Have an idea for a rogue clockwork pirate crew for a Skull and Shackles game.
Need help with where in Golarion's history or geography or lore such an extensive clockwork project could originate.
Alkenstar seems like the best bet. Lots of clockworks can be found there. Perhaps one inventor went a bit too far and ended up with some rebellious self-aware constructs?
Based on The Emerald Spire and Shattered Star, clockworks were fairly well known in ancient Azlant and Thassilon (First Emperor Xin, especially). So anywhere with Azlanti or Thassilonian influence (pretty much the entire Inner Sea region).
Or maybe the clockwork pirates are from Azlant or Thassilon (a mix of clockwork soldiers, clockwork mages, and clockwork servants; clockwork servants can keep the crew and vessel in "ship-shape" almost indefinitely). Sort of a "ghost ship," attacking at (what seems like) random due to millennia-old orders.
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You see, son, when a spell caster with Craft Construct feat loves the idea of a clockwork golem very much, he performs a special, expensive ceremony to make a brand new clockwork.
What? Yes. I mean, no! I mean, yes, you can make a clockwork someday, but not until you're much older, magically mature, and more financially responsible.
Have an idea for a rogue clockwork pirate crew for a Skull and Shackles game.
Need help with where in Golarion's history or geography or lore such an extensive clockwork project could originate.
It's a really interesting and original idea. Go for it. I'd go with discovering them in Thassilonian ruins. Ships in the shackles come from all over the world.
Created by a wizard that intended to build a mechanical army. Their creator may be dead, either because they killed him or because his army has defeated. Either way the remaining clockworks are free.
Some other ideas:
The clockwork crew can all have the Bioconstruct Modification (Brain)* and skill ranks in Profession (Sailor); some could also have ranks in Knowledge (Engineering) to use vehicle-mounted siege engines. The ship itself could be modified using the vehicle rules in Ultimate Combat.
*- Building and Modifying Constructs in Ultimate Magic
Seawater and -air reap havoc on (fine) machineries and on iron. So any clockwork sailor would be (mostly) brass, and come equiped with plenty of Rust Repellent. Oh, and probably they'd all wear Cork Vests. Because I doubt Clockwork creatures are buoyant enough to even try to swim.
Oh, and probably they'd all wear Cork Vests. Because I doubt Clockwork creatures are buoyant enough to even try to swim.
I'm reminded of the scene toward the end of Pirates of the Caribbean: "Gents, take a walk." Not as useful in deep ocean, but anywhere a ship can be anchored...