Fatigue from Travel

[Indur Dawndeath]

I searched for any rulings on this, but found none.
Is there or should there be a limit to the number of Travel Fatigue points any character can accumulate?

This problem arises because my group was hunting the White Stag in Northern Mirkwood for 1 month. Everybody accumulated a lot of Fatigue, especially the new guy.
Immediately after the hunt, they received disturbing news from home (Anduin Vales) that Viglundings were raiding and burning farms. So without rest they set off for the Anduin Vales.
The new guy's combined fatigue (Equipment and Travel) is already above Endurance and after the trip through Mirkwood and later tracking Viglunding slavers, I expect that "Fatigue from Travel" may get close to Total Endurance.

Should he drop unconscious if "Fatigue from Travel" reached total Endurance OR is there just no limit to how long a character can push himself??

Any comments. Thanks

[Rich H]

I seem to recall a previous discussion about this but no resolution; although I could be mistaken about the latter bit.

Personally, I'd cap Encumbrance from war gear plus travel Fatigue at not being allowed to surpass the maximum Endurance possible for a PC. I have no real reason for this decision apart from the aesthetic as it's never happened in my campaign so haven't thought about it deeply.

[zedturtle]

I was thinking about this earlier (I try as hard as possible to not drive and post at the same time), and it seems to me that, while there's no official limit, that I'd probably clip it at "You cannot have Travel Fatigue in excess of your maximum Endurance score."

That way players aren't penalised for variations in gear loadouts (since Fatigue from Encumbrance doesn't matter), heroes can still go 'over max/permanently Weary' when the situation calls for it, but are not Energizer bunnies.

In reality, I've never seen this happen. I tend to like breaks in my narratives, because I like the sense of time passing.

[Indur Dawndeath]

Rich. So, in your campaign, what would happen if it was surpassed?
Since Travel Fatigue can only be reduced after reaching a safe place, the consequence cannot be unconsciousness or some other radical effect. Or maybe it is fair that a character reaches a point where he just refuses to go any further...
The character in question is a Woodman with Endurance of 24, equipment of 18 and now 7 points of fatigue from travel.
Must he drop his war equipment to continue?? Seems strange that he can keep his backpack with all sorts of stuff, but not his weapons, shield and armor. Does he go directly from normal to unable to continue, if he is unharmed?

If there is no limit, then there would be no rule against him picking up a large shield, chain hauberk and helmet, when they reach Anduin Vales, and then hunt the slavers... He'd be Weary regardless of his equipment.

[Indur Dawndeath]

I was thinking about this earlier (I try as hard as possible to not drive and post at the same time), and it seems to me that, while there's no official limit, that I'd probably clip it at "You cannot have Travel Fatigue in excess of your maximum Endurance score."

That way players aren't penalised for variations in gear loadouts (since Fatigue from Encumbrance doesn't matter), heroes can still go 'over max/permanently Weary' when the situation calls for it, but are not Energizer bunnies.

In reality, I've never seen this happen. I tend to like breaks in my narratives, because I like the sense of time passing.

I think that is a fitting limit. But what happens if it is reached in your opinion?
EDIT* I also like breakes in the narrative, but I also like putting the players to the test, letting them decide what is most important, resting and feasting with Thranduil or getting home to save the Easterly Inn.

[zedturtle]

I think that is a fitting limit. But what happens if it is reached in your opinion?

I'd probably consider them Spent, and maybe provide some way (like fortifying a campsite) to maybe allow such a hero to recover one Fatigue, if they made a supreme effort to do so.

EDIT* I also like breakes in the narrative, but I also like putting the players to the test, letting them decide what is most important, resting and feasting with Thranduil or getting home to save the Easterly Inn.

Understood. Please don't take my earlier comment as any sort of criticism of you, it way just me notating one of my weaknesses/foibles.

[Rich H]

Rich. So, in your campaign, what would happen if it was surpassed?

It never has so I've not given it too much thought.

Since Travel Fatigue can only be reduced after reaching a safe place, the consequence cannot be unconsciousness or some other radical effect. Or maybe it is fair that a character reaches a point where he just refuses to go any further...

He could become unconscious but that would be severe and require a companion to aid him. I'd rather consider him exhausted in some way and, although conscious, he would be unable to continue unless he reduced his encumbrance or fatigue in some way.

The character in question is a Woodman with Endurance of 24, equipment of 18 and now 7 points of fatigue from travel. Must he drop his war equipment to continue?? Seems strange that he can keep his backpack with all sorts of stuff, but not his weapons, shield and armor.

I don't see why it's strange. The game is full of abstractions to fit/promote the style of play. Backpack/Travel Gear only adds to total encumbrance through failed travel rolls, which is 'strange' as well, just in a different way. See below for how I think it offers up an interesting choice for the player though...

Does he go directly from normal to unable to continue, if he is unharmed?

Yep; he's let his total encumbrance outstrip his vitality. This kind of thing wouldn't suddenly happen though, a character/player could see it developing so they can either (a) wait and have to discard war gear or (b) remove travel gear and avoid increases to fatigue, although the LM would adjudicate how this would cause complications in other ways - eg, keeping warm at night, etc. Creates an interesting set of choices for the character and his companions. Mind you, like I've stated, it's not happened in my game but that's the way I'd go if it did.

[Otaku-sempai]

This is why adventurers should be prepared to procure a pony or other beast of burden. One should not have to constantly wear heavy armor when not expecting to be in battle.

[Indur Dawndeath]

I think that I'll have to come up with a solution that is somewhere in the middle of Zed and Rich's answers.
I don't want a player who is loaded up with armor and weapons to be unable to travel after one or two failed tests, Weary is bad enough. But I like the idea that players need to get rid of carried treasure, armor and shield, if they get pushed to travel very far!

Perhaps a meaningful limit is...
You can go no further, when:
Encumbrance + Travel Fatigue = Maximum Endurance + Body
If you leave equipment behind, your Encumbrance will be reduced after a prolonged rest. So you will be able to continue after resting.
If on the other hand you leave your travel equipment behind, then I think the players should suffer even more. Endurance damage for every day without food, water or comfortable rest. Players should fast become miserable as well.

Other thoughts?

[Indur Dawndeath]

I think that is a fitting limit. But what happens if it is reached in your opinion?

I'd probably consider them Spent, and maybe provide some way (like fortifying a campsite) to maybe allow such a hero to recover one Fatigue, if they made a supreme effort to do so.

EDIT* I also like breakes in the narrative, but I also like putting the players to the test, letting them decide what is most important, resting and feasting with Thranduil or getting home to save the Easterly Inn.

Understood. Please don't take my earlier comment as any sort of criticism of you, it way just me notating one of my weaknesses/foibles.

"Spent" is also an interesting mechanic, if you mean the same as when a character is out of Hope:

Spent Heroes
If a character's Hope score is reduced to 0, the adventurer is spiritually drained. A spent hero cannot bear himself to continue a struggle of any sort, and will flee from any source of danger or stress at first opportunity, unless cornered and forced to fight.

It might be a fitting condition for a character who is completely exhausted. He refuses to go any further, but will run for a short while to escape serious harm / danger before collapsing again.