And here we are! I'm excited to get things started. While I prepare everything, I suggest everyone figure out what role they want to have aboard the ship, once you've taken it for yourselves. Most importantly, we'll need to figure out who the captain is going to be, but there should probably also be a boatswain, maybe a master-at-arms... and probably also a cook.
What kinds of roles are available? I can't say I'm too familiar with them.
I'm not sure if Hai-Jun has any skills that would make him any good in most roles. He's something of a juggernaut, but he's lacking when it comes to cookery, and I'm sure the others are far better at sailing or leading.
Let me copy-paste from the book.
Boatswain: The boatswain, or bosun (pronounced
“bosun” either way), is responsible for the upper deck of the
vessel and above. This makes the boatswain accountable
for all rope, rigging, anchors, and sails. At the start of the
day, the boatswain and those under her weigh anchor, raise
the sails and report on the general condition of the ship’s
deck to the captain. As she oversees many of the ship’s
basic daily labors, the boatswain is often responsible for
keeping discipline and dispensing punishment.
Cabin Boy/Girl: Servant to the captain and other officers,
this low-ranking and typically young crew member assists
other sailors in their duties and runs various errands
across the ship, requiring him or her to gain a measure of
understanding of almost all the ship’s roles.
Captain: The ultimate authority on any ship, his word
is law to all on board. The captain chooses where to sail,
what to plunder, and who fills the other stations aboard
the vessel, among many other command decisions.
Leadership often proves perilous, however, as a captain is,
above all, meant to secure success for his ship and crew.
Failing to do so increases the threat of mutiny.
Carpenter/Surgeon: No matter what enchantments or
alchemical unguents augment a pirate ship, its heart and
bones are still wood. This simple fact makes the carpenter
one of the most important positions aboard any vessel.
Carpenters are chief ly responsible for maintaining the
ship below the deck, finding and plugging leaks, repairing
damage, and replacing masts and yards. As the crew
member most skilled with the saw, the carpenter typically
serves as a ship’s surgeon as well—bones cut just as easily
as timbers.
Cook: While the quartermaster normally allocates the
rations, the cook and his apprentices make and distribute
meals to the crew. Although some better-outfitted vessels
employ skilled cooks to attend to the captain and the
officers, many cooks are drawn from crew members who
have suffered crippling injuries, allowing them to still
serve even after such trauma.
Master-at-Arms: Concerned with the security of the
ship, the fitness of the crew, and the dispensing of justice,
the master-at-arms typically is one of the most feared and
dreaded of a ship’s officers.
Master Gunner: The master gunner is in charge of all
shipboard artillery, ensuring moisture and rust don’t ruin
the weapons and that the crew knows how to use them. On
board ships with firearms, the master gunner maintains
the vessel’s cannons, firearms, and powder supplies; on
ships without such weapons, she maintains the ballistas,
catapults, and so on.
Quartermaster: The quartermaster oversees the supplies
and items stored aboard the ship. She maintains the
supplies of food and weaponry, oversees the disbursement
of food to the cook, and doles out the rum ration to the crew.
Rigger: Riggers work the rigging and unfurl the sails.
In battle, next to that of a boarding party, the riggers’ job
is one of the most dangerous, as they pull enemy vessels
near enough to board.
Swab: Any sailor who mops the decks. Also used as slang
for any low-ranking or unskilled crew member.
If we're going to be runing a skeleton crew, a few of the rols becoe... a bit different, thoug.
Hey everybody, welcome to the crew! Supergreat made some fantastic selections.
As far as role, Sinmara was built from the ground up to be captain. She has fantastic profession (sailor) and excellent social skills (especially Intimidate), and her combat style is all about summoning a "crew" of skeletal minions. I'd very much like to take that role on the ship.
Coranzen could easily fill two roles if allowed; Master Gunner and Carpenter/Surgeon.
Hai-Jun likes the sound of Master-At-Arms.
Doubling up makes sense. We're going to be a ship crewed by nothing but officers and mindless, utterly loyal skeletons. Problems of morale, supply, fresh water, mutiny, and disease are all vastly lessened aboard our ship.
Since she won't have a crew of disloyal conscripts to whip into line (at least at first), if Sinmara is captain she probably won't feel much need to be very authoritative or domineering like she would with a human crew. The only other ones on the ship would be her close allies, after all. She'd see the captain's role as the "face" of the ship - spreading its reputation across the nine seas and striking terror into the hearts of their enemies. And as a vigilante - there's no one better at playing a role and spreading reputation.
I could probably be a decent captain, I have decently high social skills. I'm not sure what other role I could fill, possibly bosun.
I could probably be a decent captain, I have decently high social skills. I'm not sure what other role I could fill, possibly bosun.
We could decide this based on which of us can sail a ship better. I'll go first. ;)
Sinmara knows her way around a ship blindfolded, unlike most underwater folks. She's snuck aboard and stowed away on ships for years. With no ranks, Kyanos wouldn't know the difference between a rudder and the rigging! :P
On further inspection, the bosun seems to be more inclined to knowledge of about the ship and control of the crew, and given the Sinmara is animating the skeletons, it would be useful. Captains seem to maintain social cohesion on board, which Kyanos would excell at. If I do end up as bosun, I can certainly...intimidate skeletons? Hmmmm
The Captain is actually in charge of making the Profession (Sailor) checks needed to navigate an pilot the ship, especially in Ship to Ship Combat. Without ranks it in, our performance will suffer greatly.
Ah, understood. I'm not too familiar with the ship rules and the text from the book didn't suggest anything about ship combat. It seems like bosun would be my best choice in that case.
Captain - Sinmara
Boatswan - Kyanos
Carpenter / Surgeon - Coranzen(?)
Master Gunner - Coranzen(?)
Master-at-arms - Hai-Jun
Undecided - Reefclaw
Maybe I'll take Cook and/or Quartermaster?
I could do Quartermaster as well.
However, Kraol has a lot of wisdom, which means he *could* make a hilarious cook if I redistributed 1-2 skill points into Profession (cook).
...but he also mostly eats fish and, sometimes, people. Are you guys okay with a cook who cures and serves human?
* * *
Meanwhile, Gunner really benefits from Knowledge (engineering), as well as a bit of Craft (siege engineering), while Carpenters do well with spells like Make Whole.
I figured doubling up with Carpenter/Surgeon would work out since I have ranks in Craft (Shipbuilding) and Heal, and I intend to upgrade our ship myself once the time arrives rather than pay others to do it for us. But if you have Make Whole and can also care for the crew, then don't let me stop you, I don't need two roles.
Human is alright. A bit stringy. Hehe.
Human is an acquired taste, usually by smelling it in the water. Hai-Jun likes to help keep the ship clean by picking the corpses clean so the bones are neatly arranged and ready for animation.
I'd eat people.
Gonna get my alias filled out tomorrow. Let me know if there's a specific ship role I should take and I can rearrange skill points.
I've decided to use roll20 for our maps. If you have a picture you'd like me to use for your token, either post it in the thread or PM it to me. Otherwise, I'll just use your avatar.
Alright. Kraol as cook, then. I can also cook fish I guess (and survival to catch them). Could also double with Quartermaster if necessary, due to keeping track of food stores.
Coranzen won't be eating any humans, so the fish will be appreciated.
Kyanos prefers not to eat human, a bit too tough and uncivilized for his taste.
a bit too tough and uncivilized for his taste.
...so he's more into eating elves, then?
No one else has a picture they want to use? Alright, I'll use forum avatars.
a bit too tough and uncivilized for his taste....so he's more into eating elves, then?
Indeed, only the finest elf chops will do. :P
Heh. We could always have "regular meals" and then "chef's special reserve" for crew who are interested. (Or if main crewmembers are generally not okay with Kraol eating people we kill, that's fine? I guess I'm not sure how evil the party's going)
I sent you my picture over Discord.
Coranzen won't get in your way if you want to eat people, but he's not going to join in or even watch. He's really more into this ship plan for the personal gain than the opportunity to slaughter, and he's dicided you all make capable allies in this venture regardless of your... tastes.
Kyanos has similar feelings on the matter to Coranzen.
Alright, sorry for taking so long. I'm going to try to get the gameplay thread up today, as soon as I finish up a couple more things.
Took me way too long, but I didn't want to make the thread until I was totally ready for the assault on the Man's Promise.
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Sweet! Excited to try out some combat maneuvers I've never actually used in PbP.
Almost everything on my character sheet is something I've never tried before. Never been a merfolk, never been a vigilante, never wielded a trident, never used most of these spells... It's gonna be exciting.
Same, to a lesser extent. I'm a big fan of monks and maneuvers, but I've never really thought about shifters before, and I've never tried bull rushing or dragging (or any other sort of knockback), let alone a focus on those.
It's a public forum, all are welcome to read our daring exploits. But I should mention, if someone does drop out we'll very likely hold a brand-new recruitment thread if we feel that shrinks the party too much, rather than just pick up someone directly.
Do not post in the gameplay thread.
By the way - Sinmara has explained to her allies prior to the raid that due to a dark bargain she struck with the pirate goddess, an unliving heart beats in her chest. Normal healing magic would be as destructive to her as to an undead - only negative energy can staunch her wounds.
Just in case she falls unconscious and someone wants to get her back to her feet with a cure...
Kraol, I'm counting this as a surprise round. You can keep the roll, but the dragging will happen on your initiative.
Oh! In that case, can I change it to bull rushing someone off the other side, or is it too far? (I can bull rush as part of a charge, but I'm limited to 40' of movement before I collide with the guy, and if no one's standing near the far side of the ship it doesn't work well)
Oh! In that case, can I change it to bull rushing someone off the other side, or is it too far? (I can bull rush as part of a charge, but I'm limited to 40' of movement before I collide with the guy, and if no one's standing near the far side of the ship it doesn't work well)
Heh, alright. I'll put someone there just for you. :P
Hey all, I'm off school for a bit so I should be able to post more.
Sorry about that, I didn't realize Ligeia wouldn't have enough movement either. :(
Ouch! You could always jump overboard and just pull yourself back up next round. You should have enough actions to use your voice, cast a spell, then five-foot step five-foot flop off the side.
That's okay! I didn't realise it offhand, either. We're certainly learning, haha. Besides, it'll make Ligeia look like a total boss to take shrapnel in the stomach without flinching. DEMORALIZE ACTIONS EVERYWHERE.
I'm about to leave for Chrismas vacation - I'll be out of town until the 28th so my posting will be slow at best. Please bot me as needed while I am away!
That's okay! I didn't realise it offhand, either. We're certainly learning, haha. Besides, it'll make Ligeia look like a total boss to take shrapnel in the stomach without flinching. DEMORALIZE ACTIONS EVERYWHERE.
Sinmara literally has a feat for that. We're badass pirates, don't trifle with us!