Equipment‎ > ‎Vehicles‎ > ‎Water Vehicles‎ > ‎

Galley

One of the largest sailing ships on the sea, this massive vessel cannot make ocean voyages, and typically sticks to the coast. A galley is propelled mainly by one to three tiers of oars, but also sports lateen sails. Galleys are often used by slavers, though they’re occasionally employed as short-range warships. They are heavily armed with ballistae, catapults, and even bow rams. With a shallow draft, galleys are especially useful in shoal waters and rivers, and can move quickly using their powerful banks of oars. Galleys do not handle high seas well due to their low profile, and can founder in rough conditions.

Note: There are numerous differences between the descriptions below due to the sources. Be sure to use the mechanics for the version of naval combat being used in the campaign.

DESCRIPTION

Source: Ultimate Combat

Colossal Water vehicle
Squares 104 (20 ft. by 130 ft.); Cost 10,000 gp

DEFENSE

AC 2; Hardness 5
hp 1,560 (779)
Base Save +0

OFFENSE

Maximum Speed 180 ft. (current) or 60 ft. (muscle); Acceleration 30 ft. (current) or 15 ft. (muscle)
Weapons Up to 40 Large direct-fire siege engines in banks of 20 positioned on the port and starboard sides of the galley, or up to 12 Huge direct-fire siege engines in banks of six on the port and starboard sides of the ship. The siege engines may only fire out the sides of the ship that they are positioned on. They cannot be swiveled to fire toward the forward or aft sides of the ship. These siege engines cannot be used while the galley is being rowed. For 8,000 gp more, the galley can be fitted with a battering ram and castles with firing platforms fore, aft, and amidships. Each of these firing platforms can hold a single Large direct-fire siege engine that can fire either out the sides of the ship or in the direction of its location. An amidships platform can fire out either the port or starboard sides of the galley.
Attack ram 8d8
CMB +8; CMD 18

DRIVE

Propulsion current (air; three masts, 60 squares of sails, hp 300), current (water), or muscle (pushed; 140 Medium rowers)
Driving Check Profession (sailor) or Knowledge (nature) +10 to the DC
Forward Facing the ship’s forward
Driving Device steering wheel
Driving Space the nine squares around the steering wheel, typically located in the aft of the ship
Crew 20 or 160 (if the boat is rowed)

LOAD

Decks 3
Cargo Up to 150 tons or 250 soldiers.

Variations

  • Dromon: A two-masted galley powered by rowing or sailing.
  • Slave Galley: An enormous ship powered mainly by rowing.
Section 15: Copyright Notice

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Ultimate Combat. © 2011, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors: Jason Bulmahn, Tim Hitchcock, Colin McComb, Rob McCreary, Jason Nelson, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Sean K Reynolds, Owen K.C. Stephens, and Russ Taylor.

DESCRIPTION

Source: Skull & Shackles Player’s Guide

Colossal ship
Squares 4 (20 ft. by 130 ft.); Cost 30,000 gp

DEFENSE

AC 2; Hardness 5
hp 1,560 (oars 1,400, sails 320)
Base Save +8

OFFENSE

Maximum Speed 60 ft. (muscle), 60 ft. (wind), or 120 ft. (muscle and wind); Acceleration 30 ft.
CMB +8; CMD 18
Ramming Damage 8d8

STATISTICS

Propulsion muscle, wind, or current
Sailing Check Diplomacy or Intimidate (when using muscle); Profession (sailor) (when using wind or current)
Control Device tiller
Means of Propulsion 140 oars, 80 squares of sails (two masts)
Crew 200 (60+140 Medium rowers)
Decks 3
Cargo/Passengers 150 tons/250 passengers
Weapons Up to 40 Large direct-fire siege engines in banks of 20 positioned on the port and starboard sides of the ship, or up to 12 Huge direct-fire siege engines in banks of six on the port and starboard sides of the ship. These siege engines may only fire out the sides of the ship that they are positioned on and cannot fire toward the forward or aft sides of the ship. These siege engines cannot be used while the galley is being rowed. For an additional 8,000 gp, a galley can be fitted with a ram and castles with firing platforms fore, aft, and amidships. Each of these firing platforms can hold a single Large or Huge direct-fire or indirect-fire siege engine. Siege engines on the fore and aft firing platforms can be swiveled to fire out the sides of the ship or either forward or aft, depending on their position. A siege engine on the amidships can be swiveled to fire out either side of the ship.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Skull & Shackles Player’s Guide © 2012, All Rights Reserved. Paizo Publishing, LLC. Paizo Publishing, LLC, the Paizo golem logo, Pathfinder, and GameMastery are registered trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC; Pathfinder Adventure Path, Pathfinder Campaign Setting, Pathfinder Module, Pathfinder Player Companion, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Pathfinder Society, and Pathfinder Tales are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC.