Measurements

Measurements are an essential aspect of representing a fully imagined game world. The units used in Alexis' World are defined and compared below to assist players in understanding the system, as it incorporates many archaic and unfamiliar measurements. These correspond to those commonly used in the 17th century, the approximate historical period reflected in the campaign. As a result, the measurements are imperial rather than metric.

Metric equivalents are not provided, as they would not exist in the minds of characters from that time. Additionally, players are encouraged to think in terms of historical measurement systems, reinforcing immersion by engaging with the world as people once did. Units are categorised according to what they measure.

The vast scale of the world is mapped using 20-mile hexes, a convenient unit for measuring steady travel by land or sea, as well as transport distances and population density. The hexagonal structure allows for efficient subdivision, with each hexagon naturally breaking into groups of seven — one central hex surrounded by six smaller one-third hexes. This system enables a structured approach to map expansion, allowing the game world to grow progressively and logically, as demonstrated in the accompanying diagram.

Mapmaking & Distances

Since each hex is subdivided into three smaller hexes in diameter and nine smaller hexes by area, the chart on the left presents a structured set of map sizes that allow for seamless scaling between different levels of detail. The listed hex dimensions serve as a shorthand for describing each map size. While a "6-mile hex map" technically consists of hexes that are 6.667 miles across, the simplified term is easier to use and more practical for gameplay than a strictly accurate measurement.

Type	Diameter			Area				Population if density is 60 persons per acre
	miles	yards	feet	sq.miles	blocks	acres	sq.ft
20-mile hex	20	35,200	105,600	346.41	58,963	221,702	9,657,361,047	13,302,144
6-mile hex	6.667	11,733	35,200	38.494	6,552	24,636	1,073,040,116	1,478,170
2-mile hex	2.222	3,911	11,733	4.276	728	2,737	119,219,905	164,198
land hex	0.741	1,304	3,911	0.476	81	305	13,246,656	18,278
hex	0.247	435	1,304	0.0528	9	33.8	1,472,603	2,028
block	0.0823	145	435	0.00587	1	3.76	163,874	225
sub-block	0.0274	48.3	145	0.00065	0.11	0.416	18,208	25
lot	0.00914	16.1	48	0.0000723	0.0123	0.0463	1,995	2.8
plot	0.00305	5.4	16	0.00000806	0.0014	0.0052	222	0.31
combat hex	0.00102	1.8	5	9.01E-07	0.0002	0.0006	21.7	0.03

Six-mile hex maps are used for regional mapping, depicting provinces within a large country or representing an entire country when its total area is relatively small (less than 4,000 square miles). They serve as an effective middle scale, offering enough detail for tracking major roads, rivers, settlements and trade routes without overwhelming the map with unnecessary minutiae. This scale is ideal for kingdom management, military movements and regional governance, allowing rulers to oversee taxation, infrastructure and the distribution of resources across provinces.

Two-mile hex maps provide a more detailed view of the local environment surrounding player lands and adventure sites. Each 2-mile hex contains approximately 30 hides, allowing for a finer representation of terrain features like forests, hills and farmland, and give players an understanding of the proximity of settlements, roads and hazards. The inclusion of hides within each hex reinforces the relationship between land ownership, population density and agricultural capacity, offering a tangible connection between in-game economics and geography.

Additionally, the scaling between hex sizes ensures a seamless transition between macro-level worldbuilding and micro-level adventure planning, giving players and game masters a structured way to navigate between broad political strategy and localised adventuring.

Land

This plan of a manor follows a conventional layout, designed to illustrate two key aspects: (1) the various structural and agricultural features typically found in medieval English manors (or "vills"), and (2) the significant changes in the agricultural system that took place in England from the fourteenth century onward. While the specific arrangement of buildings and land use may vary, many of these features were common across European manorial estates, with similar layouts and functions appearing on the continent

Acre: refers to a plot of land measuring one chain in width and one furlong in length. This specific measurement is based on practical agricultural considerations. The width of an acre corresponds to the space needed for eight furrows, while the length is determined by the distance a team of oxen can be driven before needing rest. This system maximised efficiency — oxen could be worked in a straight line for a furlong, then turned at the furthest possible point, which, while a difficult maneuver, allowed them to realign for the next furrow while simultaneously recovering strength. As a result, medieval plowed fields were laid out in long, narrow strips, avoiding excessive turns that would have exhausted the oxen and slowed the plowing process. The acre represents the amount of land that a single team of two oxen could plow in a single day, further reinforcing its role as a fundamental unit of medieval land measurement and agricultural planning.

Bovate: also called an oxgang or oxgait, an area of 15 acres, the practical amount of land that a single ox can plough in one season, in time to plant crops. Cotters and poor villeins will have one bovate to work on, which typically they don't own and cannot dispose of freely. This unit of measurement reflects the work capacity of an ox, rather than arbitrary land division, making it a functional measure in medieval agricultural economies.

