Merchant fleets of the Sword Coast [Archive] - Wizards Community

Merchant fleets of the Sword Coast [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
meto30
10-17-07, 08:43 PM This is related to my other question about Waterdeep.

How well armed are the Sword Coast merchant fleets? Do they have a team of marines? Do sailors carry simple weapons, or are they unarmed? I'm asking this becuase if my party decides to go by ship, I either have to stage a pirate attack or a preplanned crew mutiny. (A mafia-style villain is holding a grudge for killing his friend)

The way the campaign worked out, Waterdeep in my campaign is on hightened security because of sudden increase in shady practices across North Faerun. Guild mages are now onboard patrol ships and will scan all ships entering the port prior to docking. Would this mean increased armament for merchant fleets as well?
Phelf_Der_Zemit
10-17-07, 09:13 PM Im not bold enough to anwser the secound question, but my gut feeling is yes.

As to your first they would probably be armed with the usual sea fairing weapons, i.e. cutlasses, nets, whips, daggers, and short swords. Some fighters for the poorer merchant ships, more fighters and a weak mage for middle class, and for high class clans some experianced fighters and a more powerful mage (the best having ring of elemental control, water) but thats just my two bits, hope it helped.
Iakhovas
10-17-07, 09:31 PM meto30, you may want to check out my article entitled Age of Sail: Merchant Powers of the High Seas in the most recent Candlekeep Compendium for some additional ideas.
meto30
10-17-07, 09:34 PM Thank you, Iakhovas. I will check CK immediately.
Old Sage
10-17-07, 11:10 PM There are also a few brief notes in the "Play the Market" section of Power of Faerūn that may prove useful.
Alediran
10-18-07, 09:15 AM And Drizzt's Passage to Dawn is a good novel where drizzt and catti-brie are part of a pirate hunting vessel, with a powerfull evoker included.
Stigger
10-18-07, 09:43 AM Kinda depends on the run they make as well. A simple coaster making a Waterdeep to Neverwinter run isn't going to run nearly as heavily armed as one making a Waterdeep to Murann run. I'd say a merchant would have to be insane to run without at least some basic weapons and few decent warrior types in his crew if he's heading pretty much anywhere south of Waterdeep, or much farther than Neverwinter or Port Llast. And even then, it depends on how rowdy the Luskanites are being at the moment.

It would be weird if the sailors weren't at least armed with daggers, and most are probably at least proficient with something like belaying pins they could grap and use like smallish clubs. I'd think however that formal Marines would probably be limited to actual warships and possibly the escort ships of some of the larger merchant fleets (Adarbrent and Wavesilver come to mind there, though one of them was hurting IIRC, can't recall which though).

As to arming merchant ships, I seem to recall mention of them being armed in times of war and tension, so I could see it as a definite possibility to stick maybe a catapult or ballista on them while the tension is there. Think that was in the 2e City of Splendors boxed set, which should be available as a PDF for 4$ or so somewhere. That had a fairly significant section on Waterdhavian naval bits, both military and merchant, at least as I recall it did. Hope that helped. :)
meto30
10-18-07, 04:53 PM There are also a few brief notes in the "Play the Market" section of Power of Faerūn that may prove useful.
And Drizzt's Passage to Dawn is a good novel where drizzt and catti-brie are part of a pirate hunting vessel, with a powerfull evoker included.

Thank you for your advice! The only problem is that each one of those books will take more than two weeks getting here. I had to wait 20 days for my rulebooks. The situation is ridiculous. Just 10 years ago Korea had a large DnD fanbase with thousands of books in the market. Now I have to special-order my books everytime I order one! And pay the extra fee.

Kinda depends on the run they make as well. A simple coaster making a Waterdeep to Neverwinter run isn't going to run nearly as heavily armed as one making a Waterdeep to Murann run. I'd say a merchant would have to be insane to run without at least some basic weapons and few decent warrior types in his crew if he's heading pretty much anywhere south of Waterdeep, or much farther than Neverwinter or Port Llast. And even then, it depends on how rowdy the Luskanites are being at the moment.

It would be weird if the sailors weren't at least armed with daggers, and most are probably at least proficient with something like belaying pins they could grap and use like smallish clubs. I'd think however that formal Marines would probably be limited to actual warships and possibly the escort ships of some of the larger merchant fleets (Adarbrent and Wavesilver come to mind there, though one of them was hurting IIRC, can't recall which though).

