Way back in Ye Olde Days, Dragon #81 had rules for creating chariots. However, it only covered horses. In an attempt to genericize it and make it suitable for ACKS, I’ve come up with the following house rules:
A chariot can be pulled by 1, 2, or 4 creatures. The advantage of a chariot over riding an animal is that animals can pull more than they can carry on their backs. A 1-animal chariot has a weight allowance of 150% of that animal’s normal carrying capacity. 2-animal chariots have a 300% weight allowance, and 4-animal chariots have a 500% weight allowance.
A 1-horse chariot moves at a maximum speed of 2/3 of the animal’s normal movement. 2-horse chariots can move at 5/6 normal speed, and 4-horse chariots can move at the animal’s normal speed.
The advantage of the lighter chariots is greater maneuverability. At 1/4 speed, a 1-horse chariot can turn 360 degrees in a single round. This is reduced to 300 degrees at 1/2 speed, 240 degrees at 3/4 speed, or 180 degrees at full speed. For 2-horse chariots, reduce all numbers by 60 degrees, and for 4-horse chariots, reduce them by 120 degrees.
Chariots may be armored. The armor weighs double normal armor weight. Crew in an armored cab gain half the armor’s AC as cover protection. For armor with an odd AC, round down for attacks from cavalry or chariots, and round up for attacks from infantry.
Missile attacks are at full attack bonus if traveling half speed or less, at -2 if traveling 3/4 speed, and at -4 if traveling full speed. The Precise Shot proficiency reduces these penalties.
The driver may only use one-handed weapons (or a shield) normally. If the driver drops the reins or ties them around their waist, they may use a two-handed weapon, but all attacks from everyone in the chariot suffer a -2 penalty.
ACKS land-based creatures that have carry weights listed: camel, horse, mule, unicorn
AD&D 1e animals with encumbrance (from the Wilderness Survival Guide):
Brown Bear = 30 stone
Elephant = 50 stone (note: this seems low)
Dog = effectively 6 stone (a 7-dog dogsled is 30 stone). I would consider this for War Dog and Wolf, so goblins and hobbitses can have mounts/chariots
Creatures from Robin Dijkema’s Monster Manual (on pandius.com):
Boar = 15 stone
Giant Boar = 30 stone
Elephant = 90 stone (I like this better than the AD&D number)
Mammoth/Mastodon = 90 stone
Triceratops = 100 stone
Wolf = 5 stone
Dire Wolf = 10 stone
Giant Lizard = 15 stone
Horned Chameleion = 5 stone
Tuatara = 12 stone