Re: Spelljammer Construction System (Part II)

>        The rules don't specify this, but it is true.  However, the heavy
>catapult is noted in the rules as being a trebuchet, a counterweight
>device, and the strain of a continuous load should not be enough to
>weaken the restraining ropes.

I don't use that in my games,  I think it was flawed (a statement written
with little thought) in the book.  Trebuchets are incredibly in accurate,
and need to be very large for effective use,  I wouldn't allow one on a
vessel unless it was a special "gnome" design.

On another note (returning to ship construction:)) I also think that it
would require more then 1 person to fire a heavy catapult,  even if it was
already loaded.  Aiming such a weapon would require a bit of strength,
even on a turntable of some sort.

For myself,  I use "common sense" for weapon placement and ship design,  I
think about whether or not there's enough open space for the weapon,  then
if I think so I allow it. I also consider ascetics,  which make a big
difference in my games.  I consider spelljammer design to be a form of
sympathetic magic,  a Flitter is agile because it looks agile, a groundling
vessel doesn't look like it should fly therefore it doesn't do so very
well.  Same applies to sails used for maneuverabilty.  When a galleon, for
instance, is in flight under an active helm the sails billow even though
there is no wind. When the ship turns,  the sails and rudder need to be
adjusted because that's what would be expected:).  This philosophy
(different from other thoughts I'd posted earlier, I know:)) works
remarkably well for imagining how things work,  keeps spelljammer firmly
mystical (and away from sci-fi- when I do sci-fi I do Star Wars or
Traveller:)) and helps explain things like the vipership:)

Concerning weapon placements, well,  if you try to cover a vessel like a
Man-o-war from head to tail with Med ballistae, it's gonna affect things
like MC because the ship will _look_ different.  But,  if you take a
galleon and give it a large broadside it will probably not make much
difference.

A good example of "maxing out" a ship's armament while still keeping it
useful is the _Oathtaker_, one of the unique ship's I posted which is now
on several of the SJ webpages.  Take a look at the map.  My players wanted
a ship with a _lot_ of weapons,  but they wanted to run it w/ min crew.
They were also broke so they took the tramp groundling nao they had and
simply added a lot of weapons.  they place a light catapult on deck,  about
the armament that most pirates would expect for a ship of this side.  But,
in the hold they placed two med ballistae firing to one side, and 1 heavy
ballistae to the other.  These ballistae are all very restricted in firing
arc,  but are concealed from casual observation.  They also,  require more
crew then the party normally has, so they crew each side according to
location of the enemy (they typically start loading them all as soon as a
ship is sighted, which the other vessel can't see because they are below
decks.)  The other disadvantage is that they have no room for anything
beyond personal items in the cargo hold (ballistae take up a lot of room).

But, for their purposes,  using the vessel as an adventuring craft and
pirate trap,  these are minor.

"We look on the same stars,  the sky is common,  the same world surrounds
us.  What difference does it make by what pains each seeks the truth?  We
can not attain to so great a secret by one road..."
Symmachus,  "Memorial on the Occasion of the Removal of the Altar of
Victory from the Senate House" (392 AD)

westermeyer.3@???.edu
Paul William Westermeyer