Blackpowder & Ships¶

This section deals with optional rules for GMs interested in pirates, pistols, ships and cannons.

Blackpowder Weapons¶

Personal blackpowder weapons are outlined below. They exhibit the following properties:

• Damage dice that roll 4 are rolled again and accumulate (“exploding” dice).
• On a natural 19 attack roll (or for grenades, on a terrible failure Luck save), a random body part is injured; roll 1d8 and consult the Injuries & Setbacks table.
• If the wielder suffers damage while priming or reloading, their action is lost.
• The weapon is loud, preventing stealth.
• On a fumbled attack, the weapon malfunctions, rendering it a club until repaired (similar to shield rules).
• Powder grenades may be combined into a single trap (with a fuse timer, etc). Each additional grenade alternates between adding 1d4 dmg or increasing the blast radius by 5 ft (max 20 ft).

Naval Combat¶

A naval combat turn covers approximately five to fifteen minutes of game time, divided up into four phases:

1. PC actions
2. Positioning (including withdrawing)
3. Artillery
4. Boarding (if applicable)

(1) Pc Actions¶

Before ship to ship combat begins, each player declares their PC's action during the naval turn, choosing from the list below. At the GM's option, the player may also need to declare their PC's rough location on the ship.

1. At the Helm involves the PC piloting or assisting the helmsmen to pilot the ship. If assisting, the Positioning test is made at advantage if the assisting PC makes an Int (Sailing) check. If the check is a terrible failure, the Positioning test is made at a -3 penalty instead.
2. Boarding involves hand to hand fighting with enemy crew (see p.117).
3. Defensive Actions; the PC supports and directs crew in defensive actions, allowing the PC to spend a Reroll die to reroll an Artillery Effect against their own ship (max one reroll per Artillery attack).

4. Lookout grants the captain a +2 bonus on Positioning tests provided the PC makes a Perc (Detection) check (max one PC). Additionally, if successful, the PC maygrant one character advantage to resist an observable Artillery event that turn.

5. Patch 'em Up converts 1d6 dead crew to incapacitated instead (regaining normal status after the combat ends). If a PC makes an Int (Apothecary) check, and expends a healing kit use, the crew return to normal status immediately.

6. Rally Crew; 2d6 broken crew may make a morale check to return to normal status. Requires a Cha (Leadership) check.
7. Repairs involves the PC and/or others shoring up damaged locations, restoring 1 point to the ship's Save attribute (maximum one PC per turn). A Con (Athletics) check is required (urgent and exhausting work).
8. Rescue allows a PC to haul 1d6 overboard characters back onto the ship, into a lifeboat, etc (either personally or by directing others). Luck check required.

9. Take Aim involves the PC operating or directing firing crews, allowing the PC to spend a Reroll die for an Artillery Effect against their enemy (max one reroll per artillery attack).

10. Take Cover grants advantage to the PC when resisting Artillery Effects this turn, and/or three quarters cover (if relevant).

Enemy Crew Actions¶

Enemy crew actions are simplified to a single 1d6 roll as outlined below:

1. Nothing special this turn.
2. Back at it you Dogs! 2d6 dead or broken crew turn out to be dazed instead, and are immediately reinstated.
3. Batten down the Hatches! Ship Save is restored to starting value.
4. The Wind's with Us! Gain advantage on the next Positioning test.
5. Steady Now. Next turn reroll one Artillery Effect against the PCs' ship or their own.
6. Captain's Gambit. On the next naval turn, whichever ship obtains favourable positioning may (in addition to their usual options) automatically ram, board, or withdraw from the engagement.

(2) Positioning¶

During this phase, ships are manoeuvring for superior position, using speed, skill and local conditions to leverage an advantage against their opponent.

The captains of both vessels (players might like to roll for their ship) make an opposed Int (Sailing) test. If one ship has faster speed than the other, it gains a +2 bonus. Other modifiers apply at the GM's discretion (for example, Crew Advancements on p.122). The victor's ship gains favourable positioning. On a great success, the victor's ship gains very favourable positioning. If both parties fail, positioning is neutral.

Favourable Positioning¶

A ship with favourable positioning (i) wins initiative (including for allied ships, if any), and (ii) may:

1. Make three Artillery attacks this turn instead of two (see (3) Artillery), or
2. If facing multiple enemy ships, force all ships but one (victor's choice) to make only a single Artillery attack this turn (instead of two).