As to arming merchant ships, I seem to recall mention of them being armed in times of war and tension, so I could see it as a definite possibility to stick maybe a catapult or ballista on them while the tension is there. Think that was in the 2e City of Splendors boxed set, which should be available as a PDF for 4$ or so somewhere. That had a fairly significant section on Waterdhavian naval bits, both military and merchant, at least as I recall it did. Hope that helped.

Thank you, Stigger! In Korean culture, I am now obliged to call you 'sir' and show multiple signs of gratitude. I bow to your goodwill. :bow:

Since the vessel I'm thinking of is a small one just making runs between Port Llast and Waterdeep, I don't think I'll go as far as arming the ship with mounted artillery. But I guess the sailors would arm themselves with larger weapons. Maybe some of the senior ones bought cutlasses at Neverwinter. Luskans are depicted as very rowdy in my campaign, since the Hosttower mages have detected the unusual commotion going around in Faerun (The Hunt of the Dragonflights)

Oh, maybe he would welcome the adventurers onboard! The party are all hardy persons, and the captain might be pleased for the extra security they provide. He won't have to pay them for it. Heck, he gets paid for it! :)
Stigger
10-19-07, 01:56 AM Heh, no problem, was glad to help.

One point though, if you're going the larger weapon route, you might think about mentioning a weapons locker somewhere, since I can't see many sailors working onboard a ship lugging around a heavy weapon without an actual need for it. Kinda hard to sneak up on a ship without at least some degree of warning in all but the foggiest of conditions afterall.

One little note though, I usually gave my players a bit of a bonus for stuff like ship prices when one of them was a bard, or had significant ranks in the Perform skill, since entertainment could be hard to come by on voyages, and was usually welcome to pass the time... good luck with it. :)
icuall
10-19-07, 05:06 PM My 2 cents...
I think ships in Faerun would be armed to the teeth with whatever they could have and afford to have. Lets see Pirates, sea monsters, aerial monsters, not-so friendly nations, greedy wizard/sorcerers who want your cargo to finance their research, etc. I think only the safest and most common sea route would ships then be a little light on the offensive and defensive armaments.
Stigger
10-19-07, 05:29 PM Never underestimate the miserly greed of a merchant who doesn't want to spend any more than he absolutely has to... ;)
meto30
10-19-07, 06:53 PM I was aiming to make the Sword Coast into something similar to a low-level area. I know the Sword Coast ain't the safest place in the world, but with good-hearted city-states lining it I guessed I woudn't be stepping to far across the line to depict it as a place "Filled with isolated dangers one can avoid simply by not looking for them". Thus, I don't want overt armaments and weapons to be commonplace. This way my adventurers can feel more at ease.

Once they get near Baldur's Gate, where the next major plot hook awaits, things will be different, even for the Sword Coast North. But right now my party are all level 2, and learning the value of patience and diligence in Waterdeep, doing quests that are seemingly unrelated to their major concerns.
Stigger
10-20-07, 04:23 AM Not a bad approach really, sounds good to me.
Bullet06320
10-20-07, 07:19 AM A while back in a campaign I was running, the PCs where pirate hunting in the Inner Sea working for the Cormyr Royal Navy, what I forgot to tell them was that a bunch of pirates had managed to steal a Cormyrean Naval Galleon and where using it to harmlessly pull up next to merchent ships under the guise of rutine inspections and then plunder the crap out of them a whole lot easier. While word out at sea doesn't always travel fast, it made for a good surpise. Needless to say, Plundered PCs. They did't see that coming, at least not untill the web spells started going off.
Of course you might want to wait untill your group is a little higher level to pull something like that.
18DELTA
10-21-07, 12:39 PM Have you checked out the D&D supplement called Stormwrack? I used it in the Savage Tide Adventure Path from Dungeon magazine. It has every thing you need to master the wind and waves. Its not a FR sourcebook, yet its generic enough to use in any campain.:)

My:twocents:
ExtinctionBeta
10-21-07, 05:58 PM I remember somthing from the Sword Coast in Road of the Patriarch...is this related to Artemis in anyway? If it's related to Drizzt I don't want to hear it.
meto30
10-21-07, 06:31 PM This message is hidden because ExtinctionBeta is on your ignore list.

