Post in the Unique NPC Ship thread.
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 09:38:11 -0400
Subject: Re[3]: [SPELLJAMMER] - Unique NPR ships-Ongoing Hopefully!
I checked my DMing notes and sure enough, some of the STATs listed for
the GSS Nimoh were incorrect (esp. the hull points!). As noted
previously, the Nimoh is essentially a converted Hammership - instead
of having an open main deck, it is enclosed but has a very narrow "gun
deck" along the back of the vessal between the Conning Tower and the
back hatch where the Kwalish Machine is strapped to a cradle. The
enclosed nature of the vessal allows underwater operations, assuming
all hatches are sealed!
Because of the heavier metal construction, the tonnage (meaning crew
and cargo capacity) is slightly reduced. The vessal is also a bit
shorter and sleeker than a standard hammership. The visual appearance
of the vessel is that of a giant trout - with two large, bulging eyes
of glassteel about where the "hammer" lobes would be on a hammership.
The ship resembles the crazy looking submarines in 20,000 Leagues
Under the Sea (the Disney flick) - complete with nasty looking spines
extending back from its very pointy bow. In fact, similar to a
scalpel ship, if the Nimoh misses its target on a ram attempt, it may
still cause damage if it runs along parts of the target vessal
(typically 1-6HP) - if the navigator successfully Saves vs
Petrification (I believe that's the mechanic?).
Here are the Revised Stats for the Nimoh:
Ship Type: Converted Hammership
Tonnage: 50T
Hull Points: 50
Crew: 10/50
Man.Class: D
Armour Rating: 4 (metal plates w/rivots)
Landing: Water - Yes
Land - Maybe (25% chance of damage to underside/back fins)
Saves As: Metal
Ship Rating: SR 5 (Artifurnace) MV: 85 (equivalent)
Weapons:
2 Harpoons (F) 1-4 hull/2-20 personal dmg
1 Med.Ballistae (360deg) 1-3 hull/3-18 personal dmg
Piercing Ram (F) ("grazing" dmg possible)
Cargo: 20 T (note: Artifurnace+waterheater occupies 5T)
Keel Length: 180'
Beam Length: 20'
Special Notes:
1. The Nimoh carries a Kwalish on its back (standard DMG variety).
2. Ship is of tinker gnomish construction - but it works!
3. Originally powered by a steam engine for surface water ops, also used
special "power crystals" before being converted into its original usage as a SJ
vessal. Was used as a sub before that.
4. Obviously, taking a steam engine into the 'flow is a bad idea - since
acquiring its current powerplant (which the ship was ALWAYS intended to use) the
ability to "raise steam" has been retrofitted to be from the Artifurnace which
runs quite hot (but strangely, does not appear to ignite phlogiston). However,
25% of the cargo hold area is occupied by the machinary and the furnace itself.
5. The artifact used as the engine core on this particular Artifurnace is the
Neutral Orb of Might. The 'Orb does not function fully while used in this
manner, but the navigator IS able to use one invoked power each day plus suffers
all the usual "side-effects" including curses of the might item.
_ Reply Separator _
Subject: Re[2]: [SPELLJAMMER] - Unique NPR ships-Ongoing Hopefully!
Date: 8/11/97 4:19 PM
Here's my contribution to the "NPC/ship" bank. Some of the stats are
from memeory but I'll correct them later if I discover a serious
error):
The Nimoh (or is it Nimoy ;)?)
Converted HammerShip (gnomish construction)
SR 5 (Artifurnace!)
AR (+1 standard hammership)
MC (-1 standard hammership)
HP: 24
Length: 100'
Beam: 15'
Saves As: Metal (rivotted armor plating)
Lands-Water: Yes (underwater possible, too)
Lands-Land: Maybe!
Armament:
1 Med. Ballistae on back "spine", may fire 360deg in Az, -20 to +90 EL
- but look out for the Conning Tower/Fins!
