Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Apr 12, 2004 11:50:54	I wanted to get everybodies ideas on adobe as a building material. Adobe is a good material for deserts. What do you think the stats as a material would be? Uses as a stronghold building type. Or anything else you can think of. Thanks
#2 beyowulf Apr 12, 2004 12:03:07	Sounds good, but wouldn't you need to add water to it? With water in such short supply, I'd imagine it wouldn't get used often. Unless I am missing something...
#3 csk Apr 12, 2004 12:30:55	With water in short supply, there would be no such thing as "waste water", so I can imagine that when Athasians have to relieve themselves, mudpits would be a fine place to do it.
#4 dawnstealer Apr 12, 2004 12:48:04	"Oooo...Um, Garthak: you might not want to lean on that wall. It's, uh, made out of poop."
#5 zombiegleemax Apr 12, 2004 13:06:10	I'm an archaeology student at the U of Arizona. And while I don't know squat about adobe (compared to other students), people continue to use adobe to build houses. Sure we have significantly more water here then Athas. Dirty undrinkable water is the best, because it makes a better "glue", all the little bits of poo and dirt cement the dry dirt better. Also, IIRC, Guistenal has adobe walls, 40ft tall! Also rain is one of the biggest concerns for adobe walls, but there is little rain on Athas, so maintenance is kept to a minimum, it should last quite some time. There are some large structures in the SW that are 500+ years old. Chaco Canyon, ruins at Casa Grande, etc that are still standing without any maintenance. The stats should be fairly poor as it is easily smashable, and there should be some sort of water/melting factor. Any ideas?
#6 dawnstealer Apr 12, 2004 13:25:26	Another way of building with adobe is: You build a rock wall and then cover the outside with the "mud slurry." A bit more stable, but if you break that outer covering, it can be bad for the structure. Like you mentioned, rain does bad things to adobe, but it requires a LOT of rain - a light sprinkling wouldn't do it. Baked bricks are a far more likely building material (and, yes, they'd probably be made of poop, too).
#7 zombiegleemax Apr 12, 2004 15:33:32	There is also waddle and daub. Which is a wicker style of wall (reeds intertwined) that is covered in mud. (used in Mesoamerica, and parts of the mediterrainian, other places I'm sure) But I think for Athas it would most likely be bricks and an adobe plaster covering. The problem long term problem with rain is the cracking. When it rains (even a little) and the temp is hot, it causes cracks, over time these make the wall fall down. I was thinking of using Hardness and HP of a wooden wall, or maybe rammed earth, for a simple rule. (less thinking the better) Another note is that most adobe walls, for significant structures, are very thick. I saw wall at an archaeological site that formed a 10x10m square room and was 2m thick. I think that the Hardness and HP of wood for 2m should be representative of adobe brick. Just some thoughts I have always envisioned Athas as having adobe brick buildings for commoners. I wanted to get some thoughts about DC Hardness HP and all that good stuff, so that my group can build a city outside of their Stronghold.
#8 zombiegleemax Apr 13, 2004 8:53:52	As another archaeology student and DS fan, wattle and daub was used all over the place- even in pretty cold climates. Think a framework woven like a basket or a hurde, and then covered in mud and crap, with usually straw or something to act as a binder. Like adobe, you need a decent roof on it to keep the rain off- not that's a problem in the tablelands. Chaco Canyon rocks- well worth visiting for the atmosphere as well as the archaeology there.
#9 beyowulf Apr 13, 2004 9:12:10	[Homer Drool] Mmmm...Chocolate Canyon... [/Homer Drool] Have to revisit Arizona one of these days...
#10 zombiegleemax Apr 13, 2004 20:27:15	Hee hee Chocolate So any thoughts on Hardness, DC to break, etc ?