Nautical Combat (OSS)

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: Long about the whale's acre, wave-tossed
: weapons, mighty striving, seek the victor's laurel.
: Feathered fall the flying shafts, dark darts,
: heart-seeking healthful warriors.
: Hail-scur, too, hard ice-flakes, beat upon
: the stern; corn of the coldest, sorcerer's-get,
: from Niflheim's nine names spun.
: Then the game of iron, hilt-wand and wound-wolf
: stinging skin until Skuma's sorrow sang.
: -Norri Hjalsson, "Frost-Reaver's Saga"
Ship-to-ship combat can be a rousing affair. Such battles usually include the feathered shafts of arrows, the otherworldly chill (or heat) of magic spells, and the deadly dance of steel, as well as daring nautical maneuvers including the ramming and grappling of enemy ships. Without a doubt, these encounters challenge the skill of even the most experienced adventurers.
==Overview==
This chapter offers Dungeon Masters two different combat systems. The first system deals with shipboard fighting which directly involves the player characters. The second, very brief, system allows for quick resolution of battles involving fleets of ships.
* Time in Nautical Combat
* Detailed Naval Combat
** The Maneuvering Phase
*** Personnel Assignments
*** Crew Experience
*** The Effects of Maneuverability or Pursuit
*** Rower Endurance
*** An Example of a Maneuvering Phase
** Action Phase
*** Missile Attacks
*** Incendiary Attacks
*** Artillery
*** Ramming
*** Ramming and Boarding Actions
*** Boarding
*** Boarding Factors
*** Effects of Being Grappled
*** Running a Boarding Action
** Resolution Phase
*** Damage
*** The Effects Of Hull Damage
*** The Effects Of Crippling Damage
*** Repairing Damage
*** Morale
*** Making the Morale Check
*** Effects of Failed Morale Checks
*** Surrendering
*** Escaping
*** Recovering Casualties
*** Multiple Ships
* Monsters in Naval Combat
** Creature Movement
** Creatures and Missile Fire
** Creatures and Artillery Fire
** Creatures and Ramming
** Creatures and Boarding
* Scuttling and Crippling
* Player Characters in Detailed Naval Combat
** Spells
* Fleet Battles
* Dungeon Mastery Tips
** Running Detailed Naval Combat
** Morale and Role-playing
** Naval Battle