This was on the ADND-L list - it sounds almost like something one of us
would experiment with for more realism in our games! *chuckle*
The basic premise was a group of adventurers are trapped in a cold cavern,
and the only way out is under-water. There is no magic to assist them in
this.
Here is what Odian said (and did):
> About 9th-10th level.
Well, the levels are correct then.....
> Possibly, but no guarantee. I didn't want the entire
> scenario to hang on whether or not a wizard with that
> spell available was a member of the party.
Then it's pretty much a moot point. Without some heavy magic, divine
intervention, or a couple water breathing scrolls, they're not swimming 500+
feet underwater, of unknown depth, perhaps fighting, on one good gulp of
air.
Mechanical means are not really accessable in this timeframe. Air
bladders are not feasable because of their positive bouyancy, and if they
weighed themselves down with rocks, swimming becomes almost impossible.
I tested this theory out earlier today at a local indoor pool, using
gallon jugs, and also a leather wineskin I got at an SCA event a couple
years ago. Using some diving weights to counter the bouyancy of the air, I
was able to sink like a stone for fifteen feet. (the depth of the pool) Not
swimming or using any energy at all, I was able to hold my breath for 82
seconds.
I finally figured out the secret to getting air out of the jugs, because
the water wants to crush the jug. Using two one gallon jugs, I was able to
extend my time under water to 201 seconds. Using the wineskin which holds
about a gallon and a half of wine, I was able to stay under 170 seconds.
That was doing nothing but laying on the bottom.
I then tried swimming. No extra air, but weighted slightly to manage my
own bouyancy, I was able to make it 75 yards. Then I added air, and more
weight, and swimming became impossible. Forward motion was difficult, and I
was only able to add adout 20 more yards. Total yardage was 90 years.
Then, using 2 friends and the dive instructor, (who was supervising my test)
all of whom had dive equipment and plenty of air and fins, I simulated a
"battle" using plastic star wars light sabres.
They simulated sharks, beings that live in the sea (sea elves) Saughlin
(sp?), and men with water breating spells in effect. They 'attacked' at
various points in my trek. The first attack was two on one, and I was able
to 'wound' one a glancing blow before I was "bitten" in half. The second
run through was one one on one, me versus a man/humanoid with a sword.
I am not a swordsman. On land, even in armor, I can hold my own for a
*few* minutes. We've done some mock battles, and I have beaten a few and
lost several. Movement underwater is taxing, to say the least. With
limited air, it is almost impossible.
Today I lost every "encounter". My shortest 'battle' was about 6 seconds.
My longest was about 17 seconds. I "retreated" once to the surface to get
air, and was 'skewered' from below. No matter how you slice the mustard, it
ends up as dead.
Using a scuba tank, AND a mask, I was able to hold my own for over five
minutes against two humanoids. I even "killed" one of them. But my
outcome was the same...I ended up dead. :)
Using just a tank, (no fins or mask), I started doing laps underwater to
see how far one could swim in 15 minutes with no "encounters". I was not
trying to set records, but was moving at a decent rate. I was able to do 12
laps. Each lap is one hundred yards. So figure roughly 1000-1200 yards (or
3000-3600 feet) in 15 minutes. With fins, I almost tripled that.
My eyes will be red for a week, but overall, I had a great experience. I
hope this helps to shed some light on this subject.
Odian
I had a blast today. I learned a lot about combat underwater, combat
segments, encumberence and speed factors. I also gained two new role
players.
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