Seafarer´s Handbook - Reviews?

[Donatello]

Broadsides! is indeed generic fantasy. Twin Crowns is our campaign setting, which uses an abbreviated version of the naval system that appears in Broadsides.

As for what sets our book apart, I really can't say because I haven't seen Seas of Blood or Seafarer's yet (my local gaming shop is notoriously slow on getting non-WotC releases).

I know our focus was on providing as many rules to govern as many situations as we could possibly think of. We wanted to be able to encompass the complete nautical campign; underwater adventuring, tactical naval combat, a complete system for determining the overall success or failure of a sea voyage in only a few die-rolls or as complicated as the DM wants to get, feats for nautically oriented characters, 6 prestige classes (Sea Captain, Harpooneer, Marine, Surgeon, Oceanic Sentinel, Privateer), new spells, new rituals (for use with the ritual system detailed in Twin Crowns, and that will also be released in an upcoming Magic supplement), new magic items, sample encounters, a rogue's gallery, and much more.

We didn't focus the book on the ship, because players don't play ships... they play characters. We set out to make a book about playing D&D on ships and on the ocean... not how to make ships viable in D&D. Of course, our tactical system has a much more "Battletech" feel to it, but some DM's really enjoy that sort of thing, and we busted our humps to get as realistic as we could. I think one of our designers, Harald Henning, can actually pilot a 17th century galleon after all the research he's done...

Anyway, if you have any more questions, feel free to email me or post them on Living Imagination's forum.

- John Faugno

 

[Galfridus]

That's exactly what I was looking for, Donatello. Thanks!

 

[Psion]

MORE nautical supplements, eh. I've had a tough enough time picking between Seas of Blood and Seafarer's Handbook. I think I'm probably going to go with the latter;

Don't be so hasty. Seas of Blood is a very well rounded book. I'll try to get a review of SFHB up ASAP, but it won't likely be before wednesday.

 

[kenjib]

Don't be so hasty. Seas of Blood is a very well rounded book. I'll try to get a review of SFHB up ASAP, but it won't likely be before wednesday.

Cool, that means we'll get the first side-by-side comparison...well of sorts at least since it's at least two reviews by the same reviewer.

 

[Eye Tyrant]

I just read over Chapter Six: Ship Combat... I like it at first glance. Pretty easy by the looks of it.

Some folks might want to get more detailed into things, but I think that FFG has provided a simple, yet effective system for determing confrontations on the high seas.

My only critical comment has to do with repairing damage (ie. sails, breached hulls/bulkheads, etc.). It gives a DC of 10 and a time frame of 10 minutes for a ships component to be repaired by someone with the requisite skill. As I serve in the Navy and have undergone numerous fire and flooding drills (not to mention a few of the real thing), I can safely say that that repairs can't be done in that amount of time. I will however go so far as to say that the damage can be controlled and prevented from spreading (ie. a hole can be plugged or "shored", which is the proper term, inhibiting if not totally stopping progressive flooding). My point here is that DMs and players alike not get confused. When I think of "repair", I think of fixed, whole and hearty, etc and so on. In a shipboard environment, during a stressfull situation such as a major fire or flooding, this won't happen (at least not in the games I participate in). It takes time, and possibly a stay in a shipyard or dry dock to fix these things.

Other then that I have not noticed anything that has blaringly opposed what my experience tells me is true.....

Just two cents from a Boatswain's Mate Second Class, USN...


Oh Wait!!!! Grrr!!! I forgot!!

In the examples of combat they (FFG) refer to the ships boson quite a few times... The correct spelling (at least in the USN) is boatswain but normally is abbreviated has bos'n or even sometimes bosun... No big deal though, just thought I would add that in.

Other then that, GOOD JOB FFG!

 

[Emiricol]

I plan on buying Seafarer's HB. But let me just say that I've already bought Seas of Blood, and the damn thing got me all excited to try a naval campaign.

Ultimately, to me, that is the best selling point of all - I was inspired to actually use it!

(PS - in planning it out, the book delivered every time I needed a rule or idea, so Seas and Blood delivers a solid punch when it comes to crunchy bits, too.)

 

[Ammianus]

Don't be so hasty. Seas of Blood is a very well rounded book. I'll try to get a review of SFHB up ASAP, but it won't likely be before wednesday.

I look forward to your review, Psion. I've actually read a number of reviews of both books, and they've all been generally positive, but I still haven't made up my mind absolutely 100% carved-in-stone for sure which one to go for. However, it's off to the games store after work today, and if both are in stock, it may be decision time!

 

[Psion]

In the examples of combat they (FFG) refer to the ships boson quite a few times... The correct spelling (at least in the USN) is boatswain but normally is abbreviated has bos'n or even sometimes bosun...

Silly people. They got it mixed up with entries from the subatomic particles handbook.

(Okay, ubergeek humor, I know)