Vessels

= Vessels =

Statistics Each of the vessels presented in this chapter includes a short statistics block describing the vessel. A ship’s statistics block includes the following entries.

** Size: ** The size of the vehicle, using the same size categories as creatures do.

** Seaworthiness: ** The ship’s overall sturdiness. This modifier is applied to any Profession (sailor) checks the captain or master makes in order to avoid foundering, sinking, and hazards that large, well-built vessels avoid more easily than small and frail ones.

** Shiphandling: ** The ship’s agility and nimbleness. This modifier is applied to Profession (sailor) checks the captain or master makes in order to avoid collisions, come about, sail close to the wind, and other situations that small, swift vessels avoid more easily than large and clumsy ones.

** Speed: ** The ship’s speed and its nautical maneuverability rating.

// Wind: // Sailing vessels have a base speed, which is then modified by the wind strength. For example, a ship with a speed of “wind×15 feet” has a speed of 15 feet if the wind speed modifier is ×1, 30 feet if the modifier is ×2, or 45 feet if the modifier is ×3. See Wind and Weather, page 22.

// Oars: // The ship’s speed while being rowed. Overall AC: The AC of the ship as a whole. Ships of Huge size or larger rarely use this, since an attacker targets a single hull section at a time when attacking a Huge or larger ship.

** Hull Sections: ** The number of hull sections the ship possesses.

** Sink ** : The number of destroyed hull sections necessary to sink the ship outright. A ship can sink from the destruction of a single hull section, but it is not automatic.

** Section HP ** : The number of hit points and the hardness of each hull section.

** Section AC: ** The Armor Class of each hull section.

** Rigging Sections: ** The number of rigging sections the ship possesses. Generally, each rigging section is equal to one mast.

** Rigging HP: ** The number of hit points and the hardness of each rigging section.

** Ram: ** The damage dealt by the vehicle per 10 feet of speed it currently possesses if it rams another object. For example, a ship with a base ram damage of 3d6 deals 3d6 points of damage if moving at a speed of 10 feet, 6d6 at a speed of 20 feet, 9d6 at a speed of 30 feet, and so on.

** Mounts: ** The number of weapons the ship can mount. A light mount is suitable for a ballista; a heavy mount is suitable for a catapult.

** Space: ** The length and width of the area taken up by the ship.

** Height: ** The height of the main deck above the waterline. Most large vessels will have deckhouses, forecastles, or sterncastles that are above this level.

** Watch: ** The number of crewmembers necessary to make course changes, adjust for wind changes, and generally handle the ship. Usually the watch consists of a helmsman, a lookout or two, and a small number of deckhands who can go aloft to change the set of the sails as necessary. On an oar-powered vessel, the watch includes the number of rowers necessary for the ship to make use of its full oared speed.

** Complement: ** The number of crewmembers, passengers, and soldiers who can be carried by the vessel for extended voyaging. For a short voyage (a day or less) a ship might be able to cram two or three times this number of people on board.

** Cargo ** : The capacity of the vehicle’s hold, in tons (1 ton = 2,000 pounds). Most ships are slowed to 3/4 normal speed if carrying half this load or more.

** Cost ** : The vehicle’s cost in gold pieces.

VESSELS The following boats and ships are only a small sample of the types most typically found on the seas, lakes, and rivers of a fantasy world.

+GM Approval Only
 * ** Vessel ** || **Complement** || ** Speed ** ||> ** Cost ** ||
 * Coracle || 2/1 || 1 mph ||> 5 gp ||
 * Dugout || 4/1 || 1 mph ||> 20 gp ||
 * +Folding Boat (large) || 15/2 || 1 mph* or 1 mph ||> 7200 gp ||
 * Folding Boat (small) || 4/1 || 1 mph* or 1 mph ||> 7200 gp ||
 * +Keelboat || 16/3/12 || 1 mph* or 1 mph ||> 3000 gp ||
 * Launch || 8/1/2 || 1-1/2 mph ||> 500 gp ||
 * +Pinnace || 15/3/8 || 3 mph* or 1/2 mph ||> 4500 gp ||
 * Raft || 8/1/2 || 1/2 mph ||> 100 gp ||
 * Rowboat || 4/1 || 1 mph ||> 50 gp ||
 * Base sailing speed in light winds (x1 speed multiple)

** Complement ** : The first number in this entry is the ship’s complement, or the total number of Small or Medium humanoids that can normally be carried on board as crew and passengers. The second number is the ship’s watch requirement, or the minimum number of people necessary to control the ship without penalty. The third number, when present, indicates the number of rowers required in addition to the normal watch; a ship doesn’t need rowers to sail, but does need rowers to use its oared movement rate.