@ExtinctionBeta: The above sentence is all I can read on your post. If you have something to say, try growing up before you say anything. And disinfect that spongy organ of yours.
meto30
10-22-07, 12:28 AM A while back in a campaign I was running, the PCs where pirate hunting in the Inner Sea working for the Cormyr Royal Navy, what I forgot to tell them was that a bunch of pirates had managed to steal a Cormyrean Naval Galleon and where using it to harmlessly pull up next to merchent ships under the guise of rutine inspections and then plunder the crap out of them a whole lot easier. While word out at sea doesn't always travel fast, it made for a good surpise. Needless to say, Plundered PCs. They did't see that coming, at least not untill the web spells started going off.
Of course you might want to wait untill your group is a little higher level to pull something like that.

Too bad I didn't see this before that session... :weep:

The next time my party goes sailing, they're in for a nasty surprise :plotting:
Bullet06320
10-22-07, 02:31 AM Another variation on that theme would be making the pirate crew Undead. of cousre the Captain would need to be a Lich or other spellcasting Undead using a permanent Disguise Undead spell on the crew to disguise thier true nature or having a Necromancer controlling the crew from a distance, creating a reoccuring nemisis for your group
Rauric
10-22-07, 01:12 PM @ExtinctionBeta: The above sentence is all I can read on your post. If you have something to say, try growing up before you say anything. And disinfect that spongy organ of yours.

Please help me find the ignore button please!
meto30
10-22-07, 01:24 PM Please help me find the ignore button please!

Look for a horizontal menu at the top of the page. Click on My Account, and then click on Edit My Profile Information in the drop-down menu. After the new page loads, you should see the menu 'Buddy/Ignore Lists' on the left, under 'Miscellaneous'.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
10-22-07, 02:10 PM The little triangular icon in the upper right corner of each post is helpful, too!
ExtinctionBeta
10-22-07, 02:11 PM Ok, I had enough, I want to know what I said wrong? I asked if Artemis had anything to do with the Sword Coast. Tell me what is so wrong with this? I am extreamly frustrated at the moment. I want everyone to take notice to this, even when I am doing nothing wrong I am indeed bashed. I had stayed on topic and asked a question relating to forgotten realms and did not even bash a fictional character. I am beggining to think that bashing me has become a new trend.

How does Artemis being related to the sword coast get me put on somones ignore list? I want a different perspective other than these who have already posted please.
18DELTA
10-22-07, 05:18 PM Another variation on that theme would be making the pirate crew Undead. of cousre the Captain would need to be a Lich or other spellcasting Undead using a permanent Disguise Undead spell on the crew to disguise thier true nature or having a Necromancer controlling the crew from a distance, creating a reoccuring nemisis for your group

Why do I see "Captain Barbosa", and "Captain Jack Sparrow" in that post!!!:D I can see it now whoever controlls his Plalactery(sp) controls the "Bane of the Sword Coast, Captain Xerxes"!!!:smirk:
Bullet06320
10-24-07, 04:43 AM Why do I see "Captain Barbosa", and "Captain Jack Sparrow" in that post!!!:D I can see it now whoever controlls his Plalactery(sp) controls the "Bane of the Sword Coast, Captain Xerxes"!!!:smirk:

Not my intention but I can see the similarities

The ship itself could be the Phlactry for a Lich. Go ahead and capture that ship and wonder how come the Lich keeps showing up in the cargo hold
Stigger
10-24-07, 06:19 PM Now that is a very interesting idea there Bullet... Thanks for that, as I'm gonna be stealing that one from you. :evillaugh
ExtinctionBeta
10-24-07, 06:23 PM Why do I see "Captain Barbosa", and "Captain Jack Sparrow" in that post!!!:D I can see it now whoever controlls his Plalactery(sp) controls the "Bane of the Sword Coast, Captain Xerxes"!!!:smirk:

Xerxes? From 300? King of kings you mean
Bullet06320
10-24-07, 07:42 PM Now that is a very interesting idea there Bullet... Thanks for that, as I'm gonna be stealing that one from you. :evillaugh

No Prob, I enjoy playing Necromancers and creating more unusual undead to give headaches to DMs and PCs alike is one of my favorite hobbies. If you need any more ideas just ask away
18DELTA
10-24-07, 10:29 PM Not my intention but I can see the similarities

The ship itself could be the Phlactry for a Lich. Go ahead and capture that ship and wonder how come the Lich keeps showing up in the cargo hold

:rofl: :bow: :w00t: :plotting: :evillaugh :clap: :dancin: :cheer: :cloud9: Brilliant!!!:D
meto30
10-24-07, 10:32 PM The ship itself could be the Phlactry for a Lich. Go ahead and capture that ship and wonder how come the Lich keeps showing up in the cargo hold

Ah, a haunted Ship! (NOT!) I think I'll steal that too.
18DELTA
10-24-07, 10:37 PM Xerxes? From 300? King of kings you mean

Actually that was a name I pulled out of my...:censored:. In one game I made the Mage Lord from the Lost Empires of Faerun a half fiend, then slapped the Lich template on that bad boy.:eek: He was a fiend/lich.;) :D
Thinblade
10-24-07, 11:16 PM Historically, ship crews were a rough-and-tumble group, getting into drunken brawls in port, and often coming from shady backgrounds (remember, the British army, at least, actively recruited from criminals and the under classes). I could easily see some crews made up of a high percentage of Thief 1's. At the very least, they'd be proficient with a lot of improvised weapons (like the belaying pin) that can be found aboard ship.

Another book to look for is Pirates of the Fallen Stars, a 2e sourcebook. While it focuses on lawlessness on the Inner Sea, instead of merchants on the Outer, it could be of use. After all, the most common scourge of merchants, after weather, would be pirates, and reading about one also teaches you about the other. It's either free on the Wizards download page or $4-5.
MarkusTay63
10-25-07, 06:50 PM And if you use my article in the CK Compendium, travel between ALL the seas is now possible. ;)
Stigger
10-29-07, 03:35 PM Just use that canal thing they stuck into GHotR...

Though if that isn't one of the most heavily fought over stretches of land in all of Faerun I'm going to be ill...
MarkusTay63
10-30-07, 04:29 PM Didn't it get destroyed already (before any of us was actually able to use it IG {what else is new?})?

Funny thing is, I've had that canal in place on my maps since before 3e came out. I really wish they'd get their cameras the hell out of my house. :P
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
10-30-07, 05:57 PM Didn't it get destroyed already (before any of us was actually able to use it IG {what else is new?})?

GHotR mentions it as having been rebuilt by 1380 DR.:rolleyes:

Good Lord, the Watercourse trilogy annoyed the heck out of me.
Stigger
10-30-07, 06:29 PM Interesting... I did the same thing myself back when Empires of the Shining Sea came out for 2e.
MarkusTay63
10-30-07, 06:55 PM Well, I suppose anyone with half a brain could of just looked over the maps and saw the potential in that tiny strip of land - connecting the outer seas with the Inner is one helluva money-maker for anyone who could accomplish such a feat.

You could tax everything that came through your canal - EVERYTHING. In fact, I never read the Watercourse thingy (heard it sucked) but I would assume that every major power group in the Realms would want to control it, from the Red Wizards and the Zhentarrim, to the Rundeen and Twisted Rune, to evil races like the Yuan-ti and the Malaulgrym. It would be like a lightening rod, attracting every evil or greedy being to crawl out from under his rock.

I suppose that it is just too good a plot device to pass up. :)
Stigger
10-30-07, 06:58 PM Pretty much. Kinda like Suez or Panama really... with no really big empire to hold it. I miss that era of our campaign really...
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
10-30-07, 07:02 PM You could tax everything that came through your canal - EVERYTHING. In fact, I never read the Watercourse thingy (heard it sucked) :)

I didn't care for the trilogy. I hated most of the characters in those books, the plot was directly taken from Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead (seriously--and the characters, too), and, perhaps worst of all, I thought the author injected his own personal philosophy (Objectivism) and politics into the trilogy in a manner that felt heavy-handed and condescending.

And yeah, Phil Athan (the author) basically looked at the map and wondered why no one ever built a canal between the Inner Sea and Lake of Steam. So, he had his pet Objectivist Hero build one, all the while having every non-evil or non-stupid character talk about what a genius said Objectivist Hero is, how we could all learn from him, and how he's doing the Greatest Thing anyone in all Faerun has ever done.

Annoying. As. HELL!
MarkusTay63
10-30-07, 08:08 PM Ah... Okay.

So the author had the same exact idea that everyone else who even took a casual glance at the maps had, and then proceeded to slap himself on the back for three books at his own incredible genius.

Sounds like most Realms authors. ;)
meto30
10-30-07, 08:25 PM Canal between the Inner Seas and the Lake of Steam... sounds like a project worthy for my redesigned Tchazzar. :)
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
10-30-07, 08:34 PM Ah... Okay.

So the author had the same exact idea that everyone else who even took a casual glance at the maps had, and then proceeded to slap himself on the back for three books at his own incredible genius.

Sounds like most Realms authors. ;)

:rofl:

Okay, I have to admit, sometimes I've thought of it the same way.;) I'd forgive the author if he never created Phyrea though (she's that character I hate!).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
meto30 10-17-07, 08:43 PM	This is related to my other question about Waterdeep. How well armed are the Sword Coast merchant fleets? Do they have a team of marines? Do sailors carry simple weapons, or are they unarmed? I'm asking this becuase if my party decides to go by ship, I either have to stage a pirate attack or a preplanned crew mutiny. (A mafia-style villain is holding a grudge for killing his friend) The way the campaign worked out, Waterdeep in my campaign is on hightened security because of sudden increase in shady practices across North Faerun. Guild mages are now onboard patrol ships and will scan all ships entering the port prior to docking. Would this mean increased armament for merchant fleets as well?
Phelf_Der_Zemit 10-17-07, 09:13 PM	Im not bold enough to anwser the secound question, but my gut feeling is yes. As to your first they would probably be armed with the usual sea fairing weapons, i.e. cutlasses, nets, whips, daggers, and short swords. Some fighters for the poorer merchant ships, more fighters and a weak mage for middle class, and for high class clans some experianced fighters and a more powerful mage (the best having ring of elemental control, water) but thats just my two bits, hope it helped.
Iakhovas 10-17-07, 09:31 PM	meto30, you may want to check out my article entitled Age of Sail: Merchant Powers of the High Seas in the most recent Candlekeep Compendium for some additional ideas.
meto30 10-17-07, 09:34 PM	Thank you, Iakhovas. I will check CK immediately.
Old Sage 10-17-07, 11:10 PM	There are also a few brief notes in the "Play the Market" section of Power of Faerūn that may prove useful.
Alediran 10-18-07, 09:15 AM	And Drizzt's Passage to Dawn is a good novel where drizzt and catti-brie are part of a pirate hunting vessel, with a powerfull evoker included.
Stigger 10-18-07, 09:43 AM	Kinda depends on the run they make as well. A simple coaster making a Waterdeep to Neverwinter run isn't going to run nearly as heavily armed as one making a Waterdeep to Murann run. I'd say a merchant would have to be insane to run without at least some basic weapons and few decent warrior types in his crew if he's heading pretty much anywhere south of Waterdeep, or much farther than Neverwinter or Port Llast. And even then, it depends on how rowdy the Luskanites are being at the moment. It would be weird if the sailors weren't at least armed with daggers, and most are probably at least proficient with something like belaying pins they could grap and use like smallish clubs. I'd think however that formal Marines would probably be limited to actual warships and possibly the escort ships of some of the larger merchant fleets (Adarbrent and Wavesilver come to mind there, though one of them was hurting IIRC, can't recall which though). As to arming merchant ships, I seem to recall mention of them being armed in times of war and tension, so I could see it as a definite possibility to stick maybe a catapult or ballista on them while the tension is there. Think that was in the 2e City of Splendors boxed set, which should be available as a PDF for 4$ or so somewhere. That had a fairly significant section on Waterdhavian naval bits, both military and merchant, at least as I recall it did. Hope that helped. :)
meto30 10-18-07, 04:53 PM	There are also a few brief notes in the "Play the Market" section of Power of Faerūn that may prove useful. And Drizzt's Passage to Dawn is a good novel where drizzt and catti-brie are part of a pirate hunting vessel, with a powerfull evoker included. Thank you for your advice! The only problem is that each one of those books will take more than two weeks getting here. I had to wait 20 days for my rulebooks. The situation is ridiculous. Just 10 years ago Korea had a large DnD fanbase with thousands of books in the market. Now I have to special-order my books everytime I order one! And pay the extra fee. Kinda depends on the run they make as well. A simple coaster making a Waterdeep to Neverwinter run isn't going to run nearly as heavily armed as one making a Waterdeep to Murann run. I'd say a merchant would have to be insane to run without at least some basic weapons and few decent warrior types in his crew if he's heading pretty much anywhere south of Waterdeep, or much farther than Neverwinter or Port Llast. And even then, it depends on how rowdy the Luskanites are being at the moment. It would be weird if the sailors weren't at least armed with daggers, and most are probably at least proficient with something like belaying pins they could grap and use like smallish clubs. I'd think however that formal Marines would probably be limited to actual warships and possibly the escort ships of some