Carucate: also called a ploughgate, an area of 120 acres, or four virgates. The carucate's acreage describes the fertile land comprised by the allotment; an actual carucate may consist of many more acres (the number varies depending on the region) of land that is impractical to plough. This allotment can be usefully equated to certain definitions of a hide. A carucate represents the amount of land that a full plough team of eight oxen could till in a single annual agricultural cycle. Its size varied based on soil quality, terrain and local customs, and it was often used as a measure for taxation in medieval England and parts of Northern Europe.

Hide: a measure of value and tax assessment for freeholders who own land. Formerly, this tax included rendering food as tribute to members of nobility, but in the 17th century tax is usually paid in coin. In times of need, a hide may yet be required to supply a combatant to the nation's fyrd, or manpower for the army. Land taxes are typically 10-15% of the value of the land to be paid per year. A hide will consist of between 60 and 120 acres (two to four virgates), depending on the fertility of the soil, as the true measure is the production of approximately 1,620 bushels of grain yearly. The hide was historically used as the basis for assessing military and financial obligations, reflecting the amount of land sufficient to support a household and its dependents. The exact acreage assigned to a hide varied by region, with more fertile areas requiring less land to meet the expected yield.

Virgate: also a yardland or yard of land, an area of 30 acres, or 2 bovates. This is the practical amount of land that a pair of oxen can plough in one season, in time to plant crops. The term "yardland" is etymologically unrelated to the yard of land around a dwelling. Villeins keep tilled land equal to a virgate, which they don't own and of which they cannot freely dispose. The virgate served as a standard measure of landholding for tenant farmers in medieval England, often forming the basis of obligations in labor or rent to a manor. It was large enough to sustain a peasant household, providing enough arable land for subsistence farming while still requiring communal cooperation for ploughing and harvest.

Hundred

The Hundred is an association of 80 to 100 hides, typically forming a loose geographical grouping covering between 40 and 100 square miles (including untilled land). It is theoretically capable of supplying or supporting 100 men under arms, forming a "company." Multiple companies are organized into larger political divisions called "lathes," which in turn serve as subdivisions of "counties," each of unfixed size depending on historical land distribution. A full-sized manor estate consists of land equal to a hundred, though many older manors have been reduced in size over time due to the sale of land to cover rents or debts. The hundred historically functioned as an administrative and judicial unit, facilitating local governance, tax collection and military recruitment.

Knight's Fee

The knight's fee is an area of land consisting of 5 hides, typically made up of marginal ploughland with minimal waste, covering 600 to 640 acres, or roughly one square mile. While the landholding is contiguous, its shape is often irregular, following the contours of a strategic valley or stretching along one side of a river, particularly when positioned on the border of a county or kingdom. The knight who holds the fee is expected to reside upon the land, maintaining both his household and a military presence. In theory, a knight's fee also supports a retinue of 25 equipped soldiers, who are expected to live on the land and be available for military service when called upon.

Area & Length

Chain: a distance of 4 rods, 22 yards or 66 feet. A chain represents the width of eight ploughed furrows, making it a fundamental unit in agricultural measurement. An acre for farming is ideally measured as 76 furrows side-by-side, with each furrow extending one furlong in length (10 chains). The name derives from the metal measuring chains, each 66 feet long, used by surveyors in their work. These chains are attached to a three-foot metal spike, which is driven into the ground, allowing the chain to be pulled taut for precise measurement.

Combat hex: a map hex used on a battlemap, 5 feet in diameter (21.7 square feet). It represents the space occupied by a single combatant, allowing for precise positioning and movement in tactical encounters.

Foot (ft.): a distance of 12 inches, based on the averaged foot length of 16 random adult males, as described by Jacob Köbel in the 16th century in his book, Geometrei. This standardization helped unify measurements across different regions, providing consistency in trade, construction and land surveying.

Furlong: a distance of 10 chains, 40 rods, 220 yards or 880 feet. Traditionally, this was considered the maximum distance a team of oxen could plough in a straight line before needing rest, at which point they would be turned — a difficult and labor-intensive process for the farmer. As a result, the furlong became the standard length of an acre, while the chain defined its width (one furlong by one chain equals one acre). Beyond agriculture, the furlong remains a popular unit of measurement in horse and foot racing, maintaining its legacy in sporting and land-based distance measurement.

Hand: the width of a human hand, typically 4 inches. This unit of measurement is most commonly used to denote the height of horses, as well as low walls and common agricultural structures. The measurement is taken from the base of the palm to the tip of the fingers when held flat, making it a simple and practical unit for informal measurements in everyday use.

Inch (in.): the length of three barleycorns placed end-to-end; also approximately the average width of a laborer's thumb. This unit serves as the basic subdivision of the foot, with 12 inches equaling 1 foot. Historically, the inch provided a practical measure for small-scale crafting, construction and trade, offering a standardised yet easily relatable unit for common use.

