Officers, Crew, and Loot

[David]

Based on a number of factors, this is what I would like to SUGGEST for the ship's make-up and wealth-distribution rules:

• The ship's treasury is NOT divided until all repairs, refittings, replacements, resupplies, etc have been made.
  
  
• EVERY member of the crew earns ONE share of ship's loot (treasure). The only exception would be ships boy, who earns a half-share, IF we even fill this position.
  
  
• EVERY member of an adventuring expedition earns one share of any loot (treasure) recovered DURING that mission with ONE share added to the ship's loot, for general division.
  
  
• EVERY officer earns ONE ADDITIONAL share of ship's loot.
  
  
• Individuals with multiple roles earn multiple shares.
  
  

The Officers need to include at least the following (* indicates requires special skill, spelled out at the end):

Captain *-- Command the ship. Cloe wants the job and is fronting much of the cash, moreover, with a crew of multiple 6th lvl PCs, it'd need to be one of them to get the respect needed (Flint, Cloe, Isaac, Sabuto).

First Mate* -- Run the ship. Py!ota Benga is the logical choice as a mariner. He may lack the station of Jamal or Flint, but they can't do the job (sailor)

Navigator* -- Pilot the ship. Py!ota Benga has the skill (navigator)

Helmsman* -- Steer the ship. Should be someone reliable (sailor).

Quartermaster -- In charge of cargo and loot (for simplicity's sake). Should be someone responsible AND good at math (that's both character AND player!)

Bosun -- Police the ship. Should be someone with high station AND kick-ass tough. Sabuto works well, I think.

Armorer*-- Keep the ship's weapons and armor. I think, given our small vessel, this should include the ballista (ballista).

Carpenter* -- Fix the ship. Even without encounters, thinks wear out... (ship wright)

Cook* -- Feed the ship. In charge of ship's provisions. Sabuto has the skill (cook).

Medic* -- Keep the crew alive. We actually have at least two candidates for this: Cloe and Orn -- they could split the role? (healing and because this is a magical world, CLW)

Other crew positions should be:

Sailor* -- Make the ship go. You'll need AT LEAST four and can only travel comfortably with eight. Only four PCs have the skill (Py!ota, William, Black Jack, and Butch -- all unknown green-horns from the perspective of the higher level PCs).

Gunner -- Help the Armorer fire the ballista. You'll need at least two in addition to the guy firing it. All of these would be in addition to the sailors...!

Skirmishers -- Fight to protect the ship from boarders. The more the merrier. Luckily, Flint, Sabuto, Isaac, Su, Py!ota, Black Jack, and Butch all clearly fit the bill.

Honestly, looking at these guidelines, they seem logical, BUT the mage-types (Flint and Asha) are getting the shaft (maybe introduce, another officer, Ship's Mage -- they have it in Pirates of the Fallen Stars and Of Ships and Sea), the NPCs will be WELL paid if they survive, and anyone taking a magical item ain't going to get a copper piece (we're talking crew+10 shares here, so given at least 4 NPC sailors, an NPC ship wright, and an NPC Armorer, plus the 12 PCs, that's 28 shares, with probably two or more on the way).

So, I think it's discussion time. Thoughts?

[adam]

Hi,

Most of this seems pretty reasonible. I do have a couple of comments.

I think that there should either be an owner's share as well. Given that the who crew does not own the vessel. (note that this single share could be split amoung mutiple people who own the vessel). Perhaps with the crew being able to buy out the owner by agreement of the whole crew at an a price.

While I think that Cloe would be fine as captain, I don't think that the captain should fill multiple roles. They can always help out though.

Ships Mage is a reasonible position, but that only gives a title to one of the two senior character mages.

I counted and came up with a number that was short from the individuals list. I saw only a senior character for Steve and only a low level character for Craig. This could make putting either low or high level parties difficult at times.

Adam

[sgeorge1701]

Ship's Mage or Navigator (I have the skill also).

Would work for Flint

Steve

[sgeorge1701]

As to splitting the treasure.

As long as everyone agrees that it is equitable - Flint is content with their decision.

He is not on this voyage for profit. He is on this voyage for loyalty, knowledge and adventure.

We need a small profit to keep the ship outfitted - other than that money is not as important as your Honor.

In this post-apocalyptic world - I'm sure we will find lots of people who's need for gold is higher than the lust for profit.

