Skiing (sage ability)

Skiing is an amateur-status sage ability in the study of Mountaineer enabling the character to fashion, maintain and employ wooden skis, as a means of travel and transport. The skill provides some ability to shush down hills, but it must be noted that the nature of skis that could be constructed in the 17th century are not capable of enabling "alpine skiing." The type of skiing permitted with this ability is "Nordic skiing," or cross-country skiing.

To a lesser degree, a common skier is distinct from the amateur skier (those possessing the full ability) in three regards: the common skier cannot fashion or properly maintain skis; cannot ski as quickly; and cannot maintain a skiing pace as consistently and for as long as an amateur. Obviously, no travel is possible unless the ground is sufficiently snow covered.

Common Skiers

These can maintain a speed of about 3 miles per hour. In combat terms, this translates to a cost of ½ an action point (AP) per combat hex.

They are able to maintain this pace for a 3-hour period before needing an hour's rest, then another 3-hour period before being done for the day, a total of 6 hours and 18 miles. This distance assumes the difference in elevation along the route is no more or less than 400 feet. If the overall elevation change is a climb of more than 400 feet, distance should be reduced by 3 miles per 80 feet or part thereof, above the 400 foot elevation change (to a minimum of 3 miles).

Thus, if a common skier is climbing a total of 540 feet from the start of the journey, the skier would travel a total of 12 miles, including a penalty of 6 miles due to climbing 140 feet (2 parts of 80 feet) above what is considered "flat terrain," or less than a 400 foot change.

Contrariwise, travel can be increased by 3 miles for any drop in elevation over 400 feet, per 200 feet or part thereof, up to a maximum of 12 additional miles. Any elevation change above that will be onerous enough for the common skier that it counteracts the gain in moving downhill.

Thus, if a common skier were skiing down from a height of 540 feet to sea level, the skier would travel a total of 21 miles, including a bonus of 3 miles due to dropping an additional 140 feet (1 part of 200 feet).

Amateur Skiers

These can maintain a speed of almost 4 miles per hour. In combat terms, this translates to a cost of ½ AP per combat hex, +2 extra hexes whenever the character's full movement that round has been applied to skiing.

Amateurs are able to maintain this pace for an 8-hour period before needing an hour's rest, then another 3-hour period before being done for the day, a total of 11 hours and 44 miles. This distance assumes the difference in elevation along the route is no more or less than 400 feet. If the overall elevation change is a climb of more than 400 feet, distance should be reduced by 2 miles per 80 feet or part thereof, above the 400 foot elevation change (to a minimum of 3 miles).

In the example above, the amateur would lose only 4 miles.

Contrariwise, travel can be increased by 3 miles for any drop in elevation over 400 feet, per 100 feet or part thereof, up to a maximum of 24 additional miles. Any elevation change above that will be onerous enough for the amateur skier that it counteracts the gain in moving downhill.

In the example above, the amateur would gain 6 miles.