of the larger merchant fleets (Adarbrent and Wavesilver come to mind there, though one of them was hurting IIRC, can't recall which though). As to arming merchant ships, I seem to recall mention of them being armed in times of war and tension, so I could see it as a definite possibility to stick maybe a catapult or ballista on them while the tension is there. Think that was in the 2e City of Splendors boxed set, which should be available as a PDF for 4$ or so somewhere. That had a fairly significant section on Waterdhavian naval bits, both military and merchant, at least as I recall it did. Hope that helped. Thank you, Stigger! In Korean culture, I am now obliged to call you 'sir' and show multiple signs of gratitude. I bow to your goodwill. :bow: Since the vessel I'm thinking of is a small one just making runs between Port Llast and Waterdeep, I don't think I'll go as far as arming the ship with mounted artillery. But I guess the sailors would arm themselves with larger weapons. Maybe some of the senior ones bought cutlasses at Neverwinter. Luskans are depicted as very rowdy in my campaign, since the Hosttower mages have detected the unusual commotion going around in Faerun (The Hunt of the Dragonflights) Oh, maybe he would welcome the adventurers onboard! The party are all hardy persons, and the captain might be pleased for the extra security they provide. He won't have to pay them for it. Heck, he gets paid for it! :)
Stigger 10-19-07, 01:56 AM	Heh, no problem, was glad to help. One point though, if you're going the larger weapon route, you might think about mentioning a weapons locker somewhere, since I can't see many sailors working onboard a ship lugging around a heavy weapon without an actual need for it. Kinda hard to sneak up on a ship without at least some degree of warning in all but the foggiest of conditions afterall. One little note though, I usually gave my players a bit of a bonus for stuff like ship prices when one of them was a bard, or had significant ranks in the Perform skill, since entertainment could be hard to come by on voyages, and was usually welcome to pass the time... good luck with it. :)
icuall 10-19-07, 05:06 PM	My 2 cents... I think ships in Faerun would be armed to the teeth with whatever they could have and afford to have. Lets see Pirates, sea monsters, aerial monsters, not-so friendly nations, greedy wizard/sorcerers who want your cargo to finance their research, etc. I think only the safest and most common sea route would ships then be a little light on the offensive and defensive armaments.
Stigger 10-19-07, 05:29 PM	Never underestimate the miserly greed of a merchant who doesn't want to spend any more than he absolutely has to... ;)
meto30 10-19-07, 06:53 PM	I was aiming to make the Sword Coast into something similar to a low-level area. I know the Sword Coast ain't the safest place in the world, but with good-hearted city-states lining it I guessed I woudn't be stepping to far across the line to depict it as a place "Filled with isolated dangers one can avoid simply by not looking for them". Thus, I don't want overt armaments and weapons to be commonplace. This way my adventurers can feel more at ease. Once they get near Baldur's Gate, where the next major plot hook awaits, things will be different, even for the Sword Coast North. But right now my party are all level 2, and learning the value of patience and diligence in Waterdeep, doing quests that are seemingly unrelated to their major concerns.
Stigger 10-20-07, 04:23 AM	Not a bad approach really, sounds good to me.
Bullet06320 10-20-07, 07:19 AM	A while back in a campaign I was running, the PCs where pirate hunting in the Inner Sea working for the Cormyr Royal Navy, what I forgot to tell them was that a bunch of pirates had managed to steal a Cormyrean Naval Galleon and where using it to harmlessly pull up next to merchent ships under the guise of rutine inspections and then plunder the crap out of them a whole lot easier. While word out at sea doesn't always travel fast, it made for a good surpise. Needless to say, Plundered PCs. They did't see that coming, at least not untill the web spells started going off. Of course you might want to wait untill your group is a little higher level to pull something like that.
18DELTA 10-21-07, 12:39 PM	Have you checked out the D&D supplement called Stormwrack? I used it in the Savage Tide Adventure Path from Dungeon magazine. It has every thing you need to master the wind and waves. Its not a FR sourcebook, yet its generic enough to use in any campain.:) My:twocents:
ExtinctionBeta 10-21-07, 05:58 PM	I remember somthing from the Sword Coast in Road of the Patriarch...is this related to Artemis in anyway? If it's related to Drizzt I don't want to hear it.
meto30 10-21-07, 06:31 PM	This message is hidden because ExtinctionBeta is on your ignore list. @ExtinctionBeta: The above sentence is all I can read on your post. If you have something to say, try growing up before you say anything. And disinfect that spongy organ of yours.