** Speed ** : The ship’s sailing speed. Sailing vessels have an asterisked speed entry, since the actual sailing speed varies with the wind speed and direction.

** Cost ** : The ship’s cost in gold pieces.

Boat, Folding (Large Form) In its larger form this round bottom boat has a top deck with stern castle, split into a captains quarters and a cramped war room. The deck features a single mast with a large square sail, a cargo hatch, and stairs below deck. Below deck there are two rows of five single seat benches, and two sets of oars (on per seat). To fore of the deck behind the stairs is mainly used for cargo, while the aft houses a small very rustic galley, spare equipment, and some additional cargo space. When not being oared, the benches are removable, leaving more space for the crew to sleep. The ship is small by many standards, being only 24 ft long, 8 ft. wide, and 10 ft. deep.

**Folding Boat (Large Form):** Gargantuan Vehicle; Seaworthiness -2, Ship Handling +2, Speed wind x 10 ft. or oars 10 ft. (average); Overall AC 1: Hull sections 2 (sink 1 section); Section HP 50 (Hardness 5); Section AC 3; Rigging Sections 1; Rigging HP 60 (hardness 0), AC 1; Ram 2d6; Mounts none; Space 26 ft. by 8 ft.;Height 4 ft. (draft 6 ft.); Compliment 15; Watch 2 (8 with half rowers); Cargo 15 tons (Speed wind x 5 ft. or oars 5 ft. if 7 tons or more); Cost 7,200 GP



Boat, Folding (Small Form) In its smaller form the folding boat is rather similar to a rowboat only with a round bottom and a small lateen sail making it more adept to rough sea waters. A small folding boat also has a pair of ours and an anchor, and can accomodate four people.

A folding boat in its small form is too small to have different hull sections, and therefore only has an overall AC and a single hp total for the hull.

** Folding Boat (Small Form) ** : Large vehicle; Seaworthiness –2; Shiphandling +2; Speed wind x 10 ft. or oars 10 ft. (good); Overall AC 4; Hull hp 30 (hardness 5); Ram 1d6; Mounts —; Space 10 ft. by 5 ft.; Height 3 ft. (draft 2 ft.); Complement 4; Watch 1; Cargo 1,000 pounds (Speed wind x 5 ft. or oars 5 ft. if 500 pounds or more); Cost 7,200 GP

Coracle A small and very simple boat, the coracle is made from a light wicker or branch frame, over which waterproofed hide or bark is stretched. A coracle weighs only 40 pounds, and can easily be carried for short distances.

<span style="color: black; font-family: CelestiaAntiqua-Medium; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">A coracle is too small to have different hull sections, and therefore only has an overall AC and a single hp total for the hull.

** Coracle ** : Medium vehicle; Seaworthiness –4; Shiphandling +0; Speed oars 10 ft. (good); Overall AC 5; Hull hp 10 (hardness 2); Ram —; Mounts —; Space 5 ft. by 5 ft.; Height 1 ft. (draft 2 ft.); Complement 2; Watch 1; Cargo 100 pounds; Cost 5 gp.

<span style="color: #0d7373; font-family: Pterra-dactyl; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Dugout <span style="color: black; font-family: CelestiaAntiqua-Medium; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">The dugout is the simplest boat possible—a hollowed-out log hacked into the shape of a boat.

** Dugout ** : Large vehicle; Seaworthiness –3; Shiphandling +1; Speed oars 10 ft. (good); Overall AC 4; Hull hp 40 (hardness 5); Ram 1d6; Space 10 ft. by 5 ft.; Height 2 ft. (draft 2 ft.); Complement 4; Watch 1; Cargo 500 pounds; Cost 20 gp.

<span style="color: #0d7373; font-family: Pterra-dactyl; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Keelboat <span style="color: black; font-family: CelestiaAntiqua-Medium; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">This flat-bottomed boat is built for use on rivers and lakes. It is fully decked, with a large deckhouse that takes up most of the boat’s center or stern depending on the design. It has a small sail and eight oars for traveling upstream.