League: a distance of three nautical miles, though sometimes used to describe three miles on land. At sea, a league measures 3.452 miles, reflecting the curvature of the Earth in navigation. The nautical league is commonly considered the comfortable distance an average person can walk in an hour, making it a practical unit for estimating travel time both on land and at sea. Historically, leagues were often used in maritime navigation, land surveying and military planning, providing a broad but functional measure of distance.

Mile: a distance of 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet. In terms of area, a square mile equals 640 acres, roughly equivalent to seven hides. While land is not officially measured in miles within the game world, miles are always used to express road distances, making them the standard for travel and navigation. A mile is also composed of 8 furlongs or 80 chains, further reinforcing its use as a practical long-distance measurement.

Nautical mile: a distance used exclusively for maritime navigation and never on land. A nautical mile equals 6,076 feet. The measurement is based on one minute of latitude, making it a practical unit for seafaring and navigation. A Knot measures a speed of 1 nautical mile per hour. This unit originates from an old method of calculating a ship's speed using a knotted rope with knots spaced 47 feet, 3 inches apart and a 30-second sandglass. As the rope was let out overboard, the number of knots that passed through the sailor's hands in half a minute determined the vessel’s speed in nautical miles per hour. Knots are also used to calculate wind speed at sea, providing a standardized way to measure maritime movement and weather conditions.

Rod: a distance of 5½ yards or 16½ feet. Primarily used as a farming measurement, a rod plays a crucial role in land division and plowing efficiency. One acre is defined as 4 by 40 rods (one chain by one furlong), ensuring minimal turns for a team of oxen. Since turning oxen was labor-intensive, long furrows were preferred, with turns made only when the animals needed rest. Typically, a rod equals the width of 19 furrows, making it a practical unit for structuring plowed fields and organizing land for efficient agricultural use.

Square foot: a small area measuring 1 foot by 1 foot (144 square inches). This unit is commonly used for measuring floor space, small enclosures and surface areas in construction, crafting and everyday calculations.

Square yard: an area measuring 1 yard by 1 yard (9 square feet). This unit is standard for measuring cloth, as well as flooring, land and other medium-sized surface areas in construction and trade.

Yard: a distance of 3 feet or 36 inches. While a formal unit of measurement, it is rarely used in common practice, except in specific trades such as cloth measurement, construction and land surveying.

Mass & Weight

Carat: a measure equal to 4 grains. It is the standard unit for measuring pearls and precious stones and should not be confused with "karat," which refers to the purity of gold alloys. A gemstone of exceptional quality and at least 100 carats is known as a "paragon."

Grain: a measure based on the weight of a single barleycorn, equivalent to 1⅓ grains of wheat. It is commonly used for medicinal measurements and, in some cases, by jewelers to weigh pearls, diamonds and other precious stones.

Dose: a measurement used for poisons, gripcolle, Epsom salts and other medicinal or specialized substances. The quantity of a dose varies, typically ranging from 1 to 4 drams, depending on the specific substance and its intended effect.

Dram: a measure equal to approximately 27⅓ grains, used for measuring coins and exacting metalwork in fields such as clockmaking, precision tool crafting and detailed work like etching. A gold coin typically weighs 1.836 drams.

Ounce (oz.): a measure equal to 16 drams or 437½ grains. It is a widely used unit for measuring hundreds of different materials and foodstuffs, including spices, metals, medicines and textiles.

Pennyweight: a measure equal to 24 grains or 6 carats, making it slightly lighter than a dram. It is used exclusively for measuring precious metals, favored by jewelers, lapidaries and engravers over the dram due to its precision in weighing gold, silver and other valuable materials. A gold coin typically weighs 2.091 pennyweight.

Pound (lb.): a measure equal to 16 ounces, 64 drams or 7,000 grains. It is the standard unit of weight for most heavy objects and is commonly used for calculating encumbrance in gameplay.

Stone: a measure equal to 14 lbs. Typically used in merchant trading for measuring large quantities of raw materials such as wool, fibers, mineral ores and other cart and wagon loads. Live animals are commonly weighed in stone, and in some regions, people use the unit to describe their own weight, usually rounded to the nearest half-stone. The unit depicted in the image shows a weight of 8 stone and 112 lbs.

Ton: a measure equal to 2,000 lbs. Used for measuring large capacities, heavy loads and the displacement of seagoing vessels. Not to be confused with "tun," which is a measurement of volume rather than weight.

Volume & Containers

Apothecary's pot: a small earthenware container with a 3 fl.oz. capacity, used for storing pastes and poisons. It is designed with tiny feet for stability and features a clay lid, which is either tied in place with string or sealed with wax to preserve its contents.

