this post was submitted on 30 Aug 2024
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[–] match@pawb.social 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)

it's a fucking magic setting if anything the wheelchair should be faster than running

[–] yeather@lemmy.ca 13 points 2 months ago (4 children)

Wheelchairs only work because of modern paving and asphalt. Cobblestone and dirt roads would never accommodate a wheelchair. Magic carpets are right there.

[–] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] yeather@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 months ago

Just be a magic carpet at that point. Or a flying chair.

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Legit, it would depend on the chair.

Assuming no rubber or equivalent, the ride would be bumpy as hell, but doable on a well packed road, or relatively well laid stone. I've pushed patients over both surfaces, and seen plenty of patients do it themselves.

Gravel is the real pain in the ass. You get a fresh gravel path, and good luck with most wheelchairs that aren't powered and/or have narrow wheels. Way more effort.

On something like cobblestones, you might even have an easier time moving yourself without rubber tires.

For short distances, even a poorly packed but dry dirt path isn't bad.

Remember, wheelchairs annually predate asphalt by a good bit, and existed before sidewalks and such were evenly paved. Some of the older examples from the Victorian era were used on city streets that were unpaved entirely, and impassable when wet, but managed to work over the dried ruts.

Same with unpaved dirt paths that would be poorly maintained. I've had patients in chairs push themselves down paths in the woods while hunting, with things growing in the path, rocks not fully cleared, etc. That's modern chairs, but the fundamental design is more robust regarding surfaces than you'd think

[–] yeather@lemmy.ca -1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

But why would anyone do any of this when there are objectively better options for representing the disability and having a fun whimsical option. Magic carpet or magic chair and now you can fly where bring a different set of skills. As a Druid, Growths of trees and roots could form spider like appendages. A warlock can use his patrons power to create a new set of magical legs or always be floating. Warforged legs could be used in place of your own. An artificers leg armor would be able to keep cripples person walking. Many many options and you choose the blue shirt basic human fighter battlemaster.

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

All of which has nothing to do with how wheelchairs work in the real world, which is the part I was responding to.

[–] yeather@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Exactly! You’re in the magic setting where most people can do magic or have access to magical things. Wheelchairs become even more useless than they were in ancient times, especially for an adventurer who presumably will be on unpaved and akward roads.

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] yeather@lemmy.ca -1 points 2 months ago

You’re trying to fit something that has no place being in the setting. Just pick the infinitely cooler options that do fit or don’t have your character have this particular disability.

[–] Fizz@lemmy.nz 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Its an off road all terrain chair with enchanted wheels.

[–] yeather@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 months ago

At that point just enchant your legs, or make warforged legs, or be a druid and attach roots to your legs like spider legs, or use the same thing but also provides other utility, A MAGIC CARPET.