This is a site for discussing roleplaying games. Have fun doing so, but there is one major rule: do not discuss political issues that aren't directly and uniquely related to the subject of the thread and about gaming. While this site is dedicated to free speech, the following will not be tolerated: devolving a thread into unrelated political discussion, sockpuppeting (using multiple and/or bogus accounts), disrupting topics without contributing to them, and posting images that could get someone fired in the workplace (an external link is OK, but clearly mark it as Not Safe For Work, or NSFW). If you receive a warning, please take it seriously and either move on to another topic or steer the discussion back to its original RPG-related theme.

Author Topic: Nautical RPG books  (Read 2389 times)

Aglondir

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • A
  • Posts: 1588
Nautical RPG books
« on: January 26, 2021, 02:48:20 PM »
What are some good recommendations for RPG books that deal with maritime campaigns?

I'm specifically looking for something:

Close to system neutral (Gurps books are good examples)
Heavy on real world economics, with good trade rules
Historically accurate ships, crew components, navigation, piracy, naval combat,, etc.
Real world nautical considerations

I'm not looking for:

Adventures (Don't bother suggesting Saltmarsh, unless it has the above items?)
Swashbuckling rules or cinematic pirates
Underwater adventures
Playable aquatic races (but monsters might be interesting)




Svenhelgrim

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 508
Re: Nautical RPG books
« Reply #1 on: January 27, 2021, 06:44:12 AM »
Try to find a .pdf of Sid Mieier’s Pirates (1987).  The stats for the ships are pretty good. 

The best swashbuckling game I have heard of is 7th Sea, which is in it’s 2nd edition. 
The 2004 version has a simple trading system with goods arranged as follows:

Luxuries:
Spice:
Sugar:
Goods:
Food:

The prices varied, but the commodities nearer the top tended to command higher proces than those at the bottom.

Matt Demille’s Pirates, by New Dimension games is pretty good as far as adventures goes.  He’s got some trading rules in there as well.  The system iteslf is somewhat bloated but there are % charts for just about anything nautical or pirate related.

Saltmarsh has underwater encounters but not much else.  If you aren’t playing 5e, it is kind of useless.

What areyou looking for in an economic system?  Something simple?  If so then check out the boardgame Merchants & Marauders.  You can download the rules for free. 


Opaopajr

  • Señor Wences
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7768
Re: Nautical RPG books
« Reply #2 on: January 27, 2021, 02:33:14 PM »
Birthright has two sources that touch upon some of what you ask:

Cities of the Sun (dealing with the Khinasi culture of the continent, but a very large segment about naval rules)

Naval Rules (which is that large naval segment taken out and made into its own supplement)

It touches upon your interests in these ways, albeit with caveats:

System Neutrality and Real World Navigation Considerations... but it subdivides nautical regions into its own Subsystem of travel time values. It is an abstraction to account for things like ice floes & icebergs, currents and storms, et al. in a handy dandy dual numerical value separated by a slash. System Agnostic, but still its own system.

Grounded Economics and Vehicles... yes, but obviously since it is from a fantasy world it is not historically accurate. Birthright however is much lower in magical saturation with most magic users capped at 3rd lvl spells. And since the setting dwells on domain maintenance and power brokerage there is a lot of recognizably "Earth-ian" trade and equipment concerns.

For more D&D 2e stuff there is always the "greenbooks" Historical Series, and there is a "bluebook" Naval Handbook. They are IIRC (if I remember correctly) mostly gear description, campaign management advice, and discrete subsystems (meaning they are easy to put in or pull out).

However your gold standard would likely be GURPS 2e & 3e supplements. That said, thinking about GURPS and vehicle rules gives me math-induced angina.  :P
Just make your fuckin' guy and roll the dice, you pricks. Focus on what's interesting, not what gives you the biggest randomly generated virtual penis.  -- J Arcane
 
You know, people keep comparing non-TSR D&D to deck-building in Magic: the Gathering. But maybe it's more like Katamari Damacy. You keep sticking shit on your characters until they are big enough to be a star.
-- talysman

rickss

  • Newbie
  • *
  • r
  • Posts: 15
Re: Nautical RPG books
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2021, 06:36:49 PM »
I've spent a lot of time putting together a moderately comprehensive nautical doc, based primarily on 1e but pulling from, well, all over the place to fill in the gaps. The core article is here https://dnd.sinister.net/1st-edition-naval-adventuring/  (although the PDF at the end will be more up to date).  It also includes a trade system for managing trade without getting too deep into things. If you want a more details one, GAZ9 includes a route map and trade goods system.

You might find the bibliography useful if nothing else. Yes, it includes Saltmarsh but I hope you'll feel it goes well-beyond that!