meto30 10-22-07, 12:28 AM	A while back in a campaign I was running, the PCs where pirate hunting in the Inner Sea working for the Cormyr Royal Navy, what I forgot to tell them was that a bunch of pirates had managed to steal a Cormyrean Naval Galleon and where using it to harmlessly pull up next to merchent ships under the guise of rutine inspections and then plunder the crap out of them a whole lot easier. While word out at sea doesn't always travel fast, it made for a good surpise. Needless to say, Plundered PCs. They did't see that coming, at least not untill the web spells started going off. Of course you might want to wait untill your group is a little higher level to pull something like that. Too bad I didn't see this before that session... :weep: The next time my party goes sailing, they're in for a nasty surprise :plotting:
Bullet06320 10-22-07, 02:31 AM	Another variation on that theme would be making the pirate crew Undead. of cousre the Captain would need to be a Lich or other spellcasting Undead using a permanent Disguise Undead spell on the crew to disguise thier true nature or having a Necromancer controlling the crew from a distance, creating a reoccuring nemisis for your group
Rauric 10-22-07, 01:12 PM	@ExtinctionBeta: The above sentence is all I can read on your post. If you have something to say, try growing up before you say anything. And disinfect that spongy organ of yours. Please help me find the ignore button please!
meto30 10-22-07, 01:24 PM	Please help me find the ignore button please! Look for a horizontal menu at the top of the page. Click on My Account, and then click on Edit My Profile Information in the drop-down menu. After the new page loads, you should see the menu 'Buddy/Ignore Lists' on the left, under 'Miscellaneous'.
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 10-22-07, 02:10 PM	The little triangular icon in the upper right corner of each post is helpful, too!
ExtinctionBeta 10-22-07, 02:11 PM	Ok, I had enough, I want to know what I said wrong? I asked if Artemis had anything to do with the Sword Coast. Tell me what is so wrong with this? I am extreamly frustrated at the moment. I want everyone to take notice to this, even when I am doing nothing wrong I am indeed bashed. I had stayed on topic and asked a question relating to forgotten realms and did not even bash a fictional character. I am beggining to think that bashing me has become a new trend. How does Artemis being related to the sword coast get me put on somones ignore list? I want a different perspective other than these who have already posted please.
18DELTA 10-22-07, 05:18 PM	Another variation on that theme would be making the pirate crew Undead. of cousre the Captain would need to be a Lich or other spellcasting Undead using a permanent Disguise Undead spell on the crew to disguise thier true nature or having a Necromancer controlling the crew from a distance, creating a reoccuring nemisis for your group Why do I see "Captain Barbosa", and "Captain Jack Sparrow" in that post!!!:D I can see it now whoever controlls his Plalactery(sp) controls the "Bane of the Sword Coast, Captain Xerxes"!!!:smirk:
Bullet06320 10-24-07, 04:43 AM	Why do I see "Captain Barbosa", and "Captain Jack Sparrow" in that post!!!:D I can see it now whoever controlls his Plalactery(sp) controls the "Bane of the Sword Coast, Captain Xerxes"!!!:smirk: Not my intention but I can see the similarities The ship itself could be the Phlactry for a Lich. Go ahead and capture that ship and wonder how come the Lich keeps showing up in the cargo hold
Stigger 10-24-07, 06:19 PM	Now that is a very interesting idea there Bullet... Thanks for that, as I'm gonna be stealing that one from you. :evillaugh
ExtinctionBeta 10-24-07, 06:23 PM	Why do I see "Captain Barbosa", and "Captain Jack Sparrow" in that post!!!:D I can see it now whoever controlls his Plalactery(sp) controls the "Bane of the Sword Coast, Captain Xerxes"!!!:smirk: Xerxes? From 300? King of kings you mean
Bullet06320 10-24-07, 07:42 PM	Now that is a very interesting idea there Bullet... Thanks for that, as I'm gonna be stealing that one from you. :evillaugh No Prob, I enjoy playing Necromancers and creating more unusual undead to give headaches to DMs and PCs alike is one of my favorite hobbies. If you need any more ideas just ask away
18DELTA 10-24-07, 10:29 PM	Not my intention but I can see the similarities The ship itself could be the Phlactry for a Lich. Go ahead and capture that ship and wonder how come the Lich keeps showing up in the cargo hold :rofl: :bow: :w00t: :plotting: :evillaugh :clap: :dancin: :cheer: :cloud9: Brilliant!!!:D
meto30 10-24-07, 10:32 PM	The ship itself could be the Phlactry for a Lich. Go ahead and capture that ship and wonder how come the Lich keeps showing up in the cargo hold Ah, a haunted Ship! (NOT!) I think I'll steal that too.
