The vehicle’s structural integrity and ability to keep moving when damaged. Analogous to a character’s hit points. A vehicle that reaches 0 hull points is destroyed.
The vehicle’s ability to resist damage from attacks.
The speed at which the vehicle can move. Every vehicle has a base movement rate and an encounter movement rate (noted in parentheses). The encounter movement rate is one third of the base movement rate.
The maximum load the vehicle can carry, measured in coins.
The number of people or animals (e.g. sailors, oarsmen, horses) required for the vehicle’s normal operation.
Some vehicles have extra space aboard specifically intended to carry passengers or mercenaries (of any type, see Mercenaries, p232) in addition to the normal crew. If a vehicle’s description does not mention this space for passengers, it is assumed to only have space for the crew—the referee may rule that cargo hold space could be converted into additional living quarters.
Water vessels are divided into two categories, each behaving differently under different wind conditions. Seaworthy vessels are suitable for use on the high seas, away from coastal waters. Unseaworthy vessels are restricted to rivers, lakes, or coastal waters.
In combat, attacks and damage may be directed at vehicles in addition to characters and monsters.
Normal attacks: Unless noted in a vehicle’s description, attacks with normal weapons (e.g. bows, swords, etc.) do not inflict hull damage.
Magical attacks: Damaging spells or magical attacks inflict one point of hull damage per five points of normal hit point damage the attack does.
Giant monsters: Can damage vehicles, inflicting one point of hull damage per five points of normal hit point damage the attack does.
Mounted weaponry: Some vehicles carry mounted weaponry specifically designed for vehicle-to-vehicle combat. Such weapons inflict hull damage directly. The rules for attacking with ship-mounted weapons are described in Water Vessels, p106.
When a vehicle loses hull points, its movement rate is also affected. This may be due to structural damage influencing how the vehicle moves or, in the case of water vessels, due to taking on water.
Movement rate reduction: For every 10% a vehicle is reduced from its maximum hull points, its movement rate is reduced by an equal percentage. For example, if a vehicle loses 20% of its hull points, its movement rate is reduced by 20%.
If a vehicle is reduced to 0 hull points:
▶ It will lose its structural integrity in 1d10 rounds (e.g. a water vessel sinks).
▶ Any mounted weaponry is no longer functional.
In a workshop: Vehicle damage can be repaired by experienced technicians working in a suitable workshop or dock.
In the field: A vehicle’s crew can repair up to half of any damage sustained. Remaining damage can only be repaired in a suitable workshop or dock.
Time: It takes five crew-members one turn to repair one hull point. This task requires full attention, so any crew involved in repair cannot take any other action during a turn repairing a vessel.
When the occupants of a vehicle wish to board another vehicle, the two vehicles must be brought alongside one another.
Forceful boarding: If the occupants of one vehicle wish to forcefully board the other vehicle, there is a 2-in-6 chance of being able to successfully manoeuvre the vehicle into a boarding position. The two vehicles may then be clamped together with grappling hooks.
Mutual boarding intent: If the occupants of both vehicles wish to board one another, their mutual intent makes the action succeed with no chance of failure.
Boarding characters: Characters who are in the act of boarding another vehicle suffer a –2 penalty to attack rolls and Armour Class for one round.
Some rowed vessels may have an increased encounter movement rate. This represents the great effort on the part of the oarsmen that may be exerted during combat. Such speeds cannot be maintained for long periods, thus the per turn and per day movement rates of such vessels are much slower.
Having less than the required number of oarsmen reduces a vessel’s speed.
Movement rate reduction: For every 10% reduction in