
Varthanna |
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Back when Stormwrack (Wizards 3.5) came out, I ran a pirate campaign and took bits from that book, as well as the OGL Seafarer's handbook and designed a method for creating ships from scratch. As with any customization and flexibility, it can get rather complicated. Since Skull and Shackles came out, I have tried to revise/add/modify it to use in that campaign. As time allows, I am going to try and build a Wormwood and Man's Promise using these rules in this thread.
For now,
Ship Building Rules
FYI, I also originally designed this for Eberron, but almost everything should work in any setting

Varthanna |
Creating the Wormwood:
First, judging by the picture of the Wormwood in the AP, its crew size, and weapons, I am building the Wormwood as though it is a caraval akin to the La Pinta or Niña.
According to the map, the main deck of the Wormwood is 80 long, 30 wide. Thus, it will be a gargantuan ship, which fits with a starting crew size of 24. Base cost=5,000 gp
I am going to say it has a height of 10 ft, draft of 15. Now I can calculate hull sections (since I find these rules, from Stormwrack, work much better than the ones in the Shackles player's guide)
25*30*80=6000, so 60 hull sections.
Now on to its hull. I am going to say the Wormwood's hull is 4 inches of wood. Its 35 gp/inch per hull section... so 140*60. Current cost=8,400gp. Each hull section has hardness 5, 80 hp.
Not done yet, though. The Wormwood has a forecastle and a sterncastle. Each of these increase the hull sections by 7, giving the Wormwood 74 hull sections. Now, onto getting this thing to move!
Speed:
The Wormwood is at a negative to begin with, -15ft for being gargantuan, -10ft for its wood hull, and -10ft for its 'castles. The Wormwood picture shows it with three masts, and it has 40 propulsion slots so I am giving it two large sails (15 each) and a medium sail (10) for its mizzenmast. These are square sails, resulting in an optimal crew for the wormwood of 34 (pretty close!). I'm also going to say it probably has silk sails, cause that's how Harrigan roles.
Sail speeds: 40 + 40 + 20 = 100 - 35 = 65 ft speed.
Final cost, sans weapons: 9,150 gp
Seaworthiness and Ship handling (modifiers to Profession Sailor):
Base modifiers 0 / 0
Add wood hull -4 / 0
Add square silk sails 2/ -6
Whew, I'm tired and off to dinner! I may post a stat block later.

Varthanna |
Wormwood
Gargantuan ship
(30 ft. by 80 ft.) Cost 12,450gp
Seaworthiness +2, Ship handling -6
DEFENSE
AC 1; Hull Section AC 6
Hull Sections 72, Hull Section hp 60, hardness 5 (sink 18 sections)
Rigging sections 3, Rigging hp 80, hardness 1
Base Save +6
OFFENSE
Maximum Speed 65 ft. (wind); Acceleration 30 ft.
CMB +4; CMD 14
Ramming Damage 6d8
STATISTICS
Propulsion wind or current
Sailing Check Profession (sailor)
Control Device steering wheel
Crew 34
Decks 3
Cargo 80 tons
Weapons 1 Heavy Mangonel, 2 Heavy Ballista, 2 repeating crossbow, 1 grappling ramp (corvus)