Swimming Speed

[1d8+DB]

Would a movement rate of 4 yards/Melee Round be reasonable, considering a unwounded/unfatigued swimmer with a reasonable Swim skill (between 20% and 60%)?

I'm writing a scenario where some "cave diving" will be necessary.

Edited November 12, 2013 by 1d8+DB

[nclarke]

Do you really need an exact speed or should narrative speed work just as well? Wouldn't 'it takes you three rounds to swim that far or four/five if you fail your swim check' work just as well?

[1d8+DB]

The thing is, the tunnel mouth only opens for 88 seconds at a time ( a totally arbitrary period as it is based on alien technology). I've pretty much decided that there'll no be way for them to swim the length of the tunnel, and then swim back out, in the interval that the tunnel is open.

But knowing those crazy investigators, they're sure to try.

[nclarke]

Have it as part of the explanation - "the tunnel mouth only opens for short time, like something breathing" should creep them out. If they try swimming do a count down - "you swim forward for 30 seconds and see no sign of the end, you start to feel like you need to breathe. There's barely enough time to get back to the entrance before it closes again. You could tug on the rope to get your companions to pull you back and you should make it through the entrance before it shuts again. If you continue you know that you have to find air before the entrance closes on the rope and traps you." Have a timer as a prop and the buzz/ring should startle someone when it goes off as the door closes.