Commercial Shipping

The boatyards and shipyards of Hann produce many vessels, although not all of them are suitable for trade. Some specialize in military vessels, selling directly to the Empire’s Navies, others make smaller vessels, that aren’t used commercially. A list of Hann Civilian Vessels can be found here.

See the notes section at the bottom of the page for a list of descriptions.

Inland vessels tend to be smaller and slower that vessels meant for the open ocean, as they have to navigate shallow rivers, canal locks, bridges and other obstacles. However, some large lake systems (think Great Lakes) and , massive Rivers (Think Mississippi) have an outlet to the ocean and have the width and depth to accommodate coastal vessels, and sometimes even large ships. If a lake does not have good access to a sea (eg Lake Tanganyika) there are no large vessels, until someone establishes a ship yard. Inland vessels have a skipper (Expert2) in charge.

Inland fishing is not really a commercial activity. Local river-folk, fish from the banks and use small vessels (Rafts, Skiffs, Rowboats) for better access to fish, reeds, wetlands etc. However, some lake side communities use fishing boats, to bring home a larger catch.

• Fishing Boat – The Lund is a wide , flat bottomed boat, suitable for the quieter waters of lakes. Its main catch is often eels and shoal fish from the lake Eels are cheap, and add to the Commoner diet, while other fish are more ‘up market’. Lund’s only need a deckhand (rather than a skipper or captain) in charge.
  A Lund costs 500gp, and returns an income of 5gp per month towards your cost-of-living expenses. You need to find a reliable deckhand to oversee the vessel and crew. While 5gp might seem a like a small return, it is actually one of the largest in percentage terms. However, you will often find that lakes have a limited number of fish, and too many boats means the size of the catch (and your profit) goes down.

These boats are designed for use on inland waterways, and don’t venture out to sea, and would probably break up, if they should do so. They all use sails and oars, so they can sail across lakes or use oars to help deal with river currents. If the conditions are right, they can use the oars while they are sailing, to go a bit faster.

• Keeler – Perhaps the most versatile inland vessel, it carries its cargo on an open deck and can take up to ten deck passengers without affecting its cargo capacity. It fits through canal locks and shallow rivers. It is the workhorse of the inland waterways.
  A Keeler costs 3000gp, and returns 15gp a month towards your cost-of-living expenses. You need to find a reliable Skipper to manage the vessel and crew.
• Sailing Barge – Longer and wider than a keeler, the sailing barge carries more cargo, mainly on an open deck and can carry up to ten deck passengers without affecting its cargo capacity. It is the queen of longer river journeys, but needs a deep and wide river to operate properly. It does not fit through canal locks.
  A Sailing Barge costs 4500gp, and returns 18gp a month towards your cost-of-living expenses. You need to find a reliable Skipper to manage the vessel and crew.
• Wherry - Thin, sleek and fast, the wherry is used for small cargos and passengers, and fits through canal locks and shallow rivers.. It doesn’t take deck passengers, but it can take up to five passengers in a bunk-room style cabin. However, it is expensive to travel (or transport cargo) on a wherry.
  A Wherry costs 5000gp, and returns 22gp a month towards your cost-of-living expenses. You need to find a reliable Skipper to manage the vessel and crew.

These sea going vessels tend to stay within sight of the coast and can also navigate large river estuaries. However, they rely on wind power for movement and are not intended for regular river use. They are slower than other ocean vessels, and mainly handle shorter distance routes. Inland vessels generally have a skipper (Expert2) in charge, although there are exceptions for some vessels.

Fishing is a major source of food for coastal areas, and provides fairly cheap protein for the workers of coastal cities. Fish can also be preserved, in a variety of ways, to help with over wintering or spoilage during transportation.

• Fishing Boat – The Dory is a high sided fishing boat suitable for coastal waters, but is rarely away from home for more than one day. Its main catch is often the smaller fish found near the coast, such as: Sardines; Picarel; Anchovies; and some species of small wrasse. These fish well suited for the cheaper part of an Inn’s menu, such as fish stew or a single small portion of griddled fish, and they can be preserved as fish sauce, brining or smoking. Dories can be found in cities, towns or villages across Hann. As a very small vessel, Dories only need a deckhand (rather than a skipper or captain) in charge.
  A Dory costs 500gp, and returns an income of 5gp per month towards your cost-of-living expenses. You need to find a reliable deckhand to oversee the vessel and crew. While 5gp might seem a like a small return, it is actually one of the largest in percentage terms. However, you will often find that someone has cornered the bulk fish market, prices have dropped and there is severe (and possibly) violent competition.
• Hooker – an open water fishing ship, that can take short trips into deeper water, chasing shoals of fish, which they carry home in an open hold. They are rarely used for transporting cargo or passengers. They catch the large, deep water, fish that are desirable in wealthier homes or more expensive restaurants. Hookers normally sail out of a town, or city, where they have a bigger market for their catch.
  A Hooker costs 3000gp, and returns 15gp a month towards your cost-of-living expenses. You need to find a reliable Skipper to manage the vessel and crew.

