Númenórean Blood Runs Black Planning/Discussion Thread

[Amanaduial the archer]

Ok, ok...behold the total boat-novice prepare to play the Captain of a Corsair ship. This could be interesting, and I've got a feeling that until I'm used to it...well, it ain't lookin' pretty. But then, we can't all be Johnny Depps

Sorry, just to get a few things straight: Firstly, the actual ship itself, and this is mainly addressed to those players who will also be aboard the corsair ship. What type of vessel are we looking at here, any particular preferences? My first choice would probably be the Xebec, or Shebec. Quoting one of Pio's resources:

The Shebec was favoured among Barbary pirates for she was fast, stable and large. They could reach 200 tons and carried from 4 to 24 cannon. In addition she carried from 60 to 200 crewmen. The Shebec had a pronounced overhanging bow and stern, and three masts which were generally lateen-rigged. In addition to sails she was rowed.

Stability would be especially good for a fighting ship; rowing in addition to sails fits with the slaving business on these ships; fast but, as can be seen from the picture, fairly streamlined, would make it easily manoeverable and both good for attack and escapes; and the large size would make the Lords happy, as it looks pretty darn fiersome. The whole shape of the ship would make a rather fiersome silhouette as well - fiersome and certainly distinctive, no? Ooh, and I rather like the look of that there spike a-sticking out of the back as well...

The alternative option would be either a Carrack or a Man of War. These two have advantages in that they are...well, to call them chunky would be an understatement, I think the phrase used on the site I'm looking at it 'towering giants'. These are the true power in the water - they would both be almost impossible to take unless the enemy had the element of surprise, and in this sense would be quite suitable for the ship on which the two Lords of Umbar were to travel. However...as the size increases, the manoeverability rather decreases - they would be nowhere near as fast as the Xebec, and for a pirate vessel this is a serious downer. What is more, while I'm sure they could probably accomodate oar decks as well, I'm not entirely sure, and this would make them unsuitable for this game. And I don't think they would appeal to Sangalazin's aescetic senses So I suppose, unless anyone really feels particularly attached to having The Mother of All Hulks, then these sort of ship builds are out.

Personally, I prefer the Xebec. I suppose that the Brigantine (the more traditional type of ship - think Pirates of the Caibbean. Here....) would work about as well as the Xebec in most ways, but personally I prefer this type of ship - it is undoubtedly fearsome and distinctive, very fitting for the purposes of the corsairs, and, well, it's just so snazzy!

Secondly...well, there was a secondly, but on second thoughts (three times in one sentence, good lord get a new vocabularly...) I think I shall simply attack the profile and hope what comes out is suitable! Please let me know what you think about the ship (Xebec, xebec, xebec...)