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Tinker Dragoon wrote:The various races with natural mining/tunneling abilities actually list a digging speed, typically equal to one-third or one-half their standard ground speed. The volume of material that can be displaced is not indicated, but one may infer that it is at least equal to the volume of the creature's body. So, for example, a Troglodyte can tunnel through up to 3D6 feet of earth/rock per second, clearing a volume of material equal to that of its own body in the process.

For surface-dwellers, I should think having the Mining skill would only get you to the minimum ability of subterranean races. That is to say, a human Miner should be able to attain a burrowing speed of no more than one-third normal ground speed; those without the Mining skill might be limited to only one-quarter speed or less.

Alternatively, see the rules for Mutant Animals with Digging, Tunneling, and Excavation abilities in ATB2 (p. 69) or HU2 (p. 169).

An Explanation of Digging Speed

Troglodytes have a truly phenomenal digging ability compared to other subterranean races. The average troglodyte has a digging speed of 12, which is three times the average digging speed of a dwarf. However, what does digging speed actually mean?

First of all, the listed digging speed assumes that the character has access to the proper tools. Proper tools for troglodytes are hands and claws. Their claws are are harder than steel (though not very sharp or long, making them useless for parrying). Proper tools for most other races include hammers, picks and shovels. Each point of digging speed refers to cubic feet per unit of time. For dirt (hard or soft; the difficulty of hard earth is offset by the lesser need to support it), it is cubic feet per minute. Soft stone (sandstone, etc.) is traversed in cubic feet per 5 minutes, and hard stone is at least cubic feet per 15 minutes. This can be continued for P.E./40 minutes at full speed (so a P.E. of 40 allows you to dig non-stop; a P.E. of 30 requires 10 minutes of rest every 40 minutes); P.E. Hours at ¼ speed.

Any tunnels built with this method are very fragile. Every ten minutes, or five individuals who pass through, there should be a test of the creators Underground Architecture Skill, with a -5% for every such check that has been made for that tunnel before, or that section of tunnel will collapse. Slowing down to half the normal speed, on top of any slow-down in order to work longer, and making a concentrated effort to reinforce the tunnel (using rock, wooden timbers, bones, or anything else to support the roof, and taking special care about where and how you dig), will make tunnels sturdier; with a successful Underground Architecture check, the tunnel can last more or less indefinitely.

Of course, multiple diggers can combine efforts, or a few faster diggers can create the tunnel, while others follow behind, reinforcing the tunnels they make. That is the way that most tunneling races will usually operate, with the fastest or steadiest diggers leading, while better architects will follow. With at least three workers on a single tunnel, the team can proceed at full speed, but still construct a solid tunnel.

Mark Hall wrote:Here's the rules I put for digging speeds in the Troglodytes article a few years back:

An Explanation of Digging Speed

Troglodytes have a truly phenomenal digging ability compared to other subterranean races. The average troglodyte has a digging speed of 12, which is three times the average digging speed of a dwarf. However, what does digging speed actually mean?

First of all, the listed digging speed assumes that the character has access to the proper tools. Proper tools for troglodytes are hands and claws. Their claws are are harder than steel (though not very sharp or long, making them useless for parrying). Proper tools for most other races include hammers, picks and shovels. Each point of digging speed refers to cubic feet per unit of time. For dirt (hard or soft; the difficulty of hard earth is offset by the lesser need to support it), it is cubic feet per minute. Soft stone (sandstone, etc.) is traversed in cubic feet per 5 minutes, and hard stone is at least cubic feet per 15 minutes. This can be continued for P.E./40 minutes at full speed (so a P.E. of 40 allows you to dig non-stop; a P.E. of 30 requires 10 minutes of rest every 40 minutes); P.E. Hours at ¼ speed.

Any tunnels built with this method are very fragile. Every ten minutes, or five individuals who pass through, there should be a test of the creators Underground Architecture Skill, with a -5% for every such check that has been made for that tunnel before, or that section of tunnel will collapse. Slowing down to half the normal speed, on top of any slow-down in order to work longer, and making a concentrated effort to reinforce the tunnel (using rock, wooden timbers, bones, or anything else to support the roof, and taking special care about where and how you dig), will make tunnels sturdier; with a successful Underground Architecture check, the tunnel can last more or less indefinitely.

