Some thoughts on crew, ranks and hierarchy. This isn’t a compulsory structure, but is a suggestion that you might want to adopt bits from. You don’t have to have all of the positions and can new positions (at whatever level you like). Or change the structure completely - this is based on British Naval ranks from the age of sail -simplified and tweaked for fantasy piracy. But, as I say, take the stuff you like, scrap the rest and add bits that appeal. Or just have Officers and Others …

This is not an exhaustive list, and you certainly won't start off with every officer or crew type listed below. The crew types give you some idea of what you might get when you recruit :)

Captain- the face of the ship, in command, appoints the officers and often has the final word. However, the Captain of a pirate vessel is elected by the crew and rules by consent of the majority. Equally, they could be ‘sacked’ (perhaps violently) by the crew – if the crew are strong enough to get away with it.

Officers – Generally called Sir (or Ma’am), they are the Captain’s appointment and his advisors; they run the ship on his behalf. However, PCs can double up, or roles can be ommitted. Captain James Cook, for example, was his own Pursar (one of the key responsibilities on a naval vessel)

• Sailing Master – Navigation, course setting, ship handling.
• Ship’s Magister - Deployment of magic generally and for use in battle.
• Bosun – Crew management.
• Lieutenant – Oversees military personnel.
• Ship’s Surgeon – Looks after crew health, fixes injuries.
• Weather Witch - manipulates the weather.
• Quartermaster – Keeps track of gear / cargo / plunder.

Petty Officers – There might be more than one of these in each position. These might just be trusted pirates (ie those you have served with for a while), specialists or ‘individual’ characters (such as Rosie, Kroop, Conch or Sandara). Positions listed with potential reporting officer.

• Master’s Mate (Master) - there might be more than one of these. Often stands the night watch,
• Bosun’s Mate (Bosun)
• Ship’s Cook – (Captain)
• Ship’s Carpenter (Quartermaster)
• Sail Maker (Quartermaster)
• Armourer (Quartermaster)
• Sgt at Arms (Lieutenant / Captain)

Special Crew

• Marines – Ftr-2 (Lieutenant / Sgt at Arms) – military folk, who are trained to fight at sea and act as corporals for boarding parties. Skilled with siege engines.
• Buccaneers – Ftr-2 (Lieutenant / Sgt at Arms) – Pirates who have learned to use siege engines and act as corporals for boarding parties.
• Cabin Boy/Girl - the Captain's servant.

General Crew - they expect to be disciplined, and non-lethal damage, as a punishment, is seen as an occupational hazard. (Bosun / Sailing Master)

• Riggers – Better trained crew who climb the rigging and look after the sails.
  • Sailors – Expert-2 – with specialist sailing skills.
  • Seamen – Expert1/Warrior1 – often skilled in a craft as well as seamanship. Secondary combatants.
  • Pirates – Warrior-2 – not the best sailors, but good fighters.
• Swabs – Crew who undertake deck work, cleaning etc. They probably have basic seamanship skills and can help crew artillery / siege engines.
  • Deckhands – Commoner-2 – Know their way around ships and boats.
  • Rowers - Commoner-2 – Some experience of ships and boats, often galleys. Maybe an ex-slave..
  • Fishers - Commoner-2 - comfortable at sea, know their way around boats, Prof:Fishing.
  • Lubber - Commoner-1 - no previous experience of the sea.