Dear @TheEdVerse, how much the boatmen of the Sword Coast and the North charge, on the average, for transportation of people, goods and animals on navigable rivers? How does one calculate their fee? Do they charge additional fees on dangerous waterways? Thanks in advance!
— Ricardo Williams (@rwgs76) June 19, 2020
1)
This isn’t something that a table to roll on or a blanket statement can cover, as the real answer is: it depends. Most navigable rivers are traversed by barges or skiffs, mainly crewed by brawny half-orcs, and the captains… 2)
…(almost always the owners of the vessels) tend to be human or dwarven women. (Ferries are an exception: they tend to be owned and crewed by surly or professionally-heartily-jovial men, though again this is a broad…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) June 19, 2020
3)
…generalization.)
For all of these “helms” (the term skipper is unknown in the Realms, but “helm” is used whenever we would say skipper) fees are derived like this: do I want any passengers on my boat? If no, VERY high. Do I… 4)
…want THESE passengers on my boat? (And all passengers are politely spoken of as “fares,” but in private are called “meat cargo.”) How much trouble are they going to be? How much cargo or cargo space, and therefore carriage…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) June 19, 2020
5)
…fees, will I lose? How long do I have to put up with them? Do I have to feed them? Will they need a sit-bucket (place to defecate)? Will they want to talk to me or otherwise distract me? Will they want to do REALLY stupid… 6)
…things, like light a fire on my raft to sit around and cook at? Will they want to bring mounts or beasts of burden (mules? OXEN?) aboard, which will have to be sedated, fed, hobbled, tied down, and cleaned up after? [This is…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) June 19, 2020
7)
…a big one; some helms charge three times the price of a person, per beast, as a base.] Are they wanting to go somewhere dangerous? (Either destination, or through rapids or shoals sensible helms would steer well away from. … 8)
…This is another big one.)
And last but not least: do I need their coin, just now?
Apply ALL of these “push the price up” factors to a base of: 2 sp/head for a short, simple trip (“take us over THERE, please) or 1 gp/head/day- …#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) June 19, 2020
9)
… -of-travel for longer voyages.
Many adventurers find it easier to buy the skiff or barge, at swordpoint, for a set “all-in” price, then give it back to the owner for free, when everyone has safely disembarked at the end of… 10)
…the trip. Oh, and happy voyaging! ;}#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) June 19, 2020