TSR 2002, Dungeons & Dragons, Vol. 3: The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures, 1974 (pp. 28-34). [turning, movement]
Dragon Magazine, Issue 6, “Sea Trade in D&D Campaigns," April, 1977. [trade]
TSR 2011, Dungeon Masters Guide [1e], 1979 (pp. 53-54, 58, 69, 108-110). [fire, trade, wind]
TSR 1012, Expert Rulebook [BECMI], 1981 (pp. X63-X64).
TSR 9062, U1: Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh [1e], 1981. [rigging combat, fire]
TSR 2016, Monster Manual II, 1983. [sea encounters]
TSR 1015, A Guide to the World of Greyhawk, 1983. [core weather]
Runequest, Gamemaster Book (3rd Ed, Avalon Hill), 1984. [ships]
✖TSR 9159, M1: Into the Maelstrom [BECMI], 1985 (Inside cover, p. 4). [Sea Machine]
Dragon Magazine, Issue 107 [1e], “For Sail: One new NPC," March 1986. [NPC Mariner, drowning, navigation]
5Dragon Magazine, Issue 116 [1e], “High Seas," December 1986. [hull damage, history, ship stats, maintenance]
TSR 2019, Dungeoneer’s Survival Guide [1e], 1986 (pp. 43-48).
TSR 2020, Wilderness Survival Guide [1e], 1986 (pp. 44-46). [trade, wind]
TSR9164, OA1: Swords of the Daimyo, 1986. [mutiny]
4TSR 9187, I11: Needle [1e], 1987. [ship stats, weapons, fire, grappling, repair]
✖TSR 9215, Gaz 4: The Kingdom of Ierendi [BECMI], 1987 (pp. 29-30, 35-36). [hex-based minis system]
✖Dragon Magazine, Issue 124 [1e], “Sailors on the Sea of Air," August 1987. [skyships, gliders, mounts]
✖Dragon Magazine, Issue 130 [1e], “The Oriental Sea," February 1988. [ships of the Orient, monster damage]
TSR 9236, Gaz 9: The Minrothad Guilds [BECMI], 1988 (pp. 14-15, 36-41). [weather, trade, navigation]
TSR 1049, SpellJammer: Concordance of Arcane Space [2e], 1989 (pp. 55-70). [weapons]
TSR1037, Dawn of Emperors, 1989. [Detailed Sea Machine combat]
TSR 1071, Rules Cyclopedia, 1991 [BECMI] (pp. 70-74, 89-90, 100, 115). [swimming, movement, proficiencies, trade, directions]
TSR 9321, Ravenloft: Ship of Horror, 1991. [hull damage, fire, ballistae]
Dragon Magazine, Issue 165 [1e], “Anchors & Arrows," January 1991. [Battlesystem]
TSR 9346, Pirates of the Fallen Stars [2e], 1992 (pp. 96-110). [SpellJammer, crew status, proficiencies, Best Combat, trade]
✖TSR 1094, Champions of Mystara Designer’s Manual, 1993. [skyships]
TSR 2010, Player’s Handbook [2e], 1995. [ships, tonnage, swimming]
TSR 2100, Dungeon Master Guide [2e], 1995. [weather, ships, seaworthiness, directions]
TSR 2170, Of Ships and the Sea [2e], 1997. [encounters, seaworthiness]
✖Dungeon Master’s Guide [3e], 2000 (p. 150). [ships, aquatic encounters]
http://blogofholding.com/?p=6415 [naval combat system]
http://theosrlibrary.blogspot.com/2016/09/osr-pirates-ships-sailing-and-naval.html
Freight Cost in the English East India trade 1601-1657. Niels Steensgaard. 1965. Scandinavian Economic History Review, 13:2, 143-162. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/03585522.1965.10414367
Stormwrack, 2005. [3.5e]
https://www.naval-encyclopedia.com/goodies-naval-encyclopedia/antique-ships/
https://www.5esrd.com/gamemastering/ships-and-sailing/ [careful maneuvering rules]
https://www.realmshelps.net/stores/ships.shtml [maneuvering rules]

« Last Edit: January 30, 2021, 06:38:35 PM by rickss »

David Johansen

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • D
  • Posts: 6222
Re: Nautical RPG books
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2021, 10:08:52 PM »
There was a GURPS Swashbucklers book complete with naval combat.

I think ICE's Run Out the Guns is a great source book on pirates and the Caribbean.  We didn't find the game so great.  I'm a big RMSS fan but the set-up used just didn't work out great over time.  It's fine for a one off but has a number of systemic problems that become evident over time.  I did a thread on the campaign we ran here on the pub if I remember rightly.

