1) Closing the distance

You have seen a ship you wish to close with, or another ship has seen you

• Spot a ship on the horizon and give chase. Ship’s Pilot makes a Seamanship Roll, Vs the Seamanship of the target ship’s captain. Best of three.
  • Target Ship is slower than you – you catch up, unless you lose all three rolls..
  • Target Ship is same speed as you. If you win, you catch the other vessel. If you lose, they escape.
  • Target Ship is faster than you – they escape unless you win all three rolls.
  • Target ship decides to close as well. Automatic catch.
• Unordered List ItemEscape from a vessel chasing you. The same rules, in reverse, if you are trying to escape from another vessel.

2) Ranged Combat

As the ships close, you shoot at each other.

• Siege engines – each siege engine gets three attack rolls as you close. You can choose to target Sails, Oars, Structure or Tiller. Do enough damage and the opposing ship will not be able to manoeuvre or escape.
  • Ballistae
  • Light – 3d8:19-20/X2
  • Heavy - 4d8:19-20/X2
• Catapults – Catapults target an area.
  • Light – 4d6 /x2 (Min range 50ft)
  • Standard – 6d6 /x2 (Min range 100 ft)
• Personal Missile weapons – bows, crossbows only. 2 attacks as you close
• Crew – each excess crew member (after minimum sailing crew and siege engine crew) roll to attack. Each natural 20 disables a member of the opposite crew.
• Officers – if an officer is not taking a sailing, crew or siege engine roll – officers may target individuals on the opposing ship with spells of missile weapons. One attack at 150ft, 90ft and 30ft. Check your spell ranges.

3) Attack Roll

Three opposed Profession(Sailor) rolls. If you win two, you can grapple and board. Win all three and you can choose to shear or ram, if you want to. Both give you automatic grapples. If you lose, your opponents get the action, they might break away, shoot at you, or even escape.

• Shear - used against a vessel with oars, damages the oars and limits movement. BUT it only works against a ship with oars.
• Ram – damages the ships structure - BUT you need to do a lot of damage to sink it.

4) Board and fight!

Once you are aboard the opposing vessel, it is normal melee combat. PCs take on the captain and officers. The Petty Officers lead the crew in their attempts to secure the ship. If you win – the crew win.