[Rinion]

This is a revival of garfield's old "General info/help" thread, which was in turn a revival of an even older thread.

In this thread, people can ask questions about topics that they need help with for their writing, and people who know something about those topics answer them. For example, if you have a story that involves a journey made on horseback but you don't know how far a horse carrying a person can travel in a day, ask in this thread and someone who knows about horse-riding will answer you.

You might be thinking that I wouldn't have revived this thread if I didn't have something to gain from it, and you're right. I would like to know if a person can whistle or play a flute, trumpet or similar instrument if their lips are numb (in this case, from cold).

[Ultima Valenhart]

Can't help you there, Rinion. That's too random even for my knowledge, but I would like to know about this, stolen straight from your post:

For example, if you have a story that involves a journey made on horseback but you don't know how far a horse carrying a person can travel in a day

[Viva America]

I would like to know if a person can whistle or play a flute, trumpet or similar instrument if their lips are numb (in this case, from cold).

Puit some ice-cubes against your lips for a minute, and try it out

For example, if you have a story that involves a journey made on horseback but you don't know how far a horse carrying a person can travel in a day

Depends on how fast you ride, and how far you want to ride.

I believe that you can gain the most distances by having your horse do a trot for 40 minutes, then dismount, and walk aside the horse for another 20 minutes, and remount, trot another 30 minutes, etc, dismount, lead another 30 minutes, etc.

This way, you can save it from getting cramps, or having it die in just 3 days travel.

You can cover up to at least 30 miles per day this way.

[Rinion]

Puit some ice-cubes against your lips for a minute, and try it out

I did, actually, but I didn't have an instrument to hand. It's fine, though; I found a trumpetplayer and asked her.

UV, I also wondered that a while ago,and I thought this article was very useful.

[Regitnui]

Id like toknow how far a group of people (teenagers, all reasonably fit) could manage to walk in a day (8-10 hours).

And i'll be glad to help with mythological creatures. It's kinda a facination i have.

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[Viva America]

If you assume they brought enough water and food, they will walk for 7 hours during a 9 hour trip, and 2 hours to take a break for lunch/ meal.

Assuming the average speed is 4 miles per hour, as they are still young and vital, they could cover 28 miles in a day.

[Arthryn]

Assuming the average speed is 4 miles per hour, as they are still young and vital, they could cover 28 miles in a day.

If you're going to be walking all day, walking that fast is going to wear you out. Taking from PE classes and having to run the mile, a mile in 15 minutes (4 mph), constitutes walking and jogging, or walking at a brisk pace. You don't want to be walking at a brisk pace all day every day.

Twenty miles is typically what a human can cover in a day. And if you're traveling a long distance, you don't want to wear yourself down by traveling too fast.

[Wikkid X]

I would like to know if a person can whistle or play a flute, trumpet or similar instrument if their lips are numb (in this case, from cold).

Firstly, flutes and trumpets are not "similar instruments"!

And secondly, this may be no help whatsoever - I realise you said you'd got your answer, and fingers may not be an issue. I just thought I'd post my knowledge anyway...

I don't play flute or trumpet, but I do play the clarinet, and have had to do so for a carol singing group in extremely cold weather. I'm pretty sure it'd be tricky to play flute with numb lips (although I'm not sure, I don't play it) - but if it's just generally cold, think about numb fingers too. I know from experience that it's almost impossible to cover holes with numb fingers (or with gloves!), so it was almost impossible to play my clari on the aforsaid carol singing event. So if the person was playing an instrument with open holes, like a clarinet or recorder, they'd have problems. With a closed-hole instrument, like a trumpet or saxophone, or a modern flute, they'd probably be okay as they don't have to move their fingers as presicely, and can play in gloves anyway.

[Regitnui]

If you assume they brought enough water and food, they will walk for 7 hours during a 9 hour trip, and 2 hours to take a break for lunch/ meal.

Assuming the average speed is 4 miles per hour, as they are still young and vital, they could cover 28 miles in a day.

Assuming the average speed is 4 miles per hour, as they are still young and vital, they could cover 28 miles in a day.

If you're going to be walking all day, walking that fast is going to wear you out. Taking from PE classes and having to run the mile, a mile in 15 minutes (4 mph), constitutes walking and jogging, or walking at a brisk pace. You don't want to be walking at a brisk pace all day every day.

Twenty miles is typically what a human can cover in a day. And if you're traveling a long distance, you don't want to wear yourself down by traveling too fast.

Running that though my converter i get roughly 32 km/day. Thanks. Remember, i'm South African, and miles here have as little meaning as kilometres to you.

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[Viva America]

Assuming the average speed is 4 miles per hour, as they are still young and vital, they could cover 28 miles in a day.

If you're going to be walking all day, walking that fast is going to wear you out. Taking from PE classes and having to run the mile, a mile in 15 minutes (4 mph)

Oops. I meant to say km where I said miles. 4 km/h is a normal walking pace. It's 2.4 miles per hour. So that means they can cover like 17 miles in a day, which is close to your 20.

Running that though my converter i get roughly 32 km/day. Thanks. Remember, i'm South African, and miles here have as little meaning as kilometres to you.

28 km that is. Here (Western Europe) we also use kilometres, grammes, and litres. I just thought it would be easy to calculate in the system that the most people on this forum use.

[Rinion]

I don't play flute or trumpet, but I do play the clarinet, and have had to do so for a carol singing group in extremely cold weather. I'm pretty sure it'd be tricky to play flute with numb lips (although I'm not sure, I don't play it) - but if it's just generally cold, think about numb fingers too. I know from experience that it's almost impossible to cover holes with numb fingers (or with gloves!), so it was almost impossible to play my clari on the aforsaid carol singing event. So if the person was playing an instrument with open holes, like a clarinet or recorder, they'd have problems. With a closed-hole instrument, like a trumpet or saxophone, or a modern flute, they'd probably be okay as they don't have to move their fingers as presicely, and can play in gloves anyway.

My lack of musical knowledge is showing through. Good gracious, I hadn't thought of numb fingers. That's actually very useful; thank you.

Also bear in mind the terrain, Regitnui. Walk up even very gentle slopes can affect a person's speed if the slopes extend for quite a while or the person is starting to tire. At least, so it was for me the last time I went hiking; after a while, switching my weight back and forth between different parts of my feet and legs in order to ascend even low gradients became taxing.

[Regitnui]

Also bear in mind the terrain, Regitnui. Walk up even very gentle slopes can affect a person's speed if the slopes extend for quite a while or the person is starting to tire. At least, so it was for me the last time I went hiking; after a while, switching my weight back and forth between different parts of my feet and legs in order to ascend even low gradients became taxing.

Hmm, good point, Rin. The terrain is mostly rather even, drawing from my last place of residence. There it wa flat unitl you reached the mountains, with the hills almost appearing from nowhere (not many foothills or change up until the mountain)

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[Foaly]

I thought this might be usefull for some people. But didnt think it's worth starting a thread about.

[Arthryn]

Alternatives to 'said' can be refreshing in many cases, but when they are overused it's pretty awful. Personally, I keep my said words to basic terms like said, replied, whispered and such, and supplement that with a descriptive sentence, as opposed to turning to a thesaurus and adverbs.

[Regitnui]

I use alternatives when they are applicable. Like announced when someone's telling a group of people.

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