Sea Law is great if you're doing Rolemaster but not much use otherwise.  The critical hit and fumble tables are fun to read of course.
Fantasy Adventure Comic, games, and more http://www.uncouthsavage.com

GameDaddy
BANNED

  • BANNED
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2931
Re: Nautical RPG books
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2021, 02:18:31 AM »
I have always enjoyed and remain a fan of Twin Crowns d20. Even though it is based on Fantasy, it is easily adaptable for creating historically accurate age of sail games. A great navigation system, a basic trading system, and greatly enhanced with the Pirates  which stated up famous pirates in history and Broadsides a Naval supplement that added many new classes of sailing ships and tons of new optional rules. One of my best buys from the d20 era!   

Twin Crowns available from Studio2 Publishing
https://studio2publishing.com/products/twin-crowns-age-of-exploration-d20

Broadsides available on Ebay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/202910590523?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=202910590523&targetid=1068323850390&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9016414&poi=&campaignid=11755693611&mkgroupid=112482245925&rlsatarget=aud-622524042718:pla-1068323850390&abcId=9300462&merchantid=6387034&gclid=CjwKCAiApNSABhAlEiwANuR9YAvnvPbjANaEEMhyvN-25O6ARiLRwaKyQS-9Cus8H5Nr2OxAqTzgYhoCTP0QAvD_BwE

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184603516454?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=184603516454&targetid=1068323852310&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9016414&poi=&campaignid=11755692891&mkgroupid=112020227417&rlsatarget=aud-622524042718:pla-1068323852310&abcId=9300462&merchantid=6296724&gclid=CjwKCAiApNSABhAlEiwANuR9YHK--6h9ve8pzzy4MuDOWpDMm0XcSmgtlGeP-GtQ6hUjuh0fP36S-xoC0GgQAvD_BwE

Broadsides available from Studio 2 Publishing
https://studio2publishing.com/products/broadsides-naval-adventuring-d20

d20 Pirates available form Studio 2 Publishing
https://studio2publishing.com/products/pirates-d20

d20 Pirates available on EBay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/d20-Pirates/284082687867?epid=30973456&hash=item4224a5cf7b:g:N~IAAOSwSAtfshqC

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Living-Imagination-d20-RPG-Pirates-New/154302966900?epid=30973456&hash=item23ed2c6c74:g:JRIAAOSwKlNgC6dd

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pirates-Sourcebook-D20-Living-Imagination-D-D-Dungeons-Dragons-New/184464562261?hash=item2af2f1d855:g:hGAAAOSwcUJfcGjX

https://www.ebay.com/itm/202910590523?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=202910590523&targetid=1068323850390&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9016414&poi=&campaignid=11755693611&mkgroupid=112482245925&rlsatarget=aud-622524042718:pla-1068323850390&abcId=9300462&merchantid=6387034&gclid=CjwKCAiApNSABhAlEiwANuR9YAvnvPbjANaEEMhyvN-25O6ARiLRwaKyQS-9Cus8H5Nr2OxAqTzgYhoCTP0QAvD_BwE

« Last Edit: January 31, 2021, 02:26:47 AM by GameDaddy »
Blackmoor grew from a single Castle to include, first, several adjacent Castles (with the forces of Evil lying just off the edge of the world to an entire Northern Province of the Castle and Crusade Society's Great Kingdom.

~ Dave Arneson

David Johansen

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • D
  • Posts: 6222
Re: Nautical RPG books
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2021, 10:58:58 AM »
FGU's Flashing Blades and Privateers and Gentlemen have naval combat and information.  Heart of Oak is a miniatures game for Privateers and Gentlemen naval combat.  I'm afraid I've never read them but they are available online from Drivethru rpg.
Fantasy Adventure Comic, games, and more http://www.uncouthsavage.com

Lurkndog

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 823
Re: Nautical RPG books
« Reply #7 on: January 31, 2021, 11:10:11 AM »
Privateers and Gentlemen also has the distinction of being written by sci fi great Walter Jon Williams, credited as Jon Williams.

I should pick that one up myself.

Williams also wrote several age of sail novels at the start of his career, which are now available as ebooks. They're pretty good!

Lurkndog

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 823
Re: Nautical RPG books
« Reply #8 on: January 31, 2021, 11:34:25 AM »
If you want premade miniature ships, the Sails of Glory game had pretty nice ones, prepainted, for $20-ish each.

There is also a tabletop game on Amazon called Naval Battle that comes with eight miniatures, not as nice, for $22 total.

You can also find 3D printer files to print your own ships.

rickss

  • Newbie
  • *
  • r
  • Posts: 15
Re: Nautical RPG books
« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2021, 01:00:48 PM »
If you want premade miniature ships, the Sails of Glory game had pretty nice ones, prepainted, for $20-ish each.

There is also a tabletop game on Amazon called Naval Battle that comes with eight miniatures, not as nice, for $22 total.

