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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
 Posted - 14 Oct 2006 : 11:10:27
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Yes, I need some help -- rules help specifically. 
In January, I'm going to be starting the next stage of my current FR campaign (which will take place, mostly, in Derlusk.) Before the game reaches that point however, I'm intending on running a series of sea battles, throughout most of December, focusing on the crew of the Lucid Voice, an aging Chessentan Dromond, which the PCs are currently serving on. The PCs, who partly own the warship, are using it to make the trip from Murann to Derlusk in order to continue with the next part of their current quest. During the journey, I thought that I'd try my hand at running some sea battles... which isn't something I've actually done before. All up, I'm planning on three separate ocean encounters with agents, hired by the BBEGirl in this campaign, who each have access to their own ships (one Drakkar and two Great Galleys).
Unfortuately however, I have very little in the way of rules material for running sea battles. I was originally intending on using the ruleset provided in Pirates of the Fallen Stars (and updating where necessary), since my campaigns still utilise a significant amount of 1e and 2e rules. However, as some of you know, my command of the 3e rulesset isn't something I like to boast about. So, I'm curious about what other rulesets for running sea battles in D&D may exist and what they're like when used to run multiple ship-to-ship encounters. Also, some focus on rules that allow for boarding actions would be a plus...
Thoughts?
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2006 : 11:19:39
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| Have you checked out Stormwrack? |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2006 : 11:25:25
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No, I didn't.
It sold out pretty rapidly around these parts, so I can't even browse through a copy at my local gaming store. And I'm not really sure I want to purchase a copy online unless I can be certain the rules inside are completely worth the price-tag.
If anyone has a copy of SW... I wouldn't mind hearing what you thought of the ship rules presented within. As well as your experiences with them. Also, how do the rules in Stormwrack fair against the rules in other D&D and third-party sourcebooks that feature rules for ship-to-ship combat?
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
Edited by - The Sage on 14 Oct 2006 11:26:26 |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2006 : 11:38:53
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| What about the Arms and Equipment guide I seem to recall it has some rules on ship combat |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
Edited by - Dargoth on 14 Oct 2006 11:41:51 |
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Marc
Senior Scribe
662 Posts |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2006 : 14:40:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Dargoth
What about the Arms and Equipment guide I seem to recall it has some rules on ship combat
Hmmm... I never picked up the A&EG either.
What're the rules like in that book?
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Lady Kazandra
Senior Scribe
Australia
921 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2006 : 15:05:56
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quote:
Originally posted by Maruluthu Mistrivvin
I don't have Stormwrack but maybe this page helps a little http://www.mikewashburn.com/frcamp/Ships%20of%20InnerSea.htm
Is that page even legal?
I notice that the write-ups for the ships are taken directly from the 2E Pirates of the Fallen Stars accessory.
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"Once upon a time the plural of 'wizard' was 'war'." -- The Last Continent, by Terry Pratchett |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2006 : 16:33:59
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quote:
Originally posted by Lady Kazandra
quote:
Originally posted by Maruluthu Mistrivvin
I don't have Stormwrack but maybe this page helps a little http://www.mikewashburn.com/frcamp/Ships%20of%20InnerSea.htm
Is that page even legal?
I notice that the write-ups for the ships are taken directly from the 2E Pirates of the Fallen Stars accessory.
The images aren't though, by the looks of it. And some of the entries aren't exactly a match for what's written in PotFS.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
Edited by - The Sage on 14 Oct 2006 16:34:39 |
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Marc
Senior Scribe
662 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2006 : 19:07:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Lady Kazandra
quote:
Originally posted by Maruluthu Mistrivvin
I don't have Stormwrack but maybe this page helps a little http://www.mikewashburn.com/frcamp/Ships%20of%20InnerSea.htm
Is that page even legal?
I notice that the write-ups for the ships are taken directly from the 2E Pirates of the Fallen Stars accessory.
I don't know, I don't have that book. I like underwater campaigns. |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2006 : 19:21:01
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Here's a list of the 3/3.5e 3rd party water/sea/aquatic sourcebooks that I reference for that type of stuff.
AG3206, Maiden Voyage
AEG8550, Swashbuckling Adventures
AEG8551, Swashbuckling Adventures - Heroes, Villains, & Monsters
AEG8552, Swashbuckling Adventures – Swashbuckling Arcana
AEG8553, Swashbuckling Adventures – Islands of Gold: The Midnight Archipelago
AEG8554, Swashbuckling Adventures – Explorer’s Society
AEG8555, Swashbuckling Adventures – Strongholds and Hideouts
AEG8556, Swashbuckling Adventures – Cathay Jewel of the East
AEG8557, Swashbuckling Adventures – Ships and Sea Battles
AEG8558, Swashbuckling Adventures – The Sidhe: Book of Nightmares
AEG8559, Swashbuckling Adventures – Knights & Musketeers
AEG8560, Swashbuckling Adventures – Rapier’s Edge
MGP3001, Seas of Blood – Fantasy on the High Seas
MGP3002, Seas of Blood – Ships of the Goblinoids
MGP3003, Seas of Blood - Ships of the Elves
MGP3004, Seas of Blood – Ships of War
Now some of them might be out of print but I like Swashbuckling Adventures and the first Seas of Blood since both have rules for fighting on water, especially Seas.
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 15 Oct 2006 : 01:30:53
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Hmmm... these are indeed quite useful, and the good thing is, I've seen a lot of them still on sale at my local gaming store.
I'm still not completely satisfied with the ship choices I've made for the encounters though. I may also take a look at Ships of War.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Silvanus79
Seeker
USA
58 Posts |
Posted - 15 Oct 2006 : 19:38:36
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I recently ran a few encounters using the rules out of Stormwrack, and it went quite well. I have Seas of Blood and a few others, and I found myself going with the core D&D book for the rules. IMHO, Stormwrack and the other books like it were all worth the money. I've gotten more use out of them than most others. So, if you can find a copy, pick it up if you can. The rules for ocean battles are very good, and it even gives several options that make it realistic and believeable. I especially enjoyed rules mechanics for characters getting swept off the deck during a storm.....teach that paladin a lesson about wearing his full plate on a ship.  |
Procrastinators unite! Tomorrow. |
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Arivia
Great Reader
Canada
2965 Posts |
Posted - 23 Oct 2006 : 05:43:57
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I just took something off these forums for my own use, so I might as well respond in exchange.
Stormwrack's your best choice out of the 1st-party products: it focuses on narrative use, instead of the A&EG's rules-heavy presentation. Either way, there's a small amount of information on converting material from Pirates of the Fallen Stars to either rules set in my last article for the Compendium.
I would only stray from using Stormwrack if you're interested in running dedicated sections of naval combat, akin in presentation to sections of adventures that call for Battlesystem use. |
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Looking for some assistance...