Of course, multiple diggers can combine efforts, or a few faster diggers can create the tunnel, while others follow behind, reinforcing the tunnels they make. That is the way that most tunneling races will usually operate, with the fastest or steadiest diggers leading, while better architects will follow. With at least three workers on a single tunnel, the team can proceed at full speed, but still construct a solid tunnel.

Tor wrote:I have recently lamented the lack of plumber skills in other PB games and it occurs to me that even in medieval times you might need special skills to add to digging to know how to dig a proper cesspit or pit latrine.

Can we have a "gong farmer" skill?

Mark Hall wrote:Here's the rules I put for digging speeds in the Troglodytes article a few years back:

An Explanation of Digging Speed

Troglodytes have a truly phenomenal digging ability compared to other subterranean races. The average troglodyte has a digging speed of 12, which is three times the average digging speed of a dwarf. However, what does digging speed actually mean?

First of all, the listed digging speed assumes that the character has access to the proper tools. Proper tools for troglodytes are hands and claws. Their claws are are harder than steel (though not very sharp or long, making them useless for parrying). Proper tools for most other races include hammers, picks and shovels. Each point of digging speed refers to cubic feet per unit of time. For dirt (hard or soft; the difficulty of hard earth is offset by the lesser need to support it), it is cubic feet per minute. Soft stone (sandstone, etc.) is traversed in cubic feet per 5 minutes, and hard stone is at least cubic feet per 15 minutes. This can be continued for P.E./40 minutes at full speed (so a P.E. of 40 allows you to dig non-stop; a P.E. of 30 requires 10 minutes of rest every 40 minutes); P.E. Hours at ¼ speed.

Any tunnels built with this method are very fragile. Every ten minutes, or five individuals who pass through, there should be a test of the creators Underground Architecture Skill, with a -5% for every such check that has been made for that tunnel before, or that section of tunnel will collapse. Slowing down to half the normal speed, on top of any slow-down in order to work longer, and making a concentrated effort to reinforce the tunnel (using rock, wooden timbers, bones, or anything else to support the roof, and taking special care about where and how you dig), will make tunnels sturdier; with a successful Underground Architecture check, the tunnel can last more or less indefinitely.

Of course, multiple diggers can combine efforts, or a few faster diggers can create the tunnel, while others follow behind, reinforcing the tunnels they make. That is the way that most tunneling races will usually operate, with the fastest or steadiest diggers leading, while better architects will follow. With at least three workers on a single tunnel, the team can proceed at full speed, but still construct a solid tunnel.

Mark Hall wrote:Here's the rules I put for digging speeds in the Troglodytes article a few years back:

An Explanation of Digging Speed

Troglodytes have a truly phenomenal digging ability compared to other subterranean races. The average troglodyte has a digging speed of 12, which is three times the average digging speed of a dwarf. However, what does digging speed actually mean?

First of all, the listed digging speed assumes that the character has access to the proper tools. Proper tools for troglodytes are hands and claws. Their claws are are harder than steel (though not very sharp or long, making them useless for parrying). Proper tools for most other races include hammers, picks and shovels. Each point of digging speed refers to cubic feet per unit of time. For dirt (hard or soft; the difficulty of hard earth is offset by the lesser need to support it), it is cubic feet per minute. Soft stone (sandstone, etc.) is traversed in cubic feet per 5 minutes, and hard stone is at least cubic feet per 15 minutes. This can be continued for P.E./40 minutes at full speed (so a P.E. of 40 allows you to dig non-stop; a P.E. of 30 requires 10 minutes of rest every 40 minutes); P.E. Hours at ¼ speed.

Any tunnels built with this method are very fragile. Every ten minutes, or five individuals who pass through, there should be a test of the creators Underground Architecture Skill, with a -5% for every such check that has been made for that tunnel before, or that section of tunnel will collapse. Slowing down to half the normal speed, on top of any slow-down in order to work longer, and making a concentrated effort to reinforce the tunnel (using rock, wooden timbers, bones, or anything else to support the roof, and taking special care about where and how you dig), will make tunnels sturdier; with a successful Underground Architecture check, the tunnel can last more or less indefinitely.

Of course, multiple diggers can combine efforts, or a few faster diggers can create the tunnel, while others follow behind, reinforcing the tunnels they make. That is the way that most tunneling races will usually operate, with the fastest or steadiest diggers leading, while better architects will follow. With at least three workers on a single tunnel, the team can proceed at full speed, but still construct a solid tunnel.