Mule Barding

Henchman99942 · 09-26-2013, 10:58 PM

Do different sized animals get mods for barding even of they are in the same SM?

Small Mules (800 lbs) SM:+1 (2 hexes)
vs.
Draft Horse (2000 lbs) SM+1 (3 Hexes)

Meaning, did someone else already figure this out and is happy to share their work?

(I have a test tomorrow and I didn't study)

gilbertocarlos · 09-27-2013, 09:12 AM

Those animals don't get barding, they are not good mounts.

(Go study)

Varyon · 09-27-2013, 09:46 AM

GURPS Low Tech has information on animal barding, for horses, camels, elephants, and dogs (that is, animals that were historically armored). Horse armor statistics would probably work just fine for a mule. Once you get into animals that are larger/smaller but have the same basic body type, you'll want to use the guidelines from LTC3 to work out cost and weight. For animals that are within the same SM, I'd say just use the same statistics - a 5-foot-tall character's armor weighs and costs the same as a 6-foot-tall one, after all. That Horse/Mule discrepancy is probably due to the horse being a little too long to count as 2 hexes, and the mule being a little too short to count as 3 hexes, rather than the mule being 2/3 the length of the horse (which would be about -1 to SM).

Bruno · 09-27-2013, 08:01 PM

Humans of different sizes don't have modifiers for different armor unless they get points back for skinny, overweight, or fat. 4' 11" 90 lb ST 6 guy vs 6' 4" 280 lb ST 16 guy pay the same and carry the same weight.

I would assume the same rule therefore applies to non humans.

Pursuivant · 09-27-2013, 11:26 PM

For a mule, use the stats for barding for a riding horse. For a donkey or small donkey, you'd need to use the rules for Low Tech to scale the mass down. Maybe 2/3 mass.

As others have said, historically barding wasn't made for mules or donkeys, although maybe the Sumerians rigged up something to protect the onagers (domesticated semi-wild donkeys) they used to pull chariots. So, any barding would need to be a custom job.

Given the inherent orneriness of both forms of equids, Animal Handling skill rolls might also be needed to get the beast to happily wear the barding.

MatthewVilter · 09-27-2013, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruno

Humans of different sizes don't have modifiers for different armor unless they get points back for skinny, overweight, or fat. 4' 11" 90 lb ST 6 guy vs 6' 4" 280 lb ST 16 guy pay the same and carry the same weight.

Not exactly the most realistic aspect of GURPS...

gilbertocarlos · 09-28-2013, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatthewVilter

Not exactly the most realistic aspect of GURPS...

A house rule of mine is:
Multiply weight and cost by ST/10
Multiply weight and cost by 1.5 for SM+1, by 2 for SM+2, by 3 for SM+3, by 5 for SM+4 etc...
Multiply weight by New DR/Old DR.

~~combatmedic~~ · 09-27-2013, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gilbertocarlos

Those animals don't get barding, they are not good mounts.

(Go study)

Indeed, barding for mules does seem a bit odd. Not that 'odd' is bad. Odd can be great fun.

Mules can be used as mounts, and have been used as such in wartime (ACW, some of the Indian Wars, other conflicts). But that does not make them a suitable choice for a heavy 'cavalry' animal, which is what barding seems to imply. You could use 'em for use with mounted infantry.

If the OP's setting has mules, it must have horses. If it has horses, why aren't proper destriers being used by the guys who want the barding? It's a weird choice. But if we knew the context, that might help. Is the mule the only option for some reason? Is this a custom job made for an eccentric rich person? A kludge made by a desperate blacksmith to fight the kobold horde advancing on his village?

:)

sir_pudding · 09-28-2013, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by combatmedic

Horses, why aren't proper destriers being used by the guys who want the barding? It's a weird choice. But if we knew the context, that might help. Is the mule the only option for some reason? Is this a custom job made for an eccentric rich person? A kludge made by a desperate blacksmith to fight the kobold horde advancing on his village?

Given the OPs interest (obsession?) with carts and wagons, I'm guessing this is for a war wagon of some kind.

Given his predilections for necromancy it's probably barding for zombie mules. :)

~~combatmedic~~ · 09-28-2013, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Given the OPs interest (obsession?) with carts and wagons, I'm guessing this is for a war wagon of some kind.

Given his predilections for necromancy it's probably barding for zombie mules. :)

I can't fault a man for being a bit obsessed with necromancy and wheeled vehicles.

Combine the two for undead-powered waggon-dueling Abydos!

09-26-2013, 10:58 PM	#1
Henchman99942 Join Date: Oct 2012	Mule Barding Do different sized animals get mods for barding even of they are in the same SM? Small Mules (800 lbs) SM:+1 (2 hexes) vs. Draft Horse (2000 lbs) SM+1 (3 Hexes) Meaning, did someone else already figure this out and is happy to share their work? (I have a test tomorrow and I didn't study)

09-27-2013, 09:12 AM	#2
gilbertocarlos Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Caxias do Sul, Brazil	Re: Mule Barding Those animals don't get barding, they are not good mounts. (Go study) __________________ I've revised the Low Tech weapons table: http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=112532

09-27-2013, 09:46 AM	#3
Varyon Join Date: Jun 2013	Re: Mule Barding GURPS Low Tech has information on animal barding, for horses, camels, elephants, and dogs (that is, animals that were historically armored). Horse armor statistics would probably work just fine for a mule. Once you get into animals that are larger/smaller but have the same basic body type, you'll want to use the guidelines from LTC3 to work out cost and weight. For animals that are within the same SM, I'd say just use the same statistics - a 5-foot-tall character's armor weighs and costs the same as a 6-foot-tall one, after all. That Horse/Mule discrepancy is probably due to the horse being a little too long to count as 2 hexes, and the mule being a little too short to count as 3 hexes, rather than the mule being 2/3 the length of the horse (which would be about -1 to SM).

09-27-2013, 08:01 PM	#4
Bruno Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Canada	Re: Mule Barding Humans of different sizes don't have modifiers for different armor unless they get points back for skinny, overweight, or fat. 4' 11" 90 lb ST 6 guy vs 6' 4" 280 lb ST 16 guy pay the same and carry the same weight. I would assume the same rule therefore applies to non humans. __________________ All about Size Modifier; Unified Hit Location Table A Wiki for my F2F Group A neglected GURPS blog

09-27-2013, 11:26 PM	#5
Pursuivant Join Date: Apr 2005	Re: Mule Barding For a mule, use the stats for barding for a riding horse. For a donkey or small donkey, you'd need to use the rules for Low Tech to scale the mass down. Maybe 2/3 mass. As others have said, historically barding wasn't made for mules or donkeys, although maybe the Sumerians rigged up something to protect the onagers (domesticated semi-wild donkeys) they used to pull chariots. So, any barding would need to be a custom job. Given the inherent orneriness of both forms of equids, Animal Handling skill rolls might also be needed to get the beast to happily wear the barding.