** Keelboat ** : Gargantuan vehicle; Seaworthiness –2; Shiphandling +2; Speed wind × 10 ft. or oars 10 ft. (good); Overall AC 1; Hull sections 3 (sink 1 section); Section hp 50 (hardness 5); Section AC 3; Rigging Sections 1; Rigging hp 60 (hardness 0), AC 1; Ram 3d6; Mounts 1 light; Space 30 ft. by 10 ft.; Height 5 ft. (draft 5 ft.); Complement 16; Watch 2 plus 8 rowers; Cargo 20 tons (Speed wind × 5 ft. or oars 5 ft. if 10 tons or more); Cost 3,000 gp.

<span style="color: #0d7373; font-family: Pterra-dactyl; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Launch <span style="color: black; font-family: CelestiaAntiqua-Medium; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Also known as a whaleboat, the launch is a large, open dinghy with a stout, round-bottomed hull that can stand up to surprisingly rough seas. Launches are often carried by larger ships for use in landing in places where the larger ship can’t go.

<span style="color: black; font-family: CelestiaAntiqua-Medium; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">A launch is too small to have different hull sections, and therefore only has an overall AC and a single hp total for the hull.

** Launch ** : Huge vehicle; Seaworthiness +0; Shiphandling +2; Speed oars 15 ft. (good); Overall AC 3; Hull hp 50 (hardness 5); Ram 2d6; Mounts —; Space 15 ft. by 5 ft.; Height 5 ft. (Draft 2-1/2 ft.); Complement 8; Watch 1 plus 2 rowers; Cargo 4 tons (Speed oars 10 ft. if 2 tons or more); Cost 500 gp.

<span style="color: #0d7373; font-family: Pterra-dactyl; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Pinnace <span style="color: black; font-family: CelestiaAntiqua-Medium; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">The pinnace is a small, two-masted sailing vessel. It’s sturdy enough to undertake long open-water voyages and handy enough to use close to shore. A pinnace is fully decked, but its sterncastle is hardly worthy of the name; it’s little more than a cramped cabin.

** Pinnace ** : Gargantuan vehicle; Seaworthiness +2; Shiphandling +2; Speed wind × 30 ft. or oars 5 ft. (good); Overall AC 1; Hull sections 4 (sink 1 section); Section hp 50 (hardness 5); Section AC 3; Rigging Sections 2; Rigging hp 60 (hardness 0), AC 1; Ram 3d6; Mounts 2 light; Space  30 ft. by 10 ft.; Height 10 ft. (draft 5 ft.); Complement 15; Watch 3 plus 8 rowers; Cargo 30 tons (Speed wind × 20 ft. if 15 tons or more); Cost 4,500 gp.

<span style="color: #0d7373; font-family: Pterra-dactyl; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Raft <span style="color: black; font-family: CelestiaAntiqua-Medium; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">While almost anyone can lash a few logs together and make a crude raft, this is a vessel made of sawn planks with logs or empty barrels for floatation. The raft normally has a small deckhouse or flat for shelter. It is slow and hard to maneuver, and is really only suitable for calm rivers or lakes.

** Raft ** : Huge vehicle; Seaworthiness –4; Shiphandling +0; Speed oars 5 ft. (poor); Overall AC 3; Hull hp 30 (hardness 5); Ram 2d6; Mounts —; Space 15 ft. by 10 ft.; Height 2-1/2 ft. (draft 2-1/2 ft.); Complement 8; Watch 1 plus 2 rowers; Cargo 2 tons (Speed oars 5 ft. if 1 ton or more); Cost 100 gp.

<span style="color: #0d7373; font-family: Pterra-dactyl; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Rowboat <span style="color: black; font-family: CelestiaAntiqua-Medium; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Also called a skiff, punt, or pirogue, this is a flat-bottomed boat for use in calm waters.

**Rowboat**: Large vehicle; Seaworthiness –4; Shiphandling +2; Speed oars 10 ft. (good); Overall AC 4; Hull hp 30 (hardness 5); Ram 1d6; Mounts —; Space 10 ft. by 5 ft.; Height 2-1/2 ft. (draft 2-1/2 ft.); Complement 4; Watch 1; Cargo 1,000 pounds (Speed oars 5 ft. if 500 pounds or more); Cost 50 gp.