Barrel: also called a hogshead, a container made of oak or comparable material, with a 63-gallon capacity. It includes a bung and is reinforced with six iron hoops for strength. Used primarily for brewing and transporting water.

Basin: a container commonly used as a religious font, with a capacity of 32 fl.oz. Typically crafted from glass, stone or pottery.

Bottle: a variously sized glass container, but when used to store beer and other liquids, it has a capacity of 12.7 fl.oz.

Bottle, wine: a strengthened glass bottle used exclusively for storing wine, with a capacity of 25.36 fl.oz.

Bushel: a measure of dry volume equal to 4 pecks or 0.822 cubic feet. A bushel measures volume rather than weight, meaning the actual weight varies depending on the material. For example, a bushel of coal weighs significantly more than a bushel of wheat kernels.

Cord: a measure of dry volume equal to 128 cubic feet, most commonly used for measuring firewood. The standard stacking method requires the logs to be "racked and well-stowed," meaning they are stacked compactly without excessive gaps. In physical space, a full cord typically forms a woodpile 4 feet high, 8 feet long and 4 feet deep.

Cup: a measure used for cooking, equal to 8 fluid ounces or 64 fluid drams.

Dry Gallon: a dry measure equal to approximately 8 pounds of wheat grain or ⅛ of a bushel in volume.

Fluid Dram: distinct from a dry dram, a measure used to define the volume of medicines and powders, specifically by apothecaries. One dram equals a teaspoon or ⅛ of a fluid ounce.

Fluid Ounce (fl.oz.): distinct from a dry ounce, equal to 1 ounce by weight of water or 8 fluid drams. Customarily used for measuring liquids.

Fishpot: a ceramic container, 2½ inches tall with a 3-inch diameter, holding 4 fluid ounces. It is sold with a softwood lid, designed to be sealed with pitch or wax. Primarily used for storing fish and other pungent substances.

Flask: a narrow-necked ceramic container, 6 inches tall with a 2½-inch diameter, with an 8 fluid ounce capacity. Used for lamp oil, magical potions and other liquids.

Gallon: a measure equal to 2 pottles, 4 quarts, 8 pints or 160 fluid ounces, used for measuring large amounts of liquid. 63 gallons make up a barrel.

Dry Gallon: a dry measure equal to about 8 pounds of wheat grain; as a measure of volume, it is ⅛ of a bushel.

Gill: a container equal to 5 fluid ounces or 40 drams, commonly used as a standard measure for small amounts of distilled spirits. A "nip" of spirits is ¼ of a gill, or 1¼ fluid ounces.

Gluepot: a container for soft pastes and resin, typically made of earthenware pottery, 3 inches tall with a 4-inch diameter, holding 8 fluid ounces. Sold with a softwood lid, designed to be sealed with pitch or wax.

Hogshead: see barrel.

Inkwell: a container for ordinary or magical ink, a glass bottle 1 inch tall with a 2-inch diameter, holding 2 fluid ounces. Sold with a cork plug.

Jack: a container equal to ½ gill or 2½ fluid ounces. Used to measure tiny bottles of medicine or spirits.

Jar: a variously sized glass container, though an apothecary's jar is typically 3 inches tall with a 3-inch diameter, holding 8 fluid ounces. Includes a cork lid, though a piece of cloth and tie string are often used instead.

Jigger: a tavern-keeper's container, usually a wooden or metal cup, used to measure 1½ fluid ounces.

Jug: a variously sized ceramic container, though most commonly with a 16 fluid ounce capacity when provided by a tavern for serving additional liquids.

Keg: a wooden container with a 21-quart capacity (or 5 gallons plus one quart), reinforced with six narrow iron bands for strength. Kegs are used for transporting water and beverages, often carried on the backs of animals.

Peck: a dry measure equal to 2 dry gallons or ¼ of a bushel.

Phial: a glass container with a 1 fluid ounce capacity, used for essential oils, acids, apothecary ingredients, and other precious contents.

Pint: a measure equal to 4 gills or 20 fluid ounces. Two pints make a quart. A popular measure for full steins of tavern beer.

Pottle: a measure equal to 2 quarts, 4 pints or 80 fluid ounces. Two pottles make a gallon. Tall containers called "pottle-jugs", made of earthenware or ceramic, are used to transport milk and sometimes wine.

Quart: a measure equal to 2 pints or 40 fluid ounces. Four quarts make a gallon. Used to measure the capacity of cooking pots. Quart jugs, typically made of earthenware pottery, are commonly used to store milk or cream in homes.

Tun: a large container used to brew or store enormous quantities of liquid, such as beer, wine, oil or honey, with a capacity of 4 barrels or 252 gallons. In some regions, three puncheons equal a tun.

Vial: a glass container with a 4 fluid ounce capacity, used for various apothecary ingredients and often for holy water.

See also,
Communal Holding
The Adventure