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Author Topic: How big are mountains?  (Read 1756 times)

shadow_archmagi

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How big are mountains?
« on: February 08, 2016, 03:00:01 pm »

I'm working on a map for my D&D game and I just realized I have no idea of the scale of mountain widths. One mile across? Six? Fifty? I assume there's considerable variance, but I don't know the upper, lower, or average levels. That makes it really hard to scale the map.
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i2amroy

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Re: How big are mountains?
« Reply #1 on: February 08, 2016, 03:09:02 pm »

It honestly depends a lot on the type of mountain you are talking about, as in general taller mountains tend to not have the largest base areas. I can't really give you averages or lower ends since both are extremely subjective on the hill/mountain boundary, but here's the current upper limits on base area:
Shield volcano mountain - Mauna Loa, 2000 sq. miles
Non-shield volcano mountain - Mount Kilimanjaro, 245 sq. miles
Non-volcanic mountain - Mount Logan, 120 sq. miles

My honest suggestion is to take a look at some topographic maps of areas that you'd like to create terrain similar to, and take a look at what size mountains they have in that area. That will most likely get you data that is going to work the best for your particular usage case.
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ChairmanPoo

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Re: How big are mountains?
« Reply #2 on: February 08, 2016, 03:32:03 pm »

There ain't no mountain high enough.
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Pancakes

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Re: How big are mountains?
« Reply #3 on: February 08, 2016, 05:36:41 pm »

Any mountain that doesn't reach into space is a mountain that has failed.
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Yoink

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Re: How big are mountains?
« Reply #4 on: February 08, 2016, 05:56:00 pm »

Any mountain that doesn't reach into space is a mountain that has failed.
See, this kind of thing is the reason so many young mountains have self esteem issues.
No more body-shaming mountains! They're all beautiful no matter their size.   
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Pancakes

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Re: How big are mountains?
« Reply #5 on: February 08, 2016, 06:12:23 pm »

Any mountain that doesn't reach into space is a mountain that has failed.
See, this kind of thing is the reason so many young mountains have self esteem issues.
No more body-shaming mountains! They're all beautiful no matter their size.   

End the impossible mountain standards set by dwarves!
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Flying Dice

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Re: How big are mountains?
« Reply #6 on: February 08, 2016, 07:05:03 pm »

About as wide as one mole of molehills laid edge to edge, I'd guesstimate.

Take that with a truckload of salt. If we assume the average molehill to be approximately 10cm in diameter, one mole of molehills in a row would stretch for 6.02252E20 kilometers, or about 4.025749E12 astronomical units. :^)
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Loud Whispers

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Re: How big are mountains?
« Reply #7 on: February 08, 2016, 07:19:36 pm »

Mountains are this big

I'm holding my hands really far apart but you might not be able to see

Yoink

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Re: How big are mountains?
« Reply #8 on: February 08, 2016, 07:21:03 pm »

But how are you typing, then?
Are you lying to us, LW?
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Flying Dice

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Re: How big are mountains?
« Reply #9 on: February 08, 2016, 07:37:18 pm »

Don't ask, just hope it's his feet.
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Re: How big are mountains?
« Reply #10 on: February 08, 2016, 07:41:21 pm »

Any mountain that doesn't reach into space is a mountain that has failed.
See, this kind of thing is the reason so many young mountains have self esteem issues.
No more body-shaming mountains! They're all beautiful no matter their size.   

End the impossible mountain standards set by dwarves!
The standards aren't impossible! There's a mountain on Titan that breaches the atmosphere!
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shadow_archmagi

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Re: How big are mountains?
« Reply #11 on: February 16, 2016, 02:33:26 pm »

It honestly depends a lot on the type of mountain you are talking about, as in general taller mountains tend to not have the largest base areas. I can't really give you averages or lower ends since both are extremely subjective on the hill/mountain boundary, but here's the current upper limits on base area:
Shield volcano mountain - Mauna Loa, 2000 sq. miles
Non-shield volcano mountain - Mount Kilimanjaro, 245 sq. miles
Non-volcanic mountain - Mount Logan, 120 sq. miles

My honest suggestion is to take a look at some topographic maps of areas that you'd like to create terrain similar to, and take a look at what size mountains they have in that area. That will most likely get you data that is going to work the best for your particular usage case.

Thanks, that's perfect! I took your suggestion and have got my map all set now.

Any mountain that doesn't reach into space is a mountain that has failed.
See, this kind of thing is the reason so many young mountains have self esteem issues.
No more body-shaming mountains! They're all beautiful no matter their size.   

End the impossible mountain standards set by dwarves!
The standards aren't impossible! There's a mountain on Titan that breaches the atmosphere!

ONE SUCCESS DOESN'T MEAN IT'S ACHIEVABLE FOR EVERYONE


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Loud Whispers

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Re: How big are mountains?
« Reply #12 on: February 16, 2016, 03:11:50 pm »

Don't ask, just hope it's his feet.
It is what it is

RedKing

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Re: How big are mountains?
« Reply #13 on: February 16, 2016, 03:13:44 pm »

Any mountain that doesn't reach into space is a mountain that has failed.
See, this kind of thing is the reason so many young mountains have self esteem issues.
No more body-shaming mountains! They're all beautiful no matter their size.   

End the impossible mountain standards set by dwarves!
The standards aren't impossible! There's a mountain on Titan that breaches the atmosphere!
Sure, if you like that kind of thing. You know, those are mostly just silicon(e).
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Karnewarrior

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Re: How big are mountains?
« Reply #14 on: February 16, 2016, 05:16:48 pm »

Any mountain that doesn't reach into space is a mountain that has failed.
See, this kind of thing is the reason so many young mountains have self esteem issues.
No more body-shaming mountains! They're all beautiful no matter their size.   

End the impossible mountain standards set by dwarves!
The standards aren't impossible! There's a mountain on Titan that breaches the atmosphere!
Sure, if you like that kind of thing. You know, those are mostly just silicon(e).
I don't get mountains that do that. They always look so good with just the natural rock, and then they ruin it to please cavemen who only care about size. There are plenty of beautiful plateaus out there, you don't have to stretch yourself just to get mined by the first illiterate who needs some iron oxide.

Todays mountains are going through a rough patch.
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