Coasters sail along the coast, carrying goods between local settlements. They don't make a huge profit, but they are the bread and butter of the merchant trade.

• Hoy – heavy and bulky, the bargelike Hoy needs lee-boards when sailing, but has a shallow draft and is well suited for estuary work. Primarily a cargo vessel it can carry up to ten passengers in a bunk-room style cabin. It isn’t a comfortable way to travel, but it is cheap. It is the smallest of the sea going trading vessels and never ventures into deeper water.
  A Hoy costs 4500gp, and returns 35gp a month towards your cost-of-living expenses. You need to find a reliable Skipper to manage the vessel and crew.
• Cog – sometimes, known as Round Ships, are the largest of the coasters, and serve the longest trade routes, Cogs are versatile vessels although not particularly nimble or comfortable to sail in. Once the main sailing vessel of the Hann fleet, they were relegated to coastal duties, with the introduction of more modern vessels,. Primarily a cargo vessel it can carry up to ten passengers in a bunk-room style cabin.
  A Cog costs 6000gp, and returns 50gp a month towards your cost-of-living expenses, but you need to find a reliable Skipper to manage the vessel and crew, in coastal waters. Cogs can take occasional deepwater trips, that only last a day or two. For longer, or regular, deepwater sailing you must have the vessel re-rigged and appoint a Captain, rather than a Skipper.

These ships have replaced the Cog as the main sailing vessel of the Hann Empire. Larger, more heavily built and carrying more masts and sails, they make light work of deep water. They sail fast and can take more direct routes to their destination, which makes them cheaper to run and much more profitable.

• Light Ship – Are often called Brigs, although other rigs, such as Snow and Brigantine appear occasionally. There are two tall masts, carrying a mix of square and gaff sails, generally with two sails per mast. Cheaper than the fully rigged ships, they are the most common of the deepwater vessels.
  A Light Ship costs 8000gp, and returns 65gp a month towards your cost-of-living expenses. You need to find a reliable Captain to manage the vessel and crew.
• Sailing Ship – These fully rigged sailing ships have three masts, with square rigged sails; carry more passengers and cargo than other vessels, and can the most direct routes. Widely seen as the best and most efficient merchant ship, they are expensive – and thus, generally, restricted to the larger trade houses.
  A Sailing Ship costs 10000gp, and returns 85gp a month towards your cost-of-living expenses. You need to find a reliable Captain to manage the vessel and crew.

Masts and Sails: Most vessels have a single mast, with a single square sail, and might set a single foresail, they aren’t complicated to sail and require less skilled sailors. Sailing ships have more masts (2 or 3) and carry two square sails on each mast, they have a Gaff Sail on the aft mast, and can set foresails – which means they need more skilled sailors - however, some of the jobs can be done by less skilled deckhands. The number of masts and sails are important in determining the number, and type, of crew a ship needs. The more complicated the rig, the more skilled the crew.

Re-rig: You can add some general sailing speed (to the wind powered part of the ship’s speed) by topping out the masts and adding sails. This, generally, adds an extra sail at the top of the mast, and a stay sail between masts. However, you need a bigger, and more skilled, crew to deal with the extra canvas. You cannot buy re-rigged ships on the open market, but must add this service after you have purchased them

Passengers: Every ship can carry a few passengers. On many small vessels, a few Deck Passengers travel outside on the open deck, finding space nestled in the cargo. Larger ships generally have bunk rooms or cabins for passengers. Bunk Passengers are generally accommodated in a single cramped cabin (about 10×12) and are restricted to a backpack for their personal gear, anything else must go as cargo. Passenger cabins are small (7×5), but private, and can normally accommodate two passengers in bunks, who might be allowed to take a couple of small chests, along with their backpack, as personal luggage. Upper bunks can be folded away to make a bit more space, and some people pay double to book a ‘single’ cabin. Any ship can carry more passengers, but each extra passenger gets a small space in a cargo hold and takes up 1x five-foot square of cargo space. No matter how you travel on a ship, space and luggage are limited.

Crew: There are three types of sailing crew: Sailors are experienced sailors (Expert-2); Deckhands are less experienced, but still perform basic sailing duties (Expert-2), while Swabbies (labourers) do the physical work of rowing, cleaning and loading cargo. The more complicated the rig, the more skilled the crew. If you appoint someone to command the ship, they deal with recruitment for you If you command the ship yourself, you need to pay the costs of recruiting staff, until you have sailed a couple of trips.

Commanders: Captains (Expert-3) are highly skilled sailors, required to sail and navigate a ship in open waters, while Skippers (Expert-2) have the same sort of skill as a common sailor. Skippers command small vessels sailed by deckhands, or can act as Bosun aboard sailing ships.