2 harpoon launchers (similar to ballistae - fire forward only, out bow
- steampowered so useless in the flow. Each does 2-20 personal damage
or 1-3 HPs)
Piercing Ram
Other "features":
Carries a small rover on its back (actually, a Kwalish Machine!). Was
once steam-powered, but has since been retrofitted into a SJing ship
powered by an Artifurnace (side-effect is hot water and steam but no
explosions in the flow ).
Has a standard Passage Device for opening portals.
Description:
The ship looks like a gigantic trout or salmon - though with an
armoured tower about half-way along its back (the conning tower). In
fact, the ship looks like one of those crazy-looking subs from 20,000
Leagues Under the Sea (and currently used in the DisneyWorld ride).
Its bow ends in a very sharp arrow-like tip, complete with barbed ribs
which extend back along the outside hull to either side and up/down
(i.e. 4 symmetric fin/ribs)
The ship can be completely sealed for underwater action for limited
times, similar to the kwalish machine, though the duration versus crew
is based on 12 humans (versus the 2 for a Kwalish Machine)
The Nimoy was originally discovered/bought by its current owner (an
old Dwarf named Amalf Vulokan) as a steam-powered submarine craft. It
was built by a group of gnomes who refer to themselves as descendants
of Lum the Mad (IMC - Lum was a gnome, many, many centuries ago who
way perhaps too far ahead of his time). Little did Amalf realize that
what he actually bought was a SJ ship, though without a helm. He
"played" with his submarine for over 20 years, cruising around the
oceans of my world (Charion) before discovering its true nature.
Recently, Amalf was contracted by a rather shady individual named
Remaj Lepstar to recover an unidentified "furnace" of some kind, up on
one of Charion's moons! Once a temporary helm was retrofitted, and a
Create Minor Helm spell cast, the Nimoh (and crew) flew to the
forested moon and recovered a strange device from a crashed Nautiloid
ship wreck - this turned out to be an Artifurnace! This Artifurnace
was tuned to use one of the Orbs of Might located on Charion (hence
why the Ithyllids were headed there when they got way-layed).
The adventure eventually led to a mutiny onboard wherein Lepstar was
killed, and hence the Artifurnace was kept by Amalf and crew. They
narrowly escaped being captured by the Neogi, and so far are unaware
exactly how rare one of these 'furnaces is NOR what others may do to
get it >8->!!
The ship is currently "homeless" as their homeworld has just been
destroyed in a massive solar flare event. They are "tentatively"
based now on the Rock of Bral until they get their bearings.
Crew:
For comfort, the "ideal" crew is about 12 or less (though ship CAN
support many more - as the standard Hammership, but it gets very
cramped). The current crew of the NIMOY consists of:
Amalf Vulokan (Captain) 10th LVL Dwarven Fighter, well over 250 years
old and EXTREMELY ornary! (In fact - he's turning into a bit of a
pirate of late!).
Mouse (1st Mate) - 11th LVL halfling thief, very similar to the famous
"Mouse" in Fritz Lieber's adventures.
Desdemona (Helms(wo)man)- A female human Enchantress (8th Lvl Mage).
Was discovered by Mouse (et.al.) in a petrified state and successfully
restored to flesh after being in this state for 200 years. She's
always proud of how she's "the most beautiful 200 year old gal on
Charion" as she's only 35ish (and looks more like 20-25)! her
specialty is charm spells (all kinds) which she excels at (-2 on
saves).
Alhelor (Backup Helmsmen) - 8th/5th LVL Elven Thf/MU, who has the
remarkable distinction of having died and been brought back through
extraordinary means!
Jack - Elven Priest/Mage (about 5/6th level) and general "Jack of all
Trades" hence his name.
Loroc - A gnomish Thf/Illusionist. VERY cooky and part tinker-gnome.
Pudge Garnick (artillerist/security) - 7th LVL Dwarven fighter.
Flinter - Tinker Gnome "Engineer" (LN gnome, formerly employee of
Remaj Lepstar before the "mutiny")
Mr.Prostitute - Female human "entertainment/moral officer" (remember
the movie Yellowbeard?)
Hindlin - Another halfling thief (7th Lvl), Desdemona's former
henchman. Was discovered in a pertrified stated by the current party
and was successfully turned back to flesh, similar to Desdemona.
