Lesson 11
Ships of the Seas of Imperia

For this lesson we remain on ships however we now go to the oceans instead of the air. Shipbuilding on Imperia dates back centuries, far before the time of the settlers arriving on Verdania. Obtaining a sea ship is far easier and cheaper than an airship. No regulations of any kind exist regarding the purchase of seaships, the only rule is you need the money. Shipyards can also be found in any coastal town or city in any part of Verdania. However no national design of ships is alike. Used ships can be purchased, usually discounted by %10-30. Mostly however, ships are sold as is at the price stated.

Ships of Verdania

(Note: This is not a complete list and the nations of Greyhelm & Roshack have yet to be added but will soon be added. Shadow Knights, Kardius and all nations beyond Verdania are not included here. Terangoth, Mennald and the other nations of Verdania rely on other ship/nation designs and do not have their own)

Construction Time

Construction and Repair Speeds are far different for ocean going vessels. Construction speed is 5,000 silver worth per week. Repair speed is 500 silver worth per day. By example, a ship costing 25,000 will be built in five weeks. If this ship incurred 50% damages, the repair bill will be 12,500 and will take 25 days. As always, shipyards include a 20% on all construction jobs. This rate is the same in all shipyards of Verdania.

Weapons

Weapons can also easily be purchased at any shipyards with the exception of magical technology-based weapons. Magical Weapons are available only in black markets but all other non-magical weapons are easily available and require no work at the shipyard. They are purchased and placed aboard by the ship's crew. For the table below there are a few explanations.

Name: Do I really need to explain this?

Mount Type: The "size" of the weapon. If a ship can only hold 2 light weapons, then that means you cannot pop a Deck Gun on it.

Cost: The cost of the weapon in silver coins.

Maximum Range: The max range this weapon can fire.

Minimum Range: The range needed between a weapon and it's target. If nothing there, then this weapon is capable of point blank shots.

Crew: How many people are needed to work this weapon.

Weight: How much this weapon weighs. All weapons and ammo cut into a ship's cargo capacity. The number here for weight is in pounds, and there are 2,000 pounds in a Ton.

Ammo Cost: The cost of one shot of this weapon, ammo needing to be purchased before hand at any port/coastal town. If "Special" then see weapon information.

Heavy Crossbow: This weapon is merely a standard heavy crossbow mounted onto a ship's railing. Ammo for this is 1 silver per shot, however this weapon is extremely easy to use and cheap to replace. Which is a good thing considering these weapons are easily destroyed. This weapon does hardly any damage to a ship itself, used mainly to assault a ship's crew instead.

Quadbow Cannon: Like the Crossbow weapons, this is a Quadbow mounted onto a ship's railing. Despite the bad range, this weapon can in close quarters tear a ship's wooden frame apart. It is powered by a 15-shot ammo crystal which costs 50 silver each. However this weapon is easily destroyed, and very expensive to replace. This weapon is also illegal in Damocles waters. But it's easy to carry, can be moved from position to position, and is capable of precise aiming.

Deck Gun: A single barreled Autogun. It keeps the same high rate of fire, however uses up a 50 shot crystal that costs 1,000 silver. Normally mounted along the bow or one of the upper decks of a ship. Capable of riddling an enemy ship with holes, as well as hitting clusters of crewmen. This weapon is also illegal in Damocles waters.

Light Catapult: A simple weapon, however takes a few minutes to load and not very accurate. However when it hits the damage is immense. Ammo for this is very cheap, however each shot weighs 10 pounds. Catapult shot is able to be fired normally, or set aflame and fired in that manner.

Ballista: Essentially a larger version of a crossbow, requiring a minute to load and fire. Fires large spears, very cheap to replace and is one of the most used weapons. Not too effective by itself unless expertly aimed. The shots can sometimes be used to send over small explosive charge crystals, small packs of gunpowder, or flaming torches into enemy ships.

Ram: Mountable along the front bow, this weapon needs no explanation.

Repeating Crossbow: Same as the Heavy Crossbow, however fires all ten shots in a quick salvo. Not overly accurate, but can take down several enemy crewmen or rip a sail to shreds.

Heavy Catapult: Same as the Light Catapult in all respects, just larger and packs a meaner punch.

Pulse Cannon: Like the Airship version, however made to be mounted on a boat. Each shot comes from a type of ammo crystal shell, which costs 40 silver each. Very expensive, but a broadside from a few of these cannons can take down a ship. This weapon is illegal however in the waters of Damocles. The downside also is these weapons are easily damageable and expensive to replace. Any Anti-Magic blast renders the weapon entirely useless.

Cannon: The most mysterious of all weapons. This is a weapon native to Kyuichi Saeken, and fires cannonballs with the use of gunpowder. However obtaining this weapon is nearly impossible. First off the people of Kyuichi Saeken are isolationist and cautious of outsiders, secondly they are very selective about to who they sell to. Also the gunpowder involved is very volatile, and if a little goes off, then it ALL goes off. This can bring about the end of a ship very quickly. However this is the most powerful weapon on the seas, very durable and can even withstand being dropped in cold ocean waters and remaining there for centuries. Ammo for this comes in two parts. First is the cannonball itself, easily purchasable for a silver. Next is the gunpowder. One ounce is needed for one shot, so a pound of gunpowder can supply sixteen shots. Gunpowder comes from one of two places, Kardius and Kyuichi Saeken. However Kardius goods are on a trade embargo by the Damocles Empire, the Axius Kingdom and the M&T (Merchants & Trade Association). No Kardius supplies can reach Verdania, and any ships attempting to come in from Kardius are usually stopped and seized by the Damocles Empire. Kyuichi Saeken gunpowder (If you can get them to sell it to you) comes in either a 2 pound horn for 350 silver or a 15 pound keg for 2,500 silver. This gunpowder however has limitless uses than just for the cannons.

Outfitting for a Voyage

Before a ship goes anywhere, it will need a crew. If the owner of the ship doesn't have the nautical skills needed, he will need to hire a captain. Besides the captain you'll need sailors, oarsman (If the ship has oars) and a Navigator. Other people and positions can be brought aboard, but it's entirely optional. A ship is not limited to the numbers stated for crew, that being ideal. Marines are really just armed mercenaries, and entirely optional. Crew can easily be found in any coastal city as well as officers. A ship can hold a third of the number listed in additional people, counting as either passengers or extra troops. (If a ship says it needs 120 sailors, then it can carry an additional 40 people). Marines are not required, and their slots can be handed over to paying passengers. A ship CAN get by on a skeleton crew of 10%. Crew needed for weapons is considered included in the suggested amount. No additional crew is needed.

Captain: The Captain runs the entire boat, but may not exactly own the ship. Besides his fee, he will expect 25% of all loot/treasure taken. A character can take over this role, however if his skill is lacking the ship will suffer problems. If a person hires a captain, it cuts him out of most of the decision making process on the ship.

Sailor: Also known as Seaman (No jokes please) these guys keep the ship running. They are not too well armed or able to hold up in a boarding fight however.

Oarsman: One of the worst, and menial tasks, on a ship. Pirates usually use slaves, but hiring these any person can do.

Officer: Not required, but helps keep a ship running fit. 1 officer is needed for every 25 sailors. These officers (Which include First Mate, Navigator's Mate and so forth) help a ship run efficiently and expertly. Again these are not required.

Cook: Not required, but keeps a crew fed well and happy. Besides this guy, the alternative is standard provisions.

Artillerist/Chief Gunner: On airships, this guy would be the Chief Tactical Officer. Here he handles weapons firing, commands, and ordering changes needed to insure a target is hit. This guy is not required, but without him a ship could suffer from misses or fumbles.

Navigator: Not required if your ship is constantly sailing in site of land. However if you are going into wide open waters, then this would be a good guy to take. However a Captain or whoever is in charge can attempt to navigate but it won't be entirely perfect.

Next thing the crew will need, is food. Each member of a crew, be it sailor or officer, will need 10 pounds worth of food (2 lbs. of food and 8 lbs. of water) per day while at sea. This provision pack which is standard food, costs 1 silver. Meaning for a crew of 100, to sail for 10 days, you will need 10,000 pounds/5 Tons of provisions which will cost you 1,000 silver. This is basic dried rations and water. If you want to provide better food, change the amount from 1 silver to 3 silver. Want to provide top quality food, then change it to 5 silver. Better food causes better morale and better health. Food bought is good for a month. However at the second week, there is a 1% the food will spoil and cause food poisoning. Each following week, the chance increases by 5.

Regarding sickness, if you are using the best quality food, then you only have a scant 1% chance while at sea of contracting some type of sickness. Medium quality? 5%. Poor quality? 10%. If a sickness erupts, a ship could face quarantine and not being allowed to dock. A cleric/priest of Lothos can handle the sickness, but this priest cannot take the place of quality cleanliness on a ship.

Any basic ship repairs can be done at sea by the crew, however all major repairs are needed to be done at docks. Battle damage? A crew can handle it. Had the main mast snapped in two? Better get a shipyard to handle that.

Ships can go out and sail anywhere, yes, anywhere. While some areas such as the Kopru Expanse are "Forbidden Zones", no one is actually out enforcing it. However enter at your own risk. When a ship is docked and undergoing repairs, a crew can be dismissed. Docking fees are 100 silver per entry, and 25 silver per day the ship remains there. However a ship is well guarded and protected. A person can keep a skeleton crew onboard as a theft prevention, but it is not required.

However a person has as an option to buy a docking pass for one platinum per month. This pass allows a ship to come and go as it pleases and avoids entry fees and daily fees.

Navigation

A ship has no real sensors, having to rely on the eyes to see any threats. What you can see is determined by the weather. The ranges below assume you have a telescope. Don't, then range is down by half.

Navigation is a difficult job, and hard to explain so I won't get into all of the details. A Navigation check is usually done once a day, the navigator using the stars as a fixture and relying on his charts and maps. For a check, a person uses a 1d100. What happens next is several modifiers dependent on a few things.

Then you take the result and place it up against this chart.

Lost? If you make the worst roll, three days in a row then the ship is lost. At that point, it's navigation will be done entirely by a PM/OP. While lost, the ship's heading and direction is entirely at random. The only way to gauge your location is if the navigator tries to check, however he has a slim chance at that. Each day while lost, the ship's heading is randomly determined by a 1d10. Any movement during a storm is considered Lost movement. A ship remains lost till it comes in contact (If ever) of land that it is able to accurately identify.

The Elements

If in a Plot, or running a Plot focusing on a ship, each day the weather has to be checked. Weather can make or break a ship. For the first day a ship sails however, assume the weather is calm and clear, and the winds are just enough to propel a ship at it's basic speed. Then you start the check on day 2. A 1d100 is needed, modified accordingly (As noted below) 

Seasonal Modifier

Sea State

Wind Direction

In Conclusion

Why a person owns a ship is entirely up to them. Yes it is possible to have a ship turn a profit, but that would have to be asked of of an Op/Plotmaster. Having ships turn profits for a person will be explained in a later update of this Lesson.

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