18DELTA 10-24-07, 10:37 PM	Xerxes? From 300? King of kings you mean Actually that was a name I pulled out of my...:censored:. In one game I made the Mage Lord from the Lost Empires of Faerun a half fiend, then slapped the Lich template on that bad boy.:eek: He was a fiend/lich.;) :D
Thinblade 10-24-07, 11:16 PM	Historically, ship crews were a rough-and-tumble group, getting into drunken brawls in port, and often coming from shady backgrounds (remember, the British army, at least, actively recruited from criminals and the under classes). I could easily see some crews made up of a high percentage of Thief 1's. At the very least, they'd be proficient with a lot of improvised weapons (like the belaying pin) that can be found aboard ship. Another book to look for is Pirates of the Fallen Stars, a 2e sourcebook. While it focuses on lawlessness on the Inner Sea, instead of merchants on the Outer, it could be of use. After all, the most common scourge of merchants, after weather, would be pirates, and reading about one also teaches you about the other. It's either free on the Wizards download page or $4-5.
MarkusTay63 10-25-07, 06:50 PM	And if you use my article in the CK Compendium, travel between ALL the seas is now possible. ;)
Stigger 10-29-07, 03:35 PM	Just use that canal thing they stuck into GHotR... Though if that isn't one of the most heavily fought over stretches of land in all of Faerun I'm going to be ill...
MarkusTay63 10-30-07, 04:29 PM	Didn't it get destroyed already (before any of us was actually able to use it IG {what else is new?})? Funny thing is, I've had that canal in place on my maps since before 3e came out. I really wish they'd get their cameras the hell out of my house. :P
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 10-30-07, 05:57 PM	Didn't it get destroyed already (before any of us was actually able to use it IG {what else is new?})? GHotR mentions it as having been rebuilt by 1380 DR.:rolleyes: Good Lord, the Watercourse trilogy annoyed the heck out of me.
Stigger 10-30-07, 06:29 PM	Interesting... I did the same thing myself back when Empires of the Shining Sea came out for 2e.
MarkusTay63 10-30-07, 06:55 PM	Well, I suppose anyone with half a brain could of just looked over the maps and saw the potential in that tiny strip of land - connecting the outer seas with the Inner is one helluva money-maker for anyone who could accomplish such a feat. You could tax everything that came through your canal - EVERYTHING. In fact, I never read the Watercourse thingy (heard it sucked) but I would assume that every major power group in the Realms would want to control it, from the Red Wizards and the Zhentarrim, to the Rundeen and Twisted Rune, to evil races like the Yuan-ti and the Malaulgrym. It would be like a lightening rod, attracting every evil or greedy being to crawl out from under his rock. I suppose that it is just too good a plot device to pass up. :)
Stigger 10-30-07, 06:58 PM	Pretty much. Kinda like Suez or Panama really... with no really big empire to hold it. I miss that era of our campaign really...
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 10-30-07, 07:02 PM	You could tax everything that came through your canal - EVERYTHING. In fact, I never read the Watercourse thingy (heard it sucked) :) I didn't care for the trilogy. I hated most of the characters in those books, the plot was directly taken from Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead (seriously--and the characters, too), and, perhaps worst of all, I thought the author injected his own personal philosophy (Objectivism) and politics into the trilogy in a manner that felt heavy-handed and condescending. And yeah, Phil Athan (the author) basically looked at the map and wondered why no one ever built a canal between the Inner Sea and Lake of Steam. So, he had his pet Objectivist Hero build one, all the while having every non-evil or non-stupid character talk about what a genius said Objectivist Hero is, how we could all learn from him, and how he's doing the Greatest Thing anyone in all Faerun has ever done. Annoying. As. HELL!
MarkusTay63 10-30-07, 08:08 PM	Ah... Okay. So the author had the same exact idea that everyone else who even took a casual glance at the maps had, and then proceeded to slap himself on the back for three books at his own incredible genius. Sounds like most Realms authors. ;)
meto30 10-30-07, 08:25 PM	Canal between the Inner Seas and the Lake of Steam... sounds like a project worthy for my redesigned Tchazzar. :)
Rinonalyrna Fathomlin 10-30-07, 08:34 PM	Ah... Okay. So the author had the same exact idea that everyone else who even took a casual glance at the maps had, and then proceeded to slap himself on the back for three books at his own incredible genius. Sounds like most Realms authors. ;) :rofl: Okay, I have to admit, sometimes I've thought of it the same way.;) I'd forgive the author if he never created Phyrea though (she's that character I hate!).