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Blake_Alexander
Acolyte
14 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jun 2007 : 22:27:04
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I've been trying to get a feel for the Sembian Navy...given the Sembian Merchantile interests on the Sea of the Fallen Stars I'd have expected it to be rather powerful and elite, perhaps something akin to the Royal Navy of Britian during the early colonial period with a more Renissance feel. The more I look at souce books and the like I'm finding it to be rather limited in it's scope and function. It's more of a "necessary evil" that is seen as an extention of the Helms. Am I getting the right feeling about the Sembian Navy or am I missing something?
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
   
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jun 2007 : 23:05:19
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from pirates of the fallen stars page 37
Sembia has one of the largest standing navies on the Inner Sea, with over ninety ships and 15,000 men on active duty. It is strange, therefore, that they have been so unsuccessful in reducing the amount of piracy which their traders suffer. However, when it is considered that even such a large navy leaves only one vessel for each five miles of coastline, and that most of that navy is concentrated in the seaport cities of Selgaunt and Saerloon, it may not be so surprising.
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
   
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jun 2007 : 23:11:26
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common ship type in Sembia, page 82 pirates of the fallen stars
Caravel Cost: 10,000 gp Base Movement: 4 Emergency Move: 5 Crew: 15/50 Armor Rating: 9 Seaworthiness: 70% Saving Throw: Thick wood Power Type: Sail Cargo Tonnage: 180 tons Keel Length: 70 feet Beam Length: 20 feet Standard Armament: 1 large weapon Ram: Not allowed The caravel is used by the nations of Cormyr, Sembia, and Impiltur extensively, It normally has two masts and square sails; no oars are used. The normal crew is from 30 to 40 men. |
Edited by - scererar on 09 Jun 2007 23:12:44 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
    
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2007 : 00:48:38
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Like most aspects of Sembia during the older editions, the navy of Sembia hasn't received any specific attention in the Realmslore. Steven Schend did manage to slip a few brief tidbits about Sembia's naval abilities in Sea of Fallen Stars. Scererar accurately notes that Pirates of the Fallen Stars also provides us with some details.
I do recall the odd mention or three in several of the "Sembia" series of novels as well.
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Edited by - The Sage on 10 Jun 2007 00:49:42 |
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Blake_Alexander
Acolyte
14 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2007 : 05:56:32
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Thanks for your help, both of you. I'd been getting a variety of varied information from the various source books I own...thus, your refrences have proven quite helpful. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief

    
USA
36963 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2007 : 08:03:25
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I think Sembia doesn't have a stronger navy because it's more a coalition of allied city-states than a truly unified nation. But that's just my opinion. |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
    
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2007 : 11:01:47
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I also would think that Sembia made an extensive use of privateers in their fights against pirates and (to a certain degree) competitors. The navy would more be to defend the city's themselves. |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
   
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jun 2007 : 20:46:59
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I would agree with this also. We see Sembian merchants employing mercenary companies to defend individual merchants interests overland. It would be entirely feasible for these mercenary companies to employ ships to hunt pirates or keep vessels safer, in main shipping lanes.
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