Life On The high Seas?

[Diamond Cross]

So your character has all the fund he or she wants to buy a ship.

In D&D fantasy, what kind of a ship would it be?

In d20 Modern, what kind of a ship would it be?

For me, what I'd want is a large merchant's vessel, possibly a Caravel, with a fair amount of magical protection. Including the fantasy equivalent of a cloaking device and sails enchanted to resist fire and lightning.

In d20 Modern, I'd want a hundred and fifty foot yacht complete with all the electronic fixings that money would buy. However, it wouldn't be a luxury yacht, for example, it wouldn't have things like solid gold toilet seats, but it would be carpeted and other comforts of home, including powerful internet connections so I can connect from anywhere in the oceans and world. This vessel would also be my home.

So what about you?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

A small smart ship like Sparrowhawk's, from the Wizard of Earthsea trilogy. (That's right, it's a trilogy, just like Star Wars, and just like how Highlander was only one film.)

 

[Wik]

In a modern game, it really depends what you want the ship to do. If you want a pirate ship, you want a <30 ft. ship with two diesel engines and a steel frame - something fast that you can mount weapons to. Of course, this is in RPG speak - in reality, most any ship can be turned to piracy... ask my dad, he's actually hunted modern day pirates near Somalia and the Phillipines (my dad's a navy dude).

Are you exploring? Maybe a 50 foot power boat or a 40 ft. sailboat. Enough berths for everyone, with no one having to necessarily share space. Maybe a bit cramped, but it'll have all the electronics you need for navigation while still being small enough to be unnoticed.

Those big-ass boats are going to attract attention and require a decent-sized crew to move around. And are usually very expensive to move and supply, even sail boats.

Were I a PC in a modern game with a cool million to spend, I'd be looking at a Nordic Tug 42 or 43. Great speed, pulling power, and super durable little machines, with enough room to comfortably hold 4 PCs as liveabords indefininately, provided PCs are willing to share bunks.

A good site to check out for modern ships is Boats for Sale, New and Used Boats and Yachts - YachtWorld.com. It's a very good boat-buying site that sometimes includes deck plans, and almost always includes high quality photos.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Sometimes, when looking at buying a ship, you just have to say frigate.

Seriously, a barque, brigantine, or frigate, maybe a sloop. Not a wallower like a galleon or a ship of the line. A round bottom and not too deep a draft, a straight keel, with enough teeth or legs for what needs doing, whether it is fighting or running like Hell.

The Auld Grump

 

[radja]

it depends on what you're going to use it for. river or sea? is speed a big issue? loading capacity? will you engage in combat from the ship? you could look into used navy stuff for d20 modern.

 

[thejc]

Fantasy wise: My ship would be enchanted and protected as well. Extra speed resistance to fire. Warded and dimension locked. Perhaps bonded with a couple elementals...hmmmm...maybe I have it fixed so once it hits land it just keeps going....yes fear me...I pilot a pirate hovership.

Modern. Fast not breakneck or anything but it's got some gusto. Large enough to be comfortable and well stocked. Armed well, guards stationed. Teched out. Probably have some shark drones with friggin lazers on their heads I can control from the captains chair. The normal.

 

[Dungeoneer]

Airship!

 

[Bluenose]

So your character has all the fund he or she wants to buy a ship.

In D&D fantasy, what kind of a ship would it be?

In d20 Modern, what kind of a ship would it be?

For me, what I'd want is a large merchant's vessel, possibly a Caravel, with a fair amount of magical protection. Including the fantasy equivalent of a cloaking device and sails enchanted to resist fire and lightning.

In d20 Modern, I'd want a hundred and fifty foot yacht complete with all the electronic fixings that money would buy. However, it wouldn't be a luxury yacht, for example, it wouldn't have things like solid gold toilet seats, but it would be carpeted and other comforts of home, including powerful internet connections so I can connect from anywhere in the oceans and world. This vessel would also be my home.

So what about you?

Caravels aren't actually that large. Certainly smaller than the earlier medieval Barks. Though they're certainly nice and manoeuvrable vessels. What I'd prefer would depnd on the environment and on what I wanted to do with the ship. Though I do like lateen rigs, so a dhow is probably suitable.

Small private modern day non-commercial vessels are nearly always described as yachts. Personally I'd go for a small sailing vessel with an auxiliary engine and generator, small enough to be operated solo, with satellite communication. Nothing too fancy.

 

[David Howery]

back in 1E/2E days, I ran several ship-based adventures, but deck plans for ships were hard to find (outside of the oddball Spelljammer ones)... one of the modules had the plans for a small ship (the first Saltmarsh one, IIRC), and I used that one over and over and over, modified a bit here and there...