Powers and Perils

Shipwright

The shipwright program is a tool for GMs to generate a set of standard cultural ships. It is not intended as a player tool, unless they actually have Naval architect skill.

It has been "tuned" to the Trireme. Formulas such as hull speeds and horsepower to speed formulas were taken from nautical sites. Obviously, formulas output MPH, not knots, so keep that in mind when looking at the output speeds.

Users tweak stuff in yellow boxes. The blue factors should be left alone. The only things that you may want to tweak and experiment are the "Block Coefficient" (how much of a "block" is the ship hull, in terms of volume) and the "Admirality". The former should be closer to one as you get box hulls (like barges), and perhaps a bit of speed tweaking to go with it. Likewise, if you plug in the numbers for a historical ship and the speeds seem incorrect, the Admirality will need to be adjusted. It's entirely possible that each "class" of ship (Bireme/Trireme, Merchant, Longship, Barge, etc) will need it's own values for these three, which experimentation will give us. Please, if you play with this tool, send me any comments (and any data points you get).

Construction times (for a 10-man crew) is given after price. Obviously, a larger shipyard can devote more crews to large craft.

Structure is ship AHP; Toughness is the armor. Seaworthiness is general ability to stay afloat in bad conditions. In combat terms, only Normal damage is scored if players attack ships. Any damage that exceeds toughness is inflicted on the structure. Once structure is gone the ship begins to founder. Players attacking the hull from the inside (scuttling) used 1/2 toughness.

Some Exaple Ships

Canoe(10CC, 1d)
A one-person wooden canoe, capable of holding the user and a tiny amount of cargo.
Structure4Seaworthiness6Toughness3
Crew1 paddlerCargo150#
Under Oar MR4 (in 3 phases), flank speed MR8 (in 5 phases). Strategic 5/4 hexes; Tactical 2.2 MPH.
9’ long, 2’ beam, 1’ draft, 1’ freeboard -- 0.3t displacement
Rowboat (20CC, 2d)
A one-person, wide-stern rowboat often used for personal water transport or small-time fishermen.
Structure7Seaworthiness11Toughness3
Crew 1 rowerCargo0.35 tons
Under Oar MR5 (in 4 phases), flank speed MR6 (in 4 phases). Strategic 1 hex; Tactical 1.6 MPH.
9’ long, 4’ beam, 1’ draft, 1’ freeboard -- 0.75t displacement
Jollyboat (60CC, 5d)
A large boat built to carry multiple passengers from ship to shore, often carried by larger ocean going ships.
Structure14Seaworthiness22Toughness5
Crew 2 rowers Cargo 1.55 tons
Under Oar MR4 (in 6 phases), flank speed MR7 (in 11 phases). Strategic 1 hex; Tactical 2.0 MPH.
14’ long, 6’ beam, 2’ draft, 2’ freeboard -- 3t displacement
Large Jollyboat(145CC, 12d)
As for Jollyboat, but with greater capacity.
Structure22Seaworthiness22Toughness6
Crew 3 rowers Cargo 4.25 tons
Under Oar MR4 (in 10 phases), flank speed MR8 (in 19 phases). Strategic 5/4 hex; Tactical 2.2 MPH.
18’ long, 8’ beam, 3’ draft, 2’ freeboard -- 7.7t displacement
Sailing Gig (55CC, 4d)
A long, narrow boat designed to be sailed, but can be rowed if becalmed.
Structure13Seaworthiness17Toughness5
Crew 1 sailor Cargo 1.45 tons
Notes 20sqf sail (1 mast)
Under Oar MR3 (in 9 phases), flank speed MR7 (in 18 phases). Strategic 1 hex; Tactical 2.0 MPH.
Under Sail MR8 (in 11 phases). Strategic 5/4 hex; Tactical 2.3 MPH.
15’ long, 5’ beam, 2’ draft, 2’ freeboard -- 2.7t displacement
River Barge (150CC, 11d)
A flat-bottomed barge designed to be poled or paddled along a river or lake.
Structure31Seaworthiness12Toughness7
Crew 8 polemen Cargo 8.7 tons
Under Pole MR2 (in 7 phases), flank speed MR4 (in 14 phases). Strategic 1/2 hex; Tactical 1.0 MPH.
20’ long, 10’ beam, 3’ draft, 2’ freeboard -- 15.2t displacement
Coastal Trader (1,410CC, 108d)
These small merchant ships are commonly seen running along the coastal trade routes. They usually beach at night (double crew requirements otherwise).
Structure40Seaworthiness38Toughness6
Crew 6 sailors Cargo 9.6 tons
Notes 180sqf sail (1 mast), Provision Lockers (400 man-days), Repair Stores (3), Anchor (1)
Under Oar MR3 (in 26 phases), flank speed MR6 (in 51 phases). Strategic 1 hex; Tactical 1.7 MPH.
Under Sail MR11 (in 15 phases). Strategic 7/4 hex; Tactical 3.1 MPH.
30’ long, 12’ beam, 4’ draft, 2’ freeboard -- 25.5t displacement
Small Knorr (5,980CC, 445d)
Another version of the common trading ship. Well built enough for open sea sailing.
Structure82Seaworthiness77Toughness12
Crew 20 sailors Cargo 40 tons
Notes 1,000sqf sail (1 mast), 20 crew bunks, 1 cabin, Provision Lockers (450 man-days), Repair Stores (11), Anchor (1)
Under Oar MR3 (in 55 phases), flank speed MR5 (in 111 phases). Strategic 3/4 hex; Tactical 1.5 MPH.
Under Sail MR15 (in 10 phases). Strategic 2+1/4 hex; Tactical 4.1 MPH.
50’ long, 20’ beam, 6’ draft, 4’ freeboard -- 106t displacement
Small Karrak (6,940CC, 517d)
A ship designed along the same lines as the Knorr, but with a narrower beam and lessened draft for greater speed.
Structure87Seaworthiness43Toughness17
Crew 24 pirates, 1 captain Cargo 1.75 tons
Notes 1,500sqf sail (2 masts), 24 crew bunks, 1 cabin, Provision Lockers (400 man-days), Repair Stores (11), Anchor (1)
Under Oar MR4 (in 18 phases), flank speed MR8 (in 36 phases). Strategic 1+1/4 hex; Tactical 2.3 MPH.
Under Sail MR18 (in 6 phases). Strategic 2+3/4 hex; Tactical 5.1 MPH.
50’ long, 15’ beam, 4’ draft, 3’ freeboard -- 54t displacement

Burton Choinski

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Shipwright

Used to calculate prices of various items.

Design: Burton Choinski