Very Favourable Positioning¶

A ship with very favourable positioning may alternatively:

1. Prepare to Board an enemy vessel. This requires winning favourable positioning again on the following naval turn, or
2. Prepare to Ram an enemy vessel. This requires a winning favourable positioning again on the following naval turn, or
3. Prepare to Withdraw from the engagement. This requires winning very favourable positioning again on the following naval turn, plus a group Luck check by the PCs (or NPC captain). The Luck check is made at advantage if the withdrawing vessel is faster than its pursuers.

(3) Artillery¶

Each ship may make two Artillery attacks per naval turn, choosing from their available weapons systems. Ships attack in order of initiative.

Superior Range¶

During the first naval turn only, if one ship has longer range artillery than the other, it gains two free attacks before any initiative based attacks.

Artillery Effects¶

To make an attack, each ship declares which kind of artillery is fired. All targeted ships then make saves (roll 1d6 vs the ship's Save attribute, p.119). If successful the attack is negated, and the ship's Save attribute increases by 1 (once only per naval turn, regardless of the number of successful saves).

If failed, the target vessel suffers 1 hit, and rolls 1d20 on the Artillery Effects table.

(4) Boarding¶

Boarding is enabled by (2) Positioning, requiring at least two naval turns (see p.116). When boarding occurs, both crews exchange small arms fire, thinning enemy numbers as at least one ship secures itself to the other with grapple lines/chains.

Generally 3d6 crew are lost on each side, modified at the GM's discretion (eg +1d6 for significantly outnumbering the enemy, greatly superior firepower, etc).

PCs attempting to board an enemy ship must make a Dex check or fall into the water (delaying their boarding for 1d3 rounds as they climb up the hull instead). PC combat is run as normal, except one PC rolls on the Skirmish table (1d20 above deck, or 1d10 below) at the start of their turn. Rotate which PC each round.

Once two crews are locked together in melee, the final outcome of the naval battle hinges on hand to hand combat. Ignore the standard naval turn rules, and determine the final victor via the melee.

Crew vs Crew¶

Opposing crews fight each other in a running skirmish, starting above deck and working up/down. The outcome is abstracted by rolling 2d6. The GM might apply a 1 or 2 point modifier for substantial advantages/disadvantages (eg significantly outnumbered, superior armour, enemy spellcaster on board, etc).

Magic¶

Spells similar to ship artillery (eg Fireball) are treated as close range artillery attacks (including ship save, rolling on the Artillery Effects table, etc). Any further effects are at the GM's discretion. A maximum of one magic attack may be made per naval turn (does not count towards the standard two ship attacks per turn).

Morale¶

Crew that fail a morale check reduce the ship's available Crew (p.119; cowering behind cover, jumping overboard to escape, signalling theirsurrender, etc). Broken crew might recover if a PC takes the Rally Crew action.

Sinking¶

A ship reduced to zero hits sinks in 1d4 naval turns, breaking up and/or taking on vast amounts of water. PCs require a Luck (Str) or (Will) save to avoid drowning as the vessel goes down. Those that survive end up on a piece of flotsam, in a lifeboat, in irons by the enemy, etc.

Ramming¶

A ramming ship causes 1d4 hits to its target, or 1d6+1 if using a ram (no save). The ramming ship suffers the same number of hits -1, or half as many if using a ram (round down). Crew from either ship may immediately board if they wish.

Withdrawing¶

Withdrawing is enabled by (2) Positioning, requiring at least two naval turns (see p.116).

Ship Weapons¶

Artillery are very large, slow loading weapons made for attacking ships and fortifications. Ranges are relative and abstracted for quick play. Rules for targeting enemy ships appear at (3) Artillery (p.116). If attacking individual characters, generally the target must make a Luck (Dex) save or be reduced to zero hp (GM's call).

Ships¶

Ship sizes, descriptions and costs are approximated below. Ship attributes are simplified for speedy resolution.

Attributes¶

• Save: When resisting Artillery attacks, roll 1d6; on the indicated number or higher the attack is negated (a miss or cosmetic damage). At the end of the turn, if the ship made at least one successful save, the Save attribute increases by 1 (maximum 6, until repaired).
• Hits: If a ship suffers this many hits from artillery, it sinks (see Sinking).