You can also find 3D printer files to print your own ships.
I've used the ships from the WizKids Pirates game as minis. That's also a fairly simple combat system.

moonsweeper

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 944
Re: Nautical RPG books
« Reply #10 on: January 31, 2021, 01:53:49 PM »
I have always enjoyed and remain a fan of Twin Crowns d20. Even though it is based on Fantasy, it is easily adaptable for creating historically accurate age of sail games. A great navigation system, a basic trading system, and greatly enhanced with the Pirates  which stated up famous pirates in history and Broadsides a Naval supplement that added many new classes of sailing ships and tons of new optional rules. One of my best buys from the d20 era!   

Twin Crowns available from Studio2 Publishing
https://studio2publishing.com/products/twin-crowns-age-of-exploration-d20



Broadsides available on Ebay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/202910590523?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=202910590523&targetid=1068323850390&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9016414&poi=&campaignid=11755693611&mkgroupid=112482245925&rlsatarget=aud-622524042718:pla-1068323850390&abcId=9300462&merchantid=6387034&gclid=CjwKCAiApNSABhAlEiwANuR9YAvnvPbjANaEEMhyvN-25O6ARiLRwaKyQS-9Cus8H5Nr2OxAqTzgYhoCTP0QAvD_BwE

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184603516454?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=184603516454&targetid=1068323852310&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9016414&poi=&campaignid=11755692891&mkgroupid=112020227417&rlsatarget=aud-622524042718:pla-1068323852310&abcId=9300462&merchantid=6296724&gclid=CjwKCAiApNSABhAlEiwANuR9YHK--6h9ve8pzzy4MuDOWpDMm0XcSmgtlGeP-GtQ6hUjuh0fP36S-xoC0GgQAvD_BwE

Broadsides available from Studio 2 Publishing
https://studio2publishing.com/products/broadsides-naval-adventuring-d20

d20 Pirates available form Studio 2 Publishing
https://studio2publishing.com/products/pirates-d20

d20 Pirates available on EBay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/d20-Pirates/284082687867?epid=30973456&hash=item4224a5cf7b:g:N~IAAOSwSAtfshqC

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Living-Imagination-d20-RPG-Pirates-New/154302966900?epid=30973456&hash=item23ed2c6c74:g:JRIAAOSwKlNgC6dd

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pirates-Sourcebook-D20-Living-Imagination-D-D-Dungeons-Dragons-New/184464562261?hash=item2af2f1d855:g:hGAAAOSwcUJfcGjX

https://www.ebay.com/itm/202910590523?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=202910590523&targetid=1068323850390&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9016414&poi=&campaignid=11755693611&mkgroupid=112482245925&rlsatarget=aud-622524042718:pla-1068323850390&abcId=9300462&merchantid=6387034&gclid=CjwKCAiApNSABhAlEiwANuR9YAvnvPbjANaEEMhyvN-25O6ARiLRwaKyQS-9Cus8H5Nr2OxAqTzgYhoCTP0QAvD_BwE

I'll second this.  They are some of the best RPG nautical rules out there.  I have used them with other systems and the conversion from d20 is pretty easy.
"I have a very hard time taking seriously someone who has the time and resources to protest capitalism, while walking around in Nike shoes and drinking Starbucks, while filming it on their iPhone."  --  Alderaan Crumbs

"Just, can you make it The Ramones at least? I only listen to Abba when I want to fuck a stripper." -- Jeff37923

"Government is the only entity that relies on its failures to justify the expansion of its powers." -- David Freiheit (Viva Frei)

Aglondir

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • A
  • Posts: 1588
Re: Nautical RPG books
« Reply #11 on: January 31, 2021, 05:04:45 PM »
Thank you, everyone. These resources are amazing, exactly what I was looking for.

Omega

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • O
  • Posts: 17093
Re: Nautical RPG books
« Reply #12 on: February 08, 2021, 08:01:13 PM »
What are some good recommendations for RPG books that deal with maritime campaigns?

Of all things. Furry Pirates is one of the better historically accurate high seas RPGs out there. Though harder to find now. There is magic and the supernatural as options. But it is easily dropped and I know a few who used it for a non-carton animal campaign. The main thing it lacks is extensive trade rules.

Naburimannu

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • N
  • Posts: 301
Re: Nautical RPG books
« Reply #13 on: April 16, 2021, 05:52:54 AM »
[Thread Necro]

Pilot's Almanac for HarnWorld. Lots of Baltic / Atlantic flavour, late viking to late medieval. Sadly pricey, like all of the Harn materials: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/214820/Pilots-Almanac-Maritime--Piloting-Rules

S'mon

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13315
Re: Nautical RPG books
« Reply #14 on: April 16, 2021, 09:08:28 AM »
I would use The Minrothad Guilds, which has a Traveller style trade system https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/17346/GAZ9-The-Minrothad-Guilds-Basic