Southland: Naval Combat-Ships

THE SOUTHLAND

A Fantasy Core Setting

© Jerry Harris 2014

Published here as Open Game Content.

(This link will take you to the Fantasy Core Index.)

Southland Index

Colony Index

Colonial Defense Index

NAVAL COMBAT

[Wow, is this section misplaced.  It never occurred to me in making up the rules for Fantasy Core, I’d really need naval combat rules.  Hopefully, while not any sort of true simulation, these will be easy and dramatic to use.  This section will be linked to the main rules page.]

Naval Weapons

Combat

Ships

SHP-Ship Hit Points, SAC-Ship Armor Class

Rowboat:

SHP 1, SAC 13, Move (rowed) 1-1/2 miles/hr, 15 miles/day, Cost 50 gp

Emplacements: none

6’ life boat that holds up to four occupants.  Two people may work the two oars.

Longboat:

SHP 1, SAC 12, Move (rowed) 2 miles/hr, 20 miles/day, Cost 75 gp

Emplacements: none

12’ boat, usually kept aboard military and passenger ships.  Can hold up to 12 occupants (uncomfortably).  Up to eight can be rowing, working the four oars.    

Keelboat:

SHP 4, SAC 11, Move (wind-aided rowing) 1 mile/hr, 10 miles/day, Cost 3,000 gp

Emplacements: Up to 4 exposed Ballista (fore, aft, 2 mid) and 1 exposed Light Catapult (mid)

This 50- to 75-foot-long ship is 15 to 20 feet wide and has a few oars to supplement its single mast with a square sail. It has a crew of eight to fifteen and can carry 40 to 50 tons of cargo or 100 soldiers. It can make sea voyages, as well as sail down rivers (thanks to its flat bottom).

These ships ply the coastal waters along the eastern side of the continent, run by small independent companies.  They are usually armed with a couple of Ballista and perhaps a group of mercenaries (like the Player Characters), especially those running anywhere near the Bass Strait.  A few run the main rivers.  The Southland Navy maintains several fully armed keelboats as harbor interdiction vessels, also carrying a squad of Marines abroad (11).

Sailing Ship:

SHP 12, SAC 12, Move (sail) 2 miles/hr, 48 miles/day, Cost 10,000 gp

Emplacements: (8,000 gp each) 2 Castles (fore, aft SAC 13) and up to 4 exposed Ballista along the sides

This larger, seaworthy ship is 75 to 90 feet long and 20 feet wide and has a crew of 20. It can carry 150 tons of cargo. It has square sails on its two masts and can make sea voyages.

These are the vessels of inter-continental shipping.  Southland is a destination for homeland Commonwealth ships bringing various manufactured goods and passengers of all types.  It is a point of departure for ships loaded with gold, diamonds, Philosopher’s Stone, processed eucalyptus, and other valuable cargos from the Southland.  Southland is also a weigh-station for ships heading to and from the Oriental Empire.  Because of the dangers in the Southland waters, most of the ships carrying valuable cargo will attempt to convoy together, and with Navy vessels if possible.

The Commonwealth Navy extensively uses these vessels, fully armed (8 Ballista, 1 Light Catapult or 6 Ballista and 1 Heavy Catapult) and with at least a platoon of Marines (25).  The Southland fleet doesn’t have any sailing ships attached to it, but there are always several in the area and can be brought into operations quickly under the Admiral’s command. 

Sailing ships are also the main vessels of the Crossbones Pirate fleet.  They are also fully armed and swarming with pirate raiders (up to 50) for boarding operations.  Captain-Emperor Hobart’s flagship is the Manta.  She is a monster with 6 Ballista, 1 Light and 1 Heavy Catapult, and SHP 14 (SAC 11 though, weight had to be stripped to keep it moving at nominal sailing speed).

Warship:

SHP 12, SAC 12, Move (sailed and rowed) 2-1/2 miles/hr, 60 miles/day,

Cost 25,000 gp

Emplacements: (8,000 gp each) Ram, 2 Castles (fore, aft SAC 13), and up to 4 exposed Ballista along the sides

This 100-foot-long ship has a single mast, although oars can also propel it. It has a crew of 60 to 80 rowers.  These are often shackled prisoners, who volunteered in exchange for a shorter sentence.  In the event of the ship’s sinking, they’re probably going down with it, unless someone with the keys takes pity on them.  There are some poorly paid Commonwealth citizen rowers, who are obviously down on their luck.  These groups are kept segregated.

This ship can carry 160 soldiers, but not for long distances, since there isn’t room for supplies to support that many people. The warship cannot make sea voyages and sticks to the coast.  It is not used for cargo.

The Commonwealth Southland Naval fleet maintains a squadron of these vessels to patrol the continent’s coastline.  They have the full number of emplacements with 8 Ballista and 1 Light Catapult and a ram.  They normally carry a platoon of Marines (25).  The Crossbones have a couple of captured Warships in their fleet.  Their rowers are often unsuspecting individuals “press ganged” into service, then shackled to their station.    

Longship:

SHP 6, SAC 11, Move (sailed and rowed) 3 miles/hr, 72 miles/day,

Cost 10,000 gp

Emplacements: 1 exposed (SAC 11) Ballista fore ship, cannot fire to the rear

This 75-foot-long ship with forty oars requires a total crew of 50. It has a single mast and a square sail, and it can carry 50 tons of cargo or 120 soldiers. A longship can make sea voyages.

[Okay, honestly this vessel is a little out-of-place here.]  This ship can serve as a foreign cargo vessel, perhaps from the Hegemony (maybe carrying a load of Raiders **link**) or from the Oriental Empire.  These would be frequenting the Perth and Darwin ports.  The oars on these ships would be manned by shackled slaves.

Galley:

SHP 8, SAC 11, Move (rowed and sailed) 4 miles/hr, 96 miles/day,

Cost 30,000 gp

Emplacements: (8,000 gp each) Ram, 3 Castles (fore, aft, mid, SAC 13), up to 4 exposed Ballista along the sides

This three-masted ship has seventy oars on either side and requires a total crew of 200.  A galley is 130 feet long and 20 feet wide, and it can carry 150 tons of cargo or 250 soldiers. This ship cannot make sea voyages and sticks to the coast.

Several Southland intra-continental shipping companies use Galleys as their main transport, making runs between the eastern side to Perth or Darwin.  At most, they might have an Aft Castle with two Ballista, along with a small force of mercenaries (like the Player Characters, for example).  The oars are often manned by poorly paid Oriental “coolies.”  

The Commonwealth Southland Naval fleet maintains one Galley as a fleet flagship, HES Gallant.  She has the full number of emplacements with 8 total Ballista, 1 Light Catapult, and 1 Heavy Catapult.  She normally carries a company of Marines (50), and the ship has longboats for landing them for assault.  The Southland Admiral may also be aboard.  Pirate ships will normally run from the Gallant, when identified.  (HES is His Emperor’s Ship, of course.  Alternately, Her Empresses’ Ship.)