Also - we may be on healing runs - I have some medical skills, not medic caliber, but useful in the aftermath of a fight.

Steve

[sgeorge1701]

david said:

Based on a number of factors, this is what I would like to SUGGEST for the ship's make-up and wealth-distribution rules:

[/b] -- In charge of cargo and loot (for simplicity's sake). Should be someone responsible AND good at math (that's both character AND player!)


So, I think it's discussion time. Thoughts?[/quote]

Also - if Arthur the Archeologist Mage is going he is good at documenting and mathematics.

Steve

[sgeorge1701]

Some Naval History:

We'll need lieutenants

www.flyinglab.com/pirates/catalog/ship.php?type=officers&page=2

www.flyinglab.com/pirates/catalog/ship.php?type=officers&page=3

Warrant officers: Purser, Medic, & Master
&
Standing Officers: Gunner, Bosun, Carpenter

www.flyinglab.com/pirates/catalog/ship.php?type=officers&page=4

[sgeorge1701]

Civilian Ranks: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Mates & Carpenter, Smithy and Seaman

Civilian ships were much more simplified. The ship's master was her captain and responsible only to her owner. Sometimes, the master was also the owner and responsible only to himself. Directly under the master there was a succession of mates: first mate, second mate, etc. The first mate was basically the equivalent of the naval first lieutenant. He oversaw the crew during evolutions and also acted as the ship's police force and ensured discipline. Only larger ships would carry more than a first mate to split watch-standing duties simply due to cost. The more mates carried on the ship's roster, the less profit for the owner. Second and third mates hired to stand a watch were often just experienced seamen, or a friend, or a friend of a friend of the owner or captain wanting to eventually have a ship of their own. Still, however, the mate on watch carried authority second only to the Captain's.

A merchant captain usually had a carpenter onboard to look after the hull and spars and someone trained as a smithy to help with the metalwork. A merchantman's crew were generally rated as either seamen or able seamen. The seamen handled shortening sail and other general ship evolutions and did most of the manual labor onboard. The able seamen were able to mend sails, repair rigging, and replace cordage when necessary, and assist with all the other maintenance tasks handled by specialist ratings in the navy. They were the equivalent of the naval petty officers and the jacks of all trades onboard ship.

[adam]

Hi,

So based on what I have heard so far I come up with the following list. Note that we will need to hire ~6 more people at this point. I have tried to not double up on offices(Subuto the exception). I have also tried to make sure that each of the elders (high level group) has a titled position as this seems to make sense.

Captain Cloe
First Mate(sailor) Py!Ota
Helmsman(sailor)
Navigator(Nav) Flint
Bosun Sabuto
Quarter Master Issac
Armourer (balista)
Carpenter(shipwright)
Cook(cooking) Sabuto
Medic(healing) Orn
Ships Mage(magic) Asha

Able Seaman
A
B
C
D
Seaman
Butch
Black Jack
E (maybe)
F (maybe)

General
Su
Jamal
William (sea druid)


Total bodies = 22
Total Shares (22+11) = 33

One of the Able Seaman (or perhaps Blackjack) can take the helmsman position if we want and we might be able to do with two less sailors (19 bodies, 31 shares)

Bluto(sorry Butch) is also capable of the helmsman position, but as this is a watch officer position I (Orn/Py!Ota) would not suggest him. <grin>

Su/Jamal/William any of you have skills that fill any of the open positions?

It should like David is thinking that the quartermaster position player will also be the one keeping track of the cargo/treasure/accounting. Gordon are you OK with this? (I seem to remember hearing that Issac had merchant skill)

By putting Flint in as navigator that left the mage position open to the monkey. Which may not make sense level wise but make sense balance wise.

Thoughts?

Adam

[sgeorge1701]

One note: Arthur is also a Mage and an Archeologist.

It is a possibility that he could be the Ship's Mage (he is a pure Magic User).

The other possibility is that He and Asha Are Co-Mages. And split the profits - Asha has talent, but she is not a good public speaker.

Steve
aka
Arthur (who likes animals even Krats who are like just big animals.

[adam]

Oops,

Sorry. For some reason I did not trip on to the fact that Arthur was joining the group. Is he part of the low level group?

I am hesitant to split any titled position because of the complexity of accounting it creates, company voting and possible issues with the chain of command.

Paul - Now that we can communicate with Asha, thru William, does Asha want the Ship's Mage position?

Steve - I am assuming that Arthur does want the Ship's Mage position. Is he OK with just being a member of the Company?

