I'm working on a new project and would like some theories as to which is the "best" seat inside of a coach for a traveller.

Thoughts?

Jay H

Depends on the character. For a more sinister character, it's whatever one is the most shadowy. That way you can chill in a dark cloak and creep people out when you invite them in for a secret meeting.

Otherwise, take a window seat for a drive-by with muskets. Aggressive stance classes are bloods, cautious classes are crips.

It would depend on who it was. The "Best" seat would probably be considered the middle seat, likely facing to the rear, as it's the safest spot, with the least amount of sun to ruin your parasol-shaded skin.

That assumes, of course, that you're talking about a noblewoman, who would be the only one that would really care. Most anyone else would just want to be inside, rather than on the top of the coach.

It really depends on the character like many have mentioned.

For carriages consisting of three benches, like so (rear, middle, front):

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I'd say the rear most seat (the first one), first it's forward facing and has a cushioned back. The middle seat generally just had a leather strap that was used as a backrest. Also the middle and the front seat were pretty tightly packed and generally required passengers ride with their feet dovetailed. The front seat has the added advantage that you can't be seen very well, but you also can't see very well what you're approaching.

For carriages with two benches:

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I'd still go with the rear seat, as it's forward facing as you don't get the discomfort of riding facing against the coach's movement.

But generally speaking the conditions inside coaches were cramped, smelly and unpleasant. In most stagecoaches people had 15" of seating room for themselves. To put that in perspective, most airplanes today have coach seats that average 17.5" in width, that's nearly a 20% improvement over a typical stagecoach passenger seat! You also get improved leg room.

Noble stagecoaches and other luxury versions would obviously deviate from this and carry fewer people in greater comfort.

Rear seat, so facing forward, by a window on either side. No doubt in my mind. The window gives you fresh air and a bit of scenery to look at, plus you can lean against the coach wall to relax. Left or right side? No matter.

Hey, just think of it as "what is the best seat in the back seat of a car?" Sure isn't the one in the middle!

So there are two "best seats" in a coach. Well, my opinion anyway.

If you're using this for an obnoxious noble demanding the best seat, you could of course have him/her demand to have the rear seat all to herself, so that she can have a nice lie-down, or at least have whoever occupies the middle seat sit somewhere else, so that she has some more room. It's her right, you know, she's got better breeding than you peasants, and besides her grandfater is an elector, you know. Also, the smelly and ugly ones should sit on top of the carriage, where they would not disturb her delicate sensibilities quite so horrendously. Hmph, commoners....

In cold weather, you might want to be sitting between other passengers for warmth, but your movement is limited. In warm weather, you might want a window seat to get more fresh air, but you're more vulnerable to attacks from outside. Some coaches have glass windows that can't be opened, so things will get messy if you want to shoot from inside. Some coaches have a door on only one side, meaning it'll be last-in-first-out in case of an emergency. There are too many variables to say which seat is best.

guyes, I'm guessing your different approaches are fine, but I'm wanting to add another one that I really think is wiser:

it really depends on the GM you are playing with. because, if the guy is an ambush master, the best place to be is hiding inside a trunk or with a carefully arranged belt holding you under the couch. that way you prevent first shooting and has a chance to either ambush the ambushers, or try and lay low.