Welcome to Map day (also known as Thursday by most). Today I don’t have a plan for a write up as I believe the leadup for this week has players on a boat heading out to sea, regardless if its the King invading, the prince coming to broker peace (with either of the twists…) or a mashup of both of them I feel as though a ship will be involved.
So for that purpose I have found two maps for a ship – one from the D&D 5e Dungeon Masters guide and the other from an artist out there (100% credit and link to them below).
A dungeons Guide
13ThMa1
The dual masts, galley and living quarter all are suitable for the rough picture painted for this weeks adventure. It is perfectly wide for combat above and below deck but perhaps too much empty space on the lower deck. I would almost consider having a separate room or two there for ‘guests’ to reside in the lower dock.
‘The Somnolent Queen’
13ThMa2
This is more ideal, main deck is simple with a single mast, ample storage space down below with a single stairway down (sort of how I described entrance to the galley) and two rooms where the captain and crews quarters would be. Having the stern deck is nice – its how I envisioned The Gallant Swallow, but perhaps having a bow quarter with the crews quarters at the bow (front) of the ship. This ship is wider, but shorter which in this instance I find less desirable due to the breadth of field that combat can now take on the top of the boat.
What ever boat you choose, image you find or draw or, potentially, ship you build, print or create for your tabletop having a visual representation of what the ship is can aid in describing it to your players, is their ropes attached to the stern deck so you can tie the ships wheel at the helm down to lock it into a position, or ropes that you can swing from the stern deck (where the helm tends to be located in my make believe boats and ships) to get to the main deck or even Bow Deck quickly to deal with tricky situations can give your players ideas for dealing with giant waves to giants in waves..
Combat outside of the boat can take place near it and the boat can be a simple reference point to what it happening around it or beneath it, but having something in mind can make all the difference.
Well that’s it for tonight, thanks for tuning in, apologies it wasn’t as long as normal (Thursdays tend to go overtime with work..) but I still hope you walked away with something that can create that spark of adventure for your stories and campaigns.
Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for FightNight! (Friday) where I come up with new creatures, boss stat blocks or puzzles and ordeals that the party must overcome if they want to be successful in their endeavours.
Don’t forget to let me know if you like what you have read, and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe
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