Note that both Asha and Arthur will get one share each, we are just looking at the additional share that comes with the responsibilities of being Ship's Mage

Update
Total Bodies 23 (or 20 with Black Jack as Helmsman & less sailors as above)
Total shares 34 (or 31 ...)

Note as I understand it we have a total body limit of 25 on the cog.

[sgeorge1701]

Oops,

Sorry. For some reason I did not trip on to the fact that Arthur was joining the group. Is he part of the low level group?

Yes!


I am hesitant to split any titled position because of the complexity of accounting it creates, company voting and possible issues with the chain of command.

Honestly - I don't think that will be a major issue. It really is up to how Paul feels - I think that Arthur and Asha would be a great team - but it is up to him.

Steve - I am assuming that Arthur does want the Ship's Mage position. Is he OK with just being a member of the Company?

Either way is fine with Arthur - Personally he'd like to have something to do - and ships mage or quartermaster would be a good use of his talents (he's not a Mariner or an able bodied seaman). Just triying to find him a good place that he can use his skills.

Also - there was an older position on Egyptian Ships - Ships Scribe - they were linguists and made contracts with other people from other trading blocks. Arthur is a linguist and specialises in those things - this might be a good alternate.


Note as I understand it we have a total body limit of 25 on the cog.

Quick Question - is that NOT including Asha?
She's small and would not count against the Cogs total crew of 25.

She's a person, but not a bulky body!

Steve
aka
Arthur

[adam]

Hi,

Based on last nights discussion,

Officers
Captain Cloe
First Mate(sailor) Py!Ota*
Helmsman(sailor) William*
Navigator(Nav) Flint
Bosun Issac
Quarter Master Sabuto
Armourer (balista) <vacant>
Carpenter(shipwright) <vacant>
Cook(cooking) Sabuto
Medic(healing) Orn
Ships Mage(magic) Arthur
Ships Boy Asha

Crew
Able SeamanA <vacant>
Able SeamanB <vacant>
Able SeamanC <vacant>
Able SeamanD <vacant>
Seaman Black Jack*
SeamanE <vacant>

General
Sue
Jamal

This count is slightly different as William has the Sailor skill. (Total sailors = 8). * Has sailor skill.

Bodies = 20
Shares 32 (20+12)

Body count does include Asha as per the dissucsion last night about her necessary food requirments and the like.

Spaces to Fill: 7
Though this is likely to change by one as our shark like former member is replaced.

Adam

[David]

Looks good to me! As for Butch's replacement, I'm thinking of either an Amazon (d'ya think you "boys" could deal with a she-sailor culturally and logistically? *wink* *wink*) or a young giant (still roughly man-sized). I feel bad not supplying an Arabia and agree both these options seem to be stretches, but I have no ideas that wouldn't be superfluous, given the party make-up (plus I already have MANY Arabian PCs on other games). If someone has an idea, though, I'd love to hear it. Another Kahin MIGHT work, but I'm still fiddling with a personality. Mystics of Nog and even a sha'ir would be fifteenth fiddle to our three exsisting mages (Asha, Arthur, and Flint).

[sgeorge1701]

david said:

Looks good to me! As for Butch's replacement, I'm thinking of either an Amazon (d'ya think you "boys" could deal with a she-sailor culturally and logistically? *wink* *wink*) or a young giant (still roughly man-sized). .

Flint's sister is RebeccaH - he has no problems with a "girl" doing man's work - being an adventuress is hard work.

Arthur is Medegian - and worships Apollo - he probably doesn't trust her motivations. But that's ok - he knows more about Amazonian history than her anyway....

[Stephanous]

Hi All,

What David was saying before in his message is true. Orn and Cloe should share the ship's medic position. In truth, Cloe is way OVER QUALIFIED for the job. To those that don't know her she has skills in Healing, Plant Lore, Herbalist, Chiropractor, Dentist, Veterinarian, Anatomy, Knowledge of Diseases. She automatically makes her healing roles even on non-humans. She is about as close to a true doctor that a DND character can get. Not to mention she has special healing spells that nobody has ever seen. This will become very clear on her first adventure with the crew. Needless to say there will be some things that Orn just won't be able to do. So I see the two of them sharing this position for these reasons.

Asha is fine being the cabin boy. Since she isn't a true mage there are many spells that she just can't do that Arthur would be much better at.

Paul