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UPDATED! Cargo-Wagon Design (V2.0) (Patreon)

Published:
2022-03-04 13:01:05
Edited:
2022-03-09 12:59:27
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

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Content

UPDATE:Version 2 uploaded! I think this is a much better version, though I haven't touched the wheels at all.

As always, feedback is appreciated!

Regards,

J.L.Mullins

ORIGINAL:Hello,

I'm not a digital designer, but I put a bit of time into getting my thoughts on the what this trip's cargo-wagon looks like out there, to help clear up confusion.

If any of you all have some skill in concept art, etc. I'd love to talk!

Regards,J.L.MullinsPDF - Several differing viewsSKP - Sketch-up file with the rough 3D model

Comments

Matt DiMeo

I’ve not been able to find any pictures of animal-drawn freight wagons that had the wheels entirely under the body of the wagon. Even modern trailers mostly have the bed riding below the top of the wheels. Basically, the wheels are too small for rough terrain. Google image search for heavy cargo wagon, or freight wagon for ideas. Maybe the side doors on Tala’s wagon need to be off center to clear the wheels?

J.L.Mullins

That's very fair. I was mainly going for how the cargo-slots fit and opened, but you are quite correct, the wheels really shouldn't be fully under. 😁 😉 Thank you for the feedback! Might have time/ability to do a version 2.0 at some point.

Matt DiMeo

Oh, you could have the outer slots on the outside of the wheels, covering the tops of the wheels, since we get to ignore euclid. So tala’s wagon would be a bit wider than normal.

J.L.Mullins

Oh! I really like that! I didn't consider that as an option at all. 🤔 You, are genius! 😁 I'm definitely incorperating that into v. 2.0

Aclys

my main issue with the design is, basically, where's the cover? the driver is completely exposed, I see little reason why they should not have some enclosure they can rely on for some concealment and protection from arrows and errant spells should they be attacked by creatures that employ those. I recall Tala had a little turret with a shield-mount on the first caravan, something like that and/or some cover-providing fencing around the rim up top should also be desirable for defenders, like the mages, who like to ride the wagon from up there. Finally, some kind of small platforms or rims directly under the side-doors, this would help people get from the rear doors to the ladders without falling off or, with the current box, basically needing to fly to get in or out. Actually, what if the doors themselves opened by swinging Down, like boarding planks? That way they A: solve the prior problem by providing platforms when they are open and denying hostiles the use of the same when they are closed and B: It helps ensure that anyone going in or out wont risk falling down onto/between the wheels while the wagon is in motion. The handles for the doors should probably be up high so they can be accessed from people riding up top, pull out, then push the door open by stepping on it so you can run inside for emergency sheltering. (should probably still have a narrow ledge underneath/between the doors to give people going from the doors to the ladder someplace to put their feet and/or for use when the doors are closed. But yah, TLDR: neat design, needs some safety and protection features to keep the driver and people riding on top from being easily knocked off or sniped (or snatched by birds). And some safety features for people trying to use the doors from inside or outside, but other than that it looks good.

Melting Sky

The biggest problem I would see with building a cabin for the driver is that there are threats that attack from the sky and blinding yourself to those dangers by obscuring most of your field of view is a bad idea. Most of the creatures are at least somewhat intelligent and can sense mana so the concealment offered by a roof isn't going to actually do much to hide a person. As for protecting them, that's more of a mixed bag. Building a small cabin would do little to keep powerful threats like those giant crows or incoming spells off of you and it would greatly limit your ability to anticipate and get out of the way of incoming threats. A cabin would however help with small and physically weak attackers like the crystal birds. Actually, now that I think about it, maybe those birds aren't a great example since they could punch through armor and it would be dangerous to lose line of sight on them. Still, I'm sure there are many instances when having the cabin would be a good thing, but I think there are likely at least as many cases where it would be a bad idea. The best compromise would probably be something akin to a shark cage which you could see through although that wouldn't solve the issue with it locking you in one spot unable to dodge or use or use melee weapons like swords properly. I think ultimately it would come down to a matter of cost. Sure they could probably build a very expensive magical forcefield over the driver's seat but then you need to employ another mage to keep it charged. It's just cheaper and easier to leave it open and have the driver duck inside when they spot something that would be a threat to them remaining outside.

Aclys

There's a few ways around the visibility issue, one would be to turn the inside of the cover-providing parts transparent so you can see out but not in, another would be to make them like a cage, so more a metal grill with holes for seeing out, but makes it harder for enemies to just divebomb and snatch someone off of the roof or the driver seat. as for arrows? Guess the driver will just have to have enough cover to cover the vitals, wear a helmet and hope for the best? Its not like the driver is the main look-out after all so he doesnt need quite as much freedom of view as long as he can see where he's going and such. The sharkcage sounds good, seems we are on the same page after all :) a possible solution is a cage for the roof and upper half, with the lower half solid wall so the people ontop of the cart can drop flat on the roof to be in full cover for anything that's not above them. Maybe have some openings in the sides and/or front for easily diving in and out of the cage... The point of it is after all not to restrict the riders or provide them 100% protection, just make it harder for easy snatch and run attacks, which will discourage some predators from even trying. no need for it to be too expensive, again Tala had a simple shield-mount ontop of her first wagon that she could sleep under/near to keep birds away, no reason a similar solution cant be used here.

Matt DiMeo

I tweaked your design a bit; there’s a pic in the all-patrons-chat on discord.

Aclys

Nice new design, I still think you'd want to have the doors swing down like drawbridges... that way you can proceed to look freely to the left and right without the door being in the way, the door itself serves as a larger platform... Plus you could then store the little plank-ladder thing you currently have hanging down under all the time inside the door, to be flipped over and down when the door is opened and people are ready to disembark, plus this way those flip-out planks could potentially form a ramp so people can roll carts up and down for loading and unloading cargo? Roof still seems like it could use something... maybe a wagon-length handlebar going up along the sides? That way the people up top can have something easy to grab onto in case the wagon is getting unsteady or they just need something to hang onto lest they risk getting sweeped off of the roof? They could optionally also tie ropes to said bar and to their waists to let them be secure yet free to move up top. The second advantage with those is it lets people grab the bar and hoist themselves up easier from down under, such as directly from the doors, if they are physically fit as most guards and mages would be. Other than that, the design looks pretty good as is, nice work :)

J.L.Mullins

I like the idea of the bars affixed to the sides of the roof-top. As to the "drawbridge" like doors: That wouldn't work for a few reasons. First, I would have to change a LOT of prose. 😉 Second, these are meant to be accessable even while the wagons were moving, so they can't change the "foot-print" of the wagon, or they might get sheared off, if the driver is moving by a close obsticale. As to the loading/unloading, the cargo-slots are lifted free and set on the ground for those proceedures, so it isn't a factor. Great thinking and ideas! I love feedback. Thank you. 😁

Doomerjunky

I don't think he was saying that the driver needs a fully enclosed cabin (he actually gave Tala's movable shield as an example) he was saying the driver needs something to duck behind quickly in case an attack comes to quickly for the driver to get to a safe place or if ranged attackers ambush. The driver is almost as important as tala for the caravan and not only is he not a mage, but he's not trained like guards so he's essentially a very important sitting duck

Aclys

Ah that makes sense, silly to ret-con just to tweak the doors then and regular ones would be more intuitive for people to use in a crisis. All good and you are welcome, thanks for writing such a fun story! :)

Aclys

This, yes. it doesnt have to be a bunker-style enclosure, but surely there should be Something to help keep the driver from getting picked off by the most basic threats plus it makes having him stay driving to keep the wagon moving during a crisis a little less of a desperation move should it come to that.