Wagon, Arcanum-Enhanced
Of the coaches, the mainstay was the raeda or reda, which had four wheels. The high sides formed a sort of box in which seats were placed, with a notch on each side for entry. It carried several people with baggage up to the legal limit of 1000 Roman librae (pounds), modern equivalent 328 kilograms (723 pounds). It was drawn by teams of oxen, horses or mules. A cloth top could be put on for weather, in which case it resembled a covered wagon. — Roman Vehicles and Transportation (wikipedia)
Travel by horse was a luxury during the Iron Age. While walking was the most common form of land travel during the Iron Age, carriage transport also became increasingly popular during this period. People of higher social status used more expensive carriages, and historical research indicates that only a few individuals traveled by horse. As more roads were created, wagon use became more popular. Oxen pulled the heavier wagons that were variations of those created during the Bronze Age. — Types of Transportation in the Iron Age
Wagon use for passengers with goods or heavier loads was already one of the accepted modes of transport at the time that Arcanum Crystal was discovered. The crystals allowed for smoother creation techniques in wagonmaking, as well as smoother travel in them for those able to afford the enhanced wagons.
Improvements
Compared to an average, un-enhanced, horse-drawn wagon, which could travel 25–31 miles[1] in a day, the arcanum-enhanced wagon can travel a full 50 miles daily without changing horses, as the lightening of the load will allow the horses to travel at their best trail speed. (This does require some tying down of cargo when the horses get moving at full speed, though the jolting of the wagon is reduced somewhat in the enhancement process.) Oxen pulling an enhanced wagon will still only move the same speed they always do, making enhancement for long cargo hauls different than the enhancement for speed. (Note: these are still wagons, not a full Roman carriage.)Engineering
The arcanum crystals are built into the hubcaps for most wagons, regardless of the purpose of the enhancement. Typically there is no visible difference between the variations of hubcaps, though the style of the hubcap is appropriate only for the type of wagon it is designed for. One of the original inventors liked to visibly classify his work with bluer crystals for passengers and speed and red or pink crystals for cargo, which has led to the hubcaps now being decorated in a similar color scheme if the specific colors of crystal are not available. The hubcaps are built in pairs, designed to be activated when attached to either end of an axle after the wagon is assembled. These work through the wood to tie wheels and axle together in a fashion not easily unmade, even by standard trauma to the wagon. The hubcaps also maintain the wheels, making them far hardier than their common counterparts. Very few enhanced wagons break down due to road conditions or common types of damage, and it takes quite a lot of intentional abuse (or a natural disaster) to do sufficient damage to break the wheels and axle once enhanced. This protection extends to the wagon somewhat, but various designs have varying levels of protection for the body of the wagon. In all cases, the floor of the wagon box will not come apart easily—beyond that, it depends on the type of wagon. The magic of the crystals always reaches the platform of the wagon, whatever shape or purpose it might be designed for, in order to provide the lightening of the load that allows for faster travel speeds. (This only magically affects the wagon's load-bearing parts; the load itself does not change at all, nor are passengers or cargo affected by any of the magic.)For passenger wagons or the occasional wagon intended for fragile loads, an additional crystal is worked into the base of the wagon. It is not necessarily in an obvious place, but a lot of wainwrights have taken to placing it on the front of the driver's box or wagon with some kind of ornamentation to make it clear the wagon is of higher quality. This crystal is primarily concerned with the shock-absorption necessary due to the higher possible speeds. The wagon body would begin to wear at all joints of any kind (as early prototypes found) without processes to limit the forces applied. It has also led to some different types of jointing, using iron plates and brackets, which are a mechanical improvement over the prior joining techniques.
Power Generation
The arcanum crystals are their own power sources, and the first arcanum-enhanced wagon is still functioning, so the duration of use is as yet unknown.
Propulsion
Drawn by a beast of burden, possibly more than one based upon size and cargo capacity. Sometimes human intervention is required based on environmental hazards such as mud or scree.
Price
15–100 gp by size and purpose
Rarity
uncommon for commoners, common for well-to-do, expected for nobility
Related Technologies
Beam
approx four to six feet
Length
six feet to sixteen
Height
four feet to fourteen
Weight
about a ton to three tons, empty
Speed
max speed approx 40 mph
Complement / Crew
minimum one driver and one animal to pull it, varies
Cargo & Passenger Capacity
varies with size and purpose, max 1 ton per animal
Don't Forget To Consider
Might be worth making a table for overland movement like the PF SRD's. I've got slightly better stats decided upon for this setting, so updating the table will likely help me later while writing.Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
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