price per pound (or per volume) of many key materials that may be used in making a war wagon. This includes: Iron, Cold Iron, Darkwood, and various other materials that could be used as "Armor Plating".

Iron is 1sp a pound according to http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/wealthAndMoney.htm#wealthOtherThanCoins

Darkwood is about 10gp a pound, Cold Iron is twice as expensive as normal iron, Mithril is 500GP/lb, not sure about adamantium. All from http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialMaterials.htm

Signmaker
2007-11-07, 09:01 PM
Iron is 1sp a pound according to http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/wealthAndMoney.htm#wealthOtherThanCoins

Darkwood is about 10gp a pound, Cold Iron is twice as expensive as normal iron, Mithril is 500GP/lb, not sure about adamantium. All from http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialMaterials.htm

Thanks a bunch! That should solve most of issue 1.

goat
2007-11-08, 08:52 PM
It actually makes no sense thinking about it. A mithral chain shirt, a fairly complex thing to make, weighs half as much as a normal chain shirt, 12.5 lbs instead of 25.

BUT it only costs 1100 gp, pricing mithral at 88GP/lb, and that's without labour costs.

RTGoodman
2007-11-08, 11:45 PM
Here's something to give you ideas of ways to do different things within your war wagons. And it also happens to be one of my favorite items in D&D.

APPARATUS OF THE CRAB (http://systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/magicItemsWI.html#apparatus-of-the-crab).

Signmaker
2007-11-09, 06:20 AM
It actually makes no sense thinking about it. A mithral chain shirt, a fairly complex thing to make, weighs half as much as a normal chain shirt, 12.5 lbs instead of 25.

BUT it only costs 1100 gp, pricing mithral at 88GP/lb, and that's without labour costs.

Actually, Mithral used out of armor/weapons is priced at 500 gp/lb. Straight from the SRD