Each ship requires a number of sailors to crew it, as indicated
in its stat block. The quality score represents the crew’s aggregate skill, experience,
and morale. Each crew begins with a quality score of +4, which varies over time
from -10 to +10, decreasing as the crew takes casualties or suffers hardships. The
officers of the ship make periodic crew morale checks to determine the quality
score. Low morale = mutiny.
Captain
The ultimate authority on any ship, the captain chooses
where to sail, what to plunder, and who fills the other stations aboard the
vessel. This is the only essential officer on a ship, so he has to keep his shit together. On player-run ships, the Captain is often in charge of commanding the
NPC crew but strategic decisions are made by a council of PCs.
- Proficient: water vehicles, Intimidation, Persuasion
- Key Attribute: Charisma
- They roll dice for: Skill challenges, seamanship checks, crew morale checks
First Mate
The first mate is responsible for crew morale and
discipline. As she oversees many of the ship’s basic daily labors, the first
mate is often responsible for dispensing punishment.
- Proficient: Intimidation, Persuasion
- Key Attribute: Charisma
- They roll dice for: Skill challenges, crew morale checks, persuading/terrifying the crew
 |
| A First Mate completes a successful crew morale check |
Bosun
The bosun is accountable for all rope, rigging, anchors, and
sails. At the start of the day, the bosun and those under her weigh anchor,
raise the sails and report on the general condition of the ship’s deck to the
captain. They are also responsible for
maintaining the ship below the deck, finding and plugging leaks, repairing
damage, and replacing masts and yards.
- Proficient: Athletics, carpenter’s tools, woodcarver’s tools
- Key Attribute: Strength
- They roll dice for: Skill challenges, repairing damage
Quartermaster
The quartermaster plots the ship's course, relying on
knowledge of nautical charts and a study of weather and sea conditions. The
quartermaster also oversees the supplies and items stored aboard the ship.
- Proficient: Survival, navigator’s tools, cartographer’s tools
- Key Attribute: Wisdom
- They roll dice for: Navigating the right course, avoiding storms, knowledge of tides
Surgeon / Healer
A ship’s surgeon is responsible for sanitation and the care
of the crew using non-magical means, while a ship’s healer uses magical spells
in the same capacity.
- Proficient: Medicine, herbalism kits, healing magic
- Key Attribute: Wisdom
- They roll dice for: Healing wounds, curing disease, purifying food/water
Deck Mage
Considered a luxury by some and a necessity by others, the deck
mage provides mystical support to the captain while under way and in combat.
They aid with navigation, defense, and survival. A deck mage is considered a
sign of prestige for a captain and crew, for few can afford them.
- Proficient: magic
- Key Attribute: Intelligence
- They roll dice for: Skill challenges, repairing damage, combat
Bard
“Play us a song, bard!” Responsible for the entertainment of
the crew, the bard will often lead sea shanties while under way or sing to the
crew at mealtime. The bard gets one day off per week to rest his pipes. Bards
are best suited to spread word of the ship’s deeds in port and earn Infamy.
- Proficient: musical instrument, Performance, bard magic
- Key Attribute: Charisma
- They roll dice for: Crew morale checks, healing
 |
| So the Treasure was Divided by Howard Pyle |
Master-at-Arms
Concerned with the security of the ship, the master-at-arms
typically is one of the most feared and dreaded of a ship’s officers. The
master-at-arms trains and leads boarding parties and is in charge of a ship’s
weaponry as well, ensuring moisture and rust don’t ruin the weapons and that
the crew knows how to use them.
- Proficient: weaponry, Intimidation
- Key Attribute: Strength
- They roll dice for: Spell turret attacks, crew morale checks, skill challenges
Cook
Usually an NPC, the
cook and his apprentices make and distribute meals to the crew. Although some
better outfitted vessels employ skilled cooks to attend to the captain and the
officers, many cooks are drawn from crew members who have suffered crippling
injuries, allowing them to still serve even after such traumatic injuries.
- Proficient: brewer’s and cook’s tools
- Key Attribute: None
- They roll dice for: Crew morale checks