Sailing ships are classed according to how easily they can be handled and how quickly the ship responds to the helm. This is their “yare.” There are five types of ship, ranging from yare A to yare E. Light ships with lateen sails are more likely to be classed as yare A, whereas very heavy square-sailed ships are likely to be classed as yare E. This is not always the case, as draft, beam to length ratio and the number of masts can make ships more or less yare.
Oar-driven ships are classed according to their purpose, and described as ramships, merchant ships and barges. These are further classed as “heavy” or “light.” Heavy ships reflect yare D & E vessels with respect to drifting. Light ships reflect yare C vessels. Some oar-driven vessels can be sailed.
The following ships are available for purchase and use in my game world; the list is subject to expansion at a later date.
Barge: river vessels of varying sizes designed to haul goods up and down stream.
Bireme: light galley designed for battle, beached at night.
Caravel: ocean-going, manoeuvrable 2-masted sailing ship.
Carrack: heavy ocean-going trade ship designed for long voyages.
Coaster: light coastal vessel based on the cog, used as a local service boat.
Cog: broad, single-masted vessel, primitive in design but still working in parts of the world.
Dekares: immense cataphracted oared galley designed to transport infantry and marines.
Dogger: two-masted, sturdy, seagoing fishing vessel.
Holk: ponderous sea-going vessel that is highly fortified.
Junk: sailing ship favored by merchants, with river-going and sea-going forms, replete with isolated compartments.
Ketch: two-masted, large maneuverable ocean-going fishing vessel.
Knarr: light ship built for sea journeys but dangerous in heavy weather.
Yawl: light two-masted vessel used for lake fishing and communications.
The compiled list below allows comparison between these ships.
Strength indicates the number of defensive squares the ship has when attacked by ship’s weapons. Hardpoints describe the number of possible emplacements of ship’s weapons that the ship can carry. Draft is the depth of water the ship can move through without striking the bottom or running aground.
Quarters are enclosed rooms, usually large enough to provide comfortable space for two beds, or uncomfortable space for four. If there are more than two quarters on a ship, a captain’s quarters is usually included, which will be a space large enough for a full bed, desk, chair, map bureau and weapons locker. Berths are enclosed areas large enough for 8-12 persons each, depending on comfort. Additional crew are forced to find sleep where they can, noting that during bad weather most crew are working, while day-and-night ships allow beds to be shared among two to three crewmen.
Cargo describes all weight carried, including the weight of the crew, equipment, tools, furnishings and stores, in addition to weight carried for transport. Crew includes officers and ratings. Oarsmen are commanded by the crew. Construction time requires a full yard and two shipwrights per 8 hull or part thereof. Adding laborers will not improve construction time (as each part of the ship must be built by a controlled number of wrights before the next job can be initiated.
See Naval Combat
Oar-driven ships are classed according to their purpose, and described as ramships, merchant ships and barges. These are further classed as “heavy” or “light.” Heavy ships reflect yare D & E vessels with respect to drifting. Light ships reflect yare C vessels. Some oar-driven vessels can be sailed.
The following ships are available for purchase and use in my game world; the list is subject to expansion at a later date.
Barge: river vessels of varying sizes designed to haul goods up and down stream.
Bireme: light galley designed for battle, beached at night.
Caravel: ocean-going, manoeuvrable 2-masted sailing ship.
Carrack: heavy ocean-going trade ship designed for long voyages.
Coaster: light coastal vessel based on the cog, used as a local service boat.
Cog: broad, single-masted vessel, primitive in design but still working in parts of the world.
Dekares: immense cataphracted oared galley designed to transport infantry and marines.
Dogger: two-masted, sturdy, seagoing fishing vessel.
Holk: ponderous sea-going vessel that is highly fortified.
Junk: sailing ship favored by merchants, with river-going and sea-going forms, replete with isolated compartments.
Ketch: two-masted, large maneuverable ocean-going fishing vessel.
Knarr: light ship built for sea journeys but dangerous in heavy weather.
Yawl: light two-masted vessel used for lake fishing and communications.
The compiled list below allows comparison between these ships.
Strength indicates the number of defensive squares the ship has when attacked by ship’s weapons. Hardpoints describe the number of possible emplacements of ship’s weapons that the ship can carry. Draft is the depth of water the ship can move through without striking the bottom or running aground.
Quarters are enclosed rooms, usually large enough to provide comfortable space for two beds, or uncomfortable space for four. If there are more than two quarters on a ship, a captain’s quarters is usually included, which will be a space large enough for a full bed, desk, chair, map bureau and weapons locker. Berths are enclosed areas large enough for 8-12 persons each, depending on comfort. Additional crew are forced to find sleep where they can, noting that during bad weather most crew are working, while day-and-night ships allow beds to be shared among two to three crewmen.
Cargo describes all weight carried, including the weight of the crew, equipment, tools, furnishings and stores, in addition to weight carried for transport. Crew includes officers and ratings. Oarsmen are commanded by the crew. Construction time requires a full yard and two shipwrights per 8 hull or part thereof. Adding laborers will not improve construction time (as each part of the ship must be built by a controlled number of wrights before the next job can be initiated.
See Naval Combat
