Equipment‎ > ‎Vehicles‎ > ‎Water Vehicles‎ > ‎

Warship

This ship is crafted of reinforced wood with a single mast and magically treated sails, although oars can also propel it. A warship is used for short-distance forays and troop deployment, as it does not have cargo space to carry supplies for large numbers of passengers over a long distance. Like galleys, warships are not designed for sea voyages and tend to stick close to the coast. A warship is not used for cargo. The largest Norse longships, called drekar or drakkar, as well as very large galleys such as galleasses and lantern galleys, are all considered warships.

Variations

  • Battleship: Often called line-of-battle ships, these vessels are used as main forces by large navies. Battleships commanded by commodores often head squadrons, hunt pirates, or escort merchant fleets or expeditions. With upward of 40 ballistae, three to four catapults, and often 200 fighting sailors, such a ship is rarely tangled with by a lone corsair.
  • Catawar: This large, shallow-draft warship has two hulls connected by a broad, firm platform, and is usually rigged with lateen sails. Each hull can be fitted with 100 oars, and the vessel can support large numbers of soldiers, archers, and siege engines. Despite its size, the craft can maneuver well using its huge banks of oars. Catawars are often used for harbor protection or in blockades.
  • Frigate: A heavy warship with a broad deck suitable for holding siege weapons. Frigates are the fastest and most maneuverable type of warship. Three-masted and square-rigged, frigates are the smallest of the “rated” ships—those commanded by an officer of captain rank. They’re fast and heavily armed, with one or two decks of ballistae and a bow-mounted catapult. Frigates can hoist a huge number of sails, require large crews, and are often manned with specially trained fighting marines for boarding actions.
  • Galleon: A warship with three or four masts and a distinctive square galley at the stern. An eminently durable design characterized by lofty forecastles and sterncastles, galleons are used as heavily armed merchants or warships. They are square-rigged on the foremast and mainmast, and lateen-rigged on the mizzen.
  • Man-of-War: One of the heaviest warships, propelled primarily by sails. These sailing behemoths are the height of military naval engineering. Generally fleet flagships commanded by admirals, men-o’-war rarely leave port with fewer than a dozen other warships accompanying them. With up to 50 ballistae on three or four decks, half a dozen heavy catapults, and hundreds of fighting sailors, marines, clerics, and wizards, these intimidating ships are virtually unstoppable.
  • Xebec: A three-masted warship with a distinctive overhanging bow.

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 80 (20 ft. by 100 ft.); Cost 25,000 gp

DEFENSE

AC 2; Hardness 10
hp 1,200 (599)
Base Save +0

OFFENSE

Maximum Speed 150 ft. (current) or 60 ft. (muscle); Acceleration 30 ft. (current) or 15 ft. (muscle)
Weapons Up to 20 Large direct-fire siege engines in banks of 10 positioned on the port and starboard sides of the ship, or up to six Huge direct-fire siege engines in banks of three on the port and starboard sides of the ship. The siege engines may only fire out the sides of the ship they are positioned on. They cannot be swiveled to fire toward the forward or aft sides of the ship. These weapons cannot be used while the warship is being rowed.
Attack ram 8d8
CMB +8; CMD 18

DRIVE

Propulsion current (air and water; one mast, 160 squares of sails, hp 800) or muscle (pushed; 80 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 60

LOAD

Decks 2
Cargo Up to 50 tons or 160 soldiers.

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 100 ft.) Cost 25,000 gp

DEFENSE

AC 2; Hardness 10
hp 1,200 (oars 600, sails 320)
Base Save +7

OFFENSE

Maximum Speed 60 ft. (muscle), 30 ft. (wind), or 90 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 60 oars, 40 squares of magically-treated sails (one mast)
Crew 80 (20+60 Medium rowers)
Decks 2
Cargo/Passengers 50 tons/160 passengers
Weapons Up to 20 Large direct-fire siege engines in banks of 10 are positioned on the port and starboard sides of the ship, or up to six Huge direct-fire siege engines in banks of three on the ship's port and starboard sides. 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 warship is being rowed. For an additional 8,000 gp, a warship 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.