Dragaera

started rereading _TPotD_

Mon Jul 14 14:49:27 PDT 2003


On Mon, 14 Jul 2003, Steve Simmons wrote:

> On Sun, Jul 13, 2003 at 12:47:12AM -0700, Philip Hart wrote:
> > leagues.  But it takes him and Piro over two weeks (10 days) to get
> > there, or less than 20 miles/day on horseback, which seems a bit lame -

>
> Neglecting Dragaerans and Easterners for the moment, let us note that
> the Roman Army under Julius Caesar was noted for astounding the opposition
> by regularly making 20 to 30 miles per day, travelling on good roads.
> In extreme circumstances they could make 40 miles per day, but couldn't
> do it for more than a day or two.  That's for guys who trained for it day
> in and day out, with lots and lots of marching with lots and lots of big
> loads.
>
> Yes, 20 miles per day over trails, uphill and down, with pack animals,
> etc, makes a lot of sense to me.

Note that Caesar's legions were bearing arms (ok, short swords I suppose,
but not light crystal-forged ones) and armor and shields, and on foot.
Also they had to maintain coherent order during, and establish defensible
positions at the end of, their marches.  I contend that a couple of guys
on horseback, eager for adventure, would make better time.