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Message: <blockquote data-quote="CarlZog" data-source="post: 1836460" data-attributes="member: 11716">In reference to tides, mentioned by one post: The presence and influence of tide and tidal current is a product of geography, but generally currents generated by astronomical tides become unnoticeable pretty shortly after you get offshore. Ocean currents, like the Gulf Stream, are a different matter, and it's up to the DM to decide if and where such currents exist. In reference to navigation: Yes, it is a very separate skill set from actually sailing the ship, and if the ship were offshore when the PCs took control, somebody will need to have some nav skills if they're going to find their way home. As for the application of wilderness survival and orienteering skills, there may be some crossover here depending on the circumstances. Although technology and tools improved, ocean navigation methods didn't change dramatically from the time of Columbus to the time of Nelson. The backbone of navigation, even today, is a process known as deduced reckoning. Essentially, you need to have a known starting point. From there, you keep track of how fast you're going (using a chip log) and in what direction (using a compass). Obviously you'll also need to keep track of time (an hourglass). Skillful ded reckoning, as this is known, can be surprisingly accurate for extended periods of time. For centuries this was the only means of determining your East-West position crossing the Atlantic.  If the crew had a good, recent position on the chart when the PCs took over, someone with some nav skill could rebuild and continue that. Even someone with some shore-based orienteering skills could possibly muddle through and achieve reasonable results. Again an accurate starting point on a chart is pivotal. DR positions are complemented by sun and star sights to confirm latitude. Longitude may have been able to be determined by either lunar distances, or, later, mechanical chronometer. These are definitely specialized skills that only an experienced ocean navigator would have. Now all of this assumes a traditional, European approach. Depending on the races and homelands of your PCs, someone may have unique cultural skills that would allow an entirely different form of ocean navigation to take place. The real world parallel to this is the navigation systems of the Pacific islanders. For those who want a comparatively high level of accuracy in the matters of the sea, I think Broadsides is the best d20 rule set. For even more detailed miniatures rules, see Heart of Oak, an old FGU title still available as pdf. Carl</blockquote>

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