• Crew: The number of crew available for combat (does not include young children or the very old). The number in bracketsis the minimum crew required to sail the vessel. If reduced below this number, any remaining crew surrender.

• Speed: Relative ship speed. Increases as follows: very slow, slow, moderate, fast, very fast. A ship with no masts and no oars is stranded.

• Artillery: Common weapon loadouts and their locations. “All” means bow (front), stern (rear), port (left) and starboard (right). Roll 1d6 for random armaments, or select as desired.

Skiff¶

Very small 4 man rowboat, primarily for fishing and personal transport in lakes and bays. No mast. Single deck. 100 gp.

Whaleboat¶

Small 12 man tender, a dinghy, most often used as a lifeboat or shore transport for a mothership. No mast. Single deck. 1,000 gp.

Sloop¶

Small, agile sailing ship. 50 ft long, 15 ft wide. Single mast. Upper and lower deck. Emergency oars. 5,000 gp.

A large, dark sailing ship with multiple masts and sails, sailing on a calm sea under a hazy, yellowish sky. Several birds are flying in the sky. In the background, another smaller ship is visible. The scene is framed by a torn paper edge on the right side.

Cog¶

Small cargo ship. 70 ft long, 20 ft wide, single or double mast. Upper and lower deck. 7,000 gp.

Longship¶

Narrow, agile troop transport and land raiding vessel. 70 ft long, 10 ft wide, single mast, 40 oars. Single level, shields lining the sides. 4,000 gp.

Caravel¶

Large cargo ship. 100 ft long, 25 ft wide, two or three masts. Upper, lower and cargo deck. Forecastle and sterncastle. 12,000 gp.

Carrack¶

Warship. 120 ft long, 30 ft wide, three or four masts. Upper, lower, cargo and gun deck. Forecastle and sterncastle. 30,000 gp.

Galleon¶

Large warship. 150 ft long, 40 ft wide, four masts. Upper, lower, cargo and gun deck. Forecastle and sterncastle. 80,000 gp.

Ship Customization¶

At the GM's option it may be possible to customize ships as outlined below. Each customization generally costs half the ship's original price.

• Sleek Design: increase Speed by one category (max very fast).
• Armour Plating: decrease Save attribute by 1 point.
• Reinforced Hull: increase Hits by 3 points.
• Extra Bunks: increase crew by 50%.
• High Power Artillery: once per battle, may reroll one Artillery Effects die against an enemy ship.
• Extended Range: the ship does not suffer free attacks due to enemies having superior range (p.116).
• Advanced Rigging: minimum crew is halved (minimum 1).

Crew Stats¶

Crew, AC 12, HD 1, Cutlass/Axe 1d8, 19: as weapon, S12 D13 C11 I10 P10 W10 Ch10 L4, Mv 30 ft. Also armed with knives, 20% chance of a light crossbow and 10 bolts.

Quartermaster, AC 14, HD 3, Cutlass/Axe 1d8+2 or musket 4d4, 19: as weapon, S16 D13 C14 I13 P12 W13 Ch13 L4, Mv 30 ft. Also armed with a pistol, knife, and whip.

Captain, Boss Monster, AC 14, HD 4 (30 hp), Cutlass 1d8+2 and pistol 3d4, 19: Disarm, S15 D15 C12 I14 P12 W16 Ch15 L10, Mv 30 ft. The Captain is a Boss Monster with the usual benefits. Advantage on crew morale checks within sight. Backstab, Skirmisher and Finisher abilities like a 4^th level Rogue, may choose from the following tricks three times per combat: Flash Powder, Hidden Blade, Quick Reflexes.

Parrot, AC 14, HD 1d4 hp, Rake 1d3, 19: eyes bloodied, target blind until end of their next turn, S5 D16 C10 I4 P16 W13 Ch7, L5, Mv 120 ft. The parrot gains the usual aerial combatant advantages (p.78). May be trained in basic voice mimicry.

Cat, AC 13, HD 1d4 hp, Rake 1d3, 19: latches onto target's back, unable to be attacked by the target next turn, S5 D18 C8 I5 P14 W10 Ch8, L6, Mv 60 ft. The cat sees as well in darkness as light, provided there is some light to amplify (eg moonlight). Adv on stealth, climbing and balance related checks. Feeds itself.

Crew Advancements¶

At the GM's option, Crew that survive one or more engagements might gain one of the following advancements (roll 1d10):