Helms

     I recently recalled a discussion on the list a few months ago about
non-spellcaster using helms.  Someone asked about or had mentioned
developing a sort of helm that had all of its components for movement,
steering, etc., built into a dashboard-like item, attached to the ship.
Therefore, no spelljamming wizardor priest was needed ... anyone could power
and steer the ship just by fiddling with the daisl and levers.
     This made me wonder: what about helms that already do not need a
spellcaster, such as the lifejammer or a furnace?  Who controls that?
Obviously the furnace is inanimate and doesn't decide where to go, and the
lifejammer's victim would be likely to attack anything with the ship in
order to have it's captors destroyed, if it actually had control instead of
being a power source.
     The way I see it is that these kinds of helms have the area for the
"fuel" (whether it be the forge fires or the lifejammer chamber/chair or
whatever), with another area shaped like a throne/chair just like a
major/minor helm, where _any_ class of person determines direction, turning,
etc.
     What do you think?  Someone needs to control the ship (the controls
can't be always set to "full speed ahead," or these ships could never dock
or land), and since no (mage/priest) spell power is needed, anyone should be
able to be the helmsman, yes?
--
Sean K Reynolds   a.k.a. Veggie Boy  skreyn@??????.com  skreyn@???.com
"You think you're so smart, but I've seen you naked,
"I'll probably see you naked again." 'Blame it on me', BareNaked Ladies