super-simple
simple naval combat for any edition
Ships have Armor Class. AC is the same ass leather armor
for peaceful/clumsy ships and chain mail for warships/
maneuverable ships.
Ships have Hit Points.. Most ships have 1 HP per
minimum crew. Warships typically have 30 HP.
Ships have a speed.. 30 feet/round (about 3 mph) is
average. Ships have no maneuverability
ility class or facing.
Ships have initiative. Ships have no initiative bonus
bonus. All
crew and passengers act on the ship’ss initiative.
Optional rules: The
he DM doesn’t need to use these
Ships fire ranged weapons.. Each round, a ship may fire rules until the players start asking about advanced tactics:
one weapon per 10 max HP. Ballistae do 1d8 damage and can we aim at their sails? Can we fire flaming arrows?
catapults 1d10. Attack rolls are made as a level 1 fighter
and have the same range as a shortbow. Every 10 Crit Location:: On a critical hit against a ship, the attacker
passengers may fire 1 volley of arrows (1d6
1d6 damage). may forego extra damage e for one of the following:
following
1) Sail Damage:: The ship' speed is slowed by 10 until the
Individuals can attack a ship. Divide individual
ndividual damage by crew skips a turn for repairs.
10, rounding down. Ship weapons do x10 damage to 2) Called Shot: The attack (non--critically) hits a specific
individuals. The DM arbitrates non-damage
damage spells
spells. Ships character or object.
save as a level 1 fighter. 3) Weapon Hit:: A ship weapon is destroyed.
Ships collide. Boarding follows normal D&D melee rules. Fire: If a flaming weapon crits,, or an attacker fumbles a
A galley with a ram does 2d10 damage and may sail flaming
ming weapon, or the ship rolls 1 on a save vs fire, the
through a destroyed ship or back up from a whole one. ship burns.. It takes 1d6 damage on the opponent’s turn.
Crew die in battle. The crew takes one casu
casualty for each On its turn, its crew has a 50% chance to put out the fire.
HP of ship damage (half killed, half unconscious at 1 HP)
HP). Wind Direction:: Occasionally, strong winds
wind affect
navigation. Only rowed ships can go directly into strong
SAMPLE SHIPS: HP and speed vary +-50% 50% based on ship quality.
wind. For instance, in a strong north wind,
wind you can't sail
boat: open boat, raft, keelboat. Spd 20. HP 3. AC as leather.
longship: Can land on shore. Spd 35.. HP 10. AC as chain. north (but you can sail NW and NE).
galley:: heavy rowed ship. Spd 30. HP 30. AC as leather. Officer Actions: This rule is meant to involve multiple
sailing ship:: merchant ship. Spd 30. HP 20. AC as leather. players on each turn. On the ship's initiative, a PC can use
warship:: armed sailing ship. Spd 35. HP 30. AC as chain. his/her turn to take an officer action. If you want
leviathan: Absurdly large ship. Spd 25. HP 50+.. AC as chain.
important NPC ships to have skilled
skille officers, add +1, +2 or
Technologically advanced ship: Stats as previous ship type
types,
but AC as plate mail, d12 weapons,, and/or speed +10.
+3 to the ship's AC, attack rolls, and damage rolls.
Captain: Order broadside: The captain's player chooses
AND THAT’S IT! an enemy to attack this turn.. Add the captain's Int or Cha
bonus to the ship's damage rolls against that enemy.
(Pre-Third Edition: Int bonus: 1/2 the number of bonus
languages. Cha bonus: 1/4 max henchmen.)
henchmen
Master Gunner: Aim weapons: The Master Gunner's
player rolls the ship's weapon attacks,
attacks adding his or her
Dex bonus (pre-3e: 3e: reaction bonus) to the attack rolls.
rolls
First Officer: Fill in: The first officer may take any officer
action that is not being performed this turn.
Helmsman: Con the helm: The helmsman's
hel player moves
the ship. If the ship moves, add the helmsman's Dex
bonus (pre-3e: AC bonus) to the ship's AC. AC
Ship Surgeon: Operate: Must ust have clerical/healing
clerical/ skill.
The surgeon's player tracks damage to the ship. ship If the
ship lost any HP last turn,
rn, the surgeon restores 1 ship HP.
