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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Baron Opal II" data-source="post: 8386125" data-attributes="member: 6794067">The number one thing that impacts the survival of the ship is how well the captain is able to steer the ship along the waves. You want to go into the storm, otherwise the wind and waves will slap into the side and flip the ship over. Especially if you have an empty hold. But, if you cut directly across high waves you cause the keel and hull to flex. This can crack the hull or split the ship. A skilled captain is needed to guide the ship so that it takes the least damage. In a really bad storm you'll probably lose a mast or two.It would really suck if the captain was washed overboard...Furthermore, in the larger ships there were specific sails that were used to guide the ship in storms. They were small, but still needed to be adjusted in the rigging. So there were sailors up there adjusting sails, tied off with safety lines to prevent them getting blown off. Most sailors who were on the deck tied themselves to the mast or the railing. A cubic foot of water weighs about 60 pounds, and several cubic yards of water will be crashing over the decks. Being able to minimize the overwash through skillful piloting makes it easier.Having someone that can go below decks and warp wood back into place, or a floating disk cast just outside a rupture could be critical. The cleric casting resist elements on the crew member steering the ship so they can handle getting washed with freezing cold water could be key. Flying up to the rigging would be an astoundingly bad idea, but having a fly on the thief as a backup in case they slip could be useful. The great strength of the fighter can help steady a line or a boom as the crew unfouls the necessary rigging.So it comes down to <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The ship is going to take damage, slowly, but perhaps catastrophically.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">If the ship goes down everyone's probably going to die.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The captain (or who's ever steering) can mitigate, but not eliminate the damage.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">He might not be able to mitigate it enough, regardless. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The crew can help the captain mitigate the damage.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Some crew are going to be lost.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">If the PCs stay below decks they will be safe, unless the ship sinks.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">If the PCs help on deck, they are subject to the same hazards as the crew (which are bad).</li> </ul>So then it becomes how can the PCs<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Help the captain steer the ship?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Replace the captain to steer the ship if he gets washed overboard?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Help the crew keep the ship responsive to the captain's orders?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Maintain the endurance of the captain and crew?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Prevent the captain and crew from getting washed overboard?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Rescue the captain and crew if they get washed overboard (which will be hard to impossible in a storm)?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Fix / repair the ship so it doesn't come apart beneath them?</li> </ul></blockquote>

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