Post by Hogscape on May 28, 2009 1:58:19 GMT -5
Battle on the High Seas
The weapons of ship-based warfare in the Dark Isles include the ballista (a giant crossbow that hurls rocks or harpoon-sized spears) and the swan (similar to a catapult and generally launching shrapnel at the sails of enemy ships or boulders to crush ship and crew). The swan is occasionally used for lobbing cauldrons of flaming pitch but this is rarely seen due to the danger of carrying such a dangerous cargo. However, Black Lucas used the ‘flaming swan’ extensively in the attack on Pashtun City. Gunpowder is a secret the dwarves are keeping to themselves for the time being…
Combat is conducted at the same range categories described in the Marksmanship rules (close, medium and far) however, the distances involved are usually greater. Even the largest ship can rarely deck-mount more than 2 weapons. Each weapon requires a roll on the Marksmanship table to determine a hit.
The ballista may target the hull or crew whilst the swan may attack hull, crew or sail depending on its ammunition.
All vessels with 6 or more crew have structure point ratings for each of the three areas; smaller ships have only one.
Combat procedure: although combat is simultaneous, ship Captains may make an Opposed Saving Roll (usually on IQ or Chr) with the winner splitting the difference as a Marksmanship bonus between his gunners.
Damage: once a hit has been confirmed, roll one die for each point of weapon strength to determine the amount of structure damage inflicted. Keep in mind that one point of structure damage is equivalent to 10 points of Con damage; in addition, weapon strength is reduced by -1 at far range.
If sail is reduced to zero, the ship is dead in the water and will drift with the current. With crew at zero, the ship no longer has sufficient able-bodied crew to function; it drifts with the wind. When hull is reduced to zero the vessel is sinking. Even though none of the ship's ratings may be reduced to zero, if a total number of points equal to its scuppered rating are inflicted, the ship is dead in the water and will sink if it unable limp to shore for major repairs.
The weapons of ship-based warfare in the Dark Isles include the ballista (a giant crossbow that hurls rocks or harpoon-sized spears) and the swan (similar to a catapult and generally launching shrapnel at the sails of enemy ships or boulders to crush ship and crew). The swan is occasionally used for lobbing cauldrons of flaming pitch but this is rarely seen due to the danger of carrying such a dangerous cargo. However, Black Lucas used the ‘flaming swan’ extensively in the attack on Pashtun City. Gunpowder is a secret the dwarves are keeping to themselves for the time being…
Combat is conducted at the same range categories described in the Marksmanship rules (close, medium and far) however, the distances involved are usually greater. Even the largest ship can rarely deck-mount more than 2 weapons. Each weapon requires a roll on the Marksmanship table to determine a hit.
The ballista may target the hull or crew whilst the swan may attack hull, crew or sail depending on its ammunition.
All vessels with 6 or more crew have structure point ratings for each of the three areas; smaller ships have only one.
Combat procedure: although combat is simultaneous, ship Captains may make an Opposed Saving Roll (usually on IQ or Chr) with the winner splitting the difference as a Marksmanship bonus between his gunners.
Damage: once a hit has been confirmed, roll one die for each point of weapon strength to determine the amount of structure damage inflicted. Keep in mind that one point of structure damage is equivalent to 10 points of Con damage; in addition, weapon strength is reduced by -1 at far range.
If sail is reduced to zero, the ship is dead in the water and will drift with the current. With crew at zero, the ship no longer has sufficient able-bodied crew to function; it drifts with the wind. When hull is reduced to zero the vessel is sinking. Even though none of the ship's ratings may be reduced to zero, if a total number of points equal to its scuppered rating are inflicted, the ship is dead in the water and will sink if it unable limp to shore for major repairs.