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<blockquote data-quote="Aurumvorax" data-source="post: 5332398" data-attributes="member: 87266">The problem with ship combat is that piloting even the smallest vessels is an exercise in micromanagement. The captain gives directions to the helmsman, calls to the weapons officer to load and make ready, orders damage control to patch damaged infrastructure, calls to the bos'n to reinforce the sails, and asks the first mate for an accurate ammunition count in the span of a single round. The PCs will either be the CO calling the shots or they'll be one of the many deck hands who do whatever specific task is available to them.&nbsp;You'll notice that heroic fantasy sailors are almost always combatants and even if they're the captain they'll pass on instructions to the first mate, draw their sword, and be the first to board the enemy ship. Sailing a vessel, even a fantasy one, is a deep, complicated, and involved process and incredibly boring to role play from the micromanagement level. Unless you can somehow make knotting line and swabbing decks entertaining it's best to fast forward until something exciting happens which is usually when ships are close enough to board each other.&nbsp;Edit: Honestly, I think ship combat is the perfect realm for 4e style skill challenges.&nbsp; Each PC can be an officer; CO grants bonuses to everyone else for good leadership, the bos'n works the sails and deckwork, weapons officer manages guns, navigation officer manages movement and sight, damage control manages ship's health, medical officer treats the wounded.&nbsp; Each round the CO calls for a maneuver and rolls to inspire the action of another officer who makes the skill check.&nbsp; Ultimately your goal is to destroy the enemy ship so each successful skill check can increase the ship's chance to aim and damage the enemy.&nbsp; The bos'n can increase or decrease speed putting the ship in a favorable position, the navigation officer can pull off a successful pass allowing more cannons to be fired, damage control can reduce penalties implied by current hits, etc.&nbsp;Damn, I think I'm going to run a 4e naval game now.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Aurumvorax, post: 5332398, member: 87266"] The problem with ship combat is that piloting even the smallest vessels is an exercise in micromanagement. The captain gives directions to the helmsman, calls to the weapons officer to load and make ready, orders damage control to patch damaged infrastructure, calls to the bos'n to reinforce the sails, and asks the first mate for an accurate ammunition count in the span of a single round. The PCs will either be the CO calling the shots or they'll be one of the many deck hands who do whatever specific task is available to them. You'll notice that heroic fantasy sailors are almost always combatants and even if they're the captain they'll pass on instructions to the first mate, draw their sword, and be the first to board the enemy ship. Sailing a vessel, even a fantasy one, is a deep, complicated, and involved process and incredibly boring to role play from the micromanagement level. Unless you can somehow make knotting line and swabbing decks entertaining it's best to fast forward until something exciting happens which is usually when ships are close enough to board each other. Edit: Honestly, I think ship combat is the perfect realm for 4e style skill challenges. Each PC can be an officer; CO grants bonuses to everyone else for good leadership, the bos'n works the sails and deckwork, weapons officer manages guns, navigation officer manages movement and sight, damage control manages ship's health, medical officer treats the wounded. Each round the CO calls for a maneuver and rolls to inspire the action of another officer who makes the skill check. Ultimately your goal is to destroy the enemy ship so each successful skill check can increase the ship's chance to aim and damage the enemy. The bos'n can increase or decrease speed putting the ship in a favorable position, the navigation officer can pull off a successful pass allowing more cannons to be fired, damage control can reduce penalties implied by current hits, etc. Damn, I think I'm going to run a 4e naval game now. [/QUOTE]

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