Ship to Ship Combat

So, you wish to be a naval commander, a pirate captain, or maybe you just wish to sail the ocean blue like a cliche grizzled old man. Good for you, unfortunately there are those who would want to A: Rob you, B: Enslave you, C: Kill you, or D: All of the above. There are several types of weaponry that have adapted very well to naval combat

At the beginning of combat, you roll initiative for each ship rather than each party member. Ship initiative is modified by the initiative of the character at the Helm, and any addition that the crew provides. If combat becomes hand-to-hand, roll for character initiative normally. A combat round lasts 1 minute (60 seconds) in ship-to-ship tactical combat. Hand-to-hand combat rounds last 6 seconds.

The First Mate

may order crew to specific spots on the ship to attack or defend in hand-to-hand combat, or to avoid incoming attacks. This role also generally performs Medicine checks to diagnose wounds or diseases, create healing potions using an Herbalism Kit, administer healing potions to one group of crew members (such as the crew assigned to one siege weapon, or the crew assigned to repairing damage to the ship), or cast healing spells. Instead of ordering crew to specific stations, the First Mate may Mass Stabilize or Lend a Hand.

• Mass Stabilize
  When this action is performed by the First Mate during the Ship Action phase, you may stabilize any number of creatures on board that have been brought to zero hit points and with the unconscious condition as a result of damage. Those creatures stabilized in this way lose the unconscious condition, are at 1 HP, and are prone.

• Lend a Hand
  The First Mate jumps into action helping out where they can to bolster a specific group of crew members assigned by one ship station (such as the crew assigned to one siege weapon, or the crew assigned to repairing damage in a specific area of the ship).

This functions as follows for each ship station, and the crew assigned to various tasks throughout the ship:

• Cook - The Cook may administer meals to two groups instead of one with the Short Order ship action. This action must be used during both the preparation and the serving.
• Magic Officer - The Magic Officer obtains two pieces of information with the Spyglass ship action. Instead of obtaining extra information, the Magic Officer may roll with advantage on Charisma checks with the Hail! ship action.
• Helmsman - The Helmsman may reduce the cost of maneuvers by one stunt point.
• Gunner - The Gunner may roll with advantage on the next siege weapon attack roll.
• Engineer - The Engineer reduces number of Hull Holed critical hits by two instead of one. Instead of reducing number of Hull Holed critical hits, the Engineer may reduce the time to Douse Flames! on the vessel by one ship combat turn, minimum one turn.

The Cook

provides both long- and short-term benefits through the use of magical ingredients and special preparation. With a cook on-board, all foodstuffs aboard a Spelljamming vessel last twice as long. The ingredients themselves are found at ports and harvested far and wide. The Cook can provide quick benefits during a heated battle using the Short Order ship action. Long-term benefits can be granted by the Cook through the Daily Special ship action.

• Short Order
  The Cook whips up a quick, magical meal that can provide a limited benefit to a group of crew members assigned to a task (such as the crew assigned to turning the sails, or the crew assigned to repairing damage to the ship). It takes one Ship Action to prepare the meal and one Ship Action to serve the meal to a group of crew members. A group of crew members can only be under the effects of one Short Order at a time.

  • Fortunate Cookies: A wafery snack with an philosophic quip wrapped inside. Until the end of their next ship combat turn, any crew that eats the Fortunate Cookies may roll a d6 and add the number rolled to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw it makes. The creature can wait until after it rolls the d20 before deciding to use the Fortunate Cookie die, but must decide before the DM says whether the roll succeeds or fails. Once the Fortunate Cookie die is rolled, it is lost. A creature can have only one Fortunate Cookie die at a time.

  • Hearty Noodles: A hot cup of wiggly noodles with rejuvenating broth. Until the next long rest, any group of crew members that consumes a cup of Hearty Noodles gains an additional 1d10 + Character level temporary hit points.

• Daily Special
  The Cooks training can provide lengthy benefits that can help your adventuring party. More ingredients than listed here may be found throughout the ocean, and their effects may vary. To gain the benefit of the Daily Special, the crew must eat at least one meal per day prepared on a ship with an active helmsman and with the special ingredients. This must occur for two weeks before effects begin, and the effects last for two weeks from the time the last meal was consumed.

• Chillgreen Leaf: Found at the bottom of the deepest rivers across the oceans; when this briny, green, perfumed leaf is sun-dried and included with your crews' meals, characters are able to hold their breath for twice as long. Additionally, a character that becomes unconscious in a body of water while under the effects of this ingredient floats to the nearest source of air at a moderate pace, and is positioned to face the air when the unconscious character reaches it. This is generally the surface of a body of water, but this may be different under other circumstances.

The Helmsman

may move the vessel up to the ships Speed. Additionally, the Helmsman may initiate one Stunt.

• Stunt
  In addition to ordinary movement, a Helmsman can attempt Stunts with her ship. Several stunts affect your starship’s Armor Class (AC), siege weapon attacks, and movement abilities. Listed below are several stunts that can be performed by all Helmsman, using properties of the helm.

  • Ramming
    If the ship is equipped with a Ram, the Helmsman may Ram another ship. When ramming, the attack modifier used is that of the Helmsman’s spell attack bonus. If the helmsman does not have a spell attack bonus, then the modifier is +1. If a hit is scored, damage is equal to the damage of the ram. Ships without a ram installed, or ships which attempt to Ram vessels more than twice their size in tonnage Crash instead. The ship must move in a straight line for at least three consecutive hex spaces to perform a Ramming Ship Action.

  • Shearing
    The Helmsman may Shear another ship. Ships equipped with rams may attempt to shear away the rigging of the opposing vessels. This is treated as a ram attack, except no damage is done to the opposing ship. Instead, for each successful shear attack, rigging, ships weapons, and even crew can be targeted. The ship must move in a straight line at least three consecutive hex spaces to perform a Shearing Ship Action. A successful Shearing attack causes the "Speed Loss" Critical Hit.

  • Crash
    A truly desperate move, a Helmsman may intentionally crash her ship into the opposing vessel, creature, or planetary body. To crash into another ship intentionally, treat this attack as a Ramming action. On a hit, deal 5d10 damage to all ships involved in the Crash. This damage is not reduced by the Damage Threshold. A successful Crash will cause the Spelljammer Shock to all helmsman, and two Hull Holed Critical Hits to all ships involved in the crash. Roll 1d10. On a roll of 1, any Alchemist Fire casks on-board any ship involved in the crash explode, dealing damage to the ship they were on.

The Magic Officer

may view any maps or activate other devices that the ship has installed on-board to identify threats or escape routes, target foes, and navigate hazards. The Magic Officer may make a Spyglass, Hail!, or Train Aim ship action.

• Spyglass
  The Magic Officer scans the enemy vessel to obtain one piece of information about one other vessel:

  • Ship size class and tonnage; Number of Crew; Stations assigned on-board other vessel; Flags or markings displayed by the vessel; Current Hull Points (described in a general sense); Ship weapon(s); and any other interesting characteristics per DM discretion. A character may need to roll an associated ability check to discern meaning out of their observation.

• Hail!
  Through a series of flags, lights, or other means, the Magic Officer may attempt to hail or send any message to the oncoming vessel that could be sent in one minute. The Magic Officer may perform a Deception, Intimidation, Performance, or Persuasion check with the associated message, per DM discretion.

• Train Aim
  The Magic Officer scans the enemy vessel to find likely weak spots to attack the enemy ship or specific stations more effectively.

  • This action may only be used the turn after a Spyglass ship action was used. The next attack made by your vessel that hits the enemy ship scores a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20.

The Engineer

may order crew to repair damage to the vessel or it's weapons, put out fires, perform repairs herself, or cast spells that repair or bolster the defences of the ship. Additionally, the Engineer may perform a Rush Job, Brace for Impact, and Douse Flames.

• Rush Job!
  The Engineer orders up to five crew members to begin quickly repairing the ship. This ship action reduces the number of Hull Holed Critical Hits by one, or can repair any sheared rigging.

• Batten Down the Hatches!
  The Engineer orders the crew to tie ship's belongings down to avoid jostling, and to brace for impact. Any rolls on the Critical Hits table that target your ship are negated until the beginning of your ships next turn.

• Douse Flames!
  The Engineer orders up to five crew to begin dousing all flames aboard the vessel. Roll 1d4. This Ship Action douses all non-magical flame aboard the ship including torches, candles, and flame created by the Fire! Critical Hit in 1d4 Ship combat rounds. Crew must continue dousing flames until all fire is put out. Fires aboard a ship deal 1d6 fire damage per ship combat round. This damage is not reduced by the Damage Threshold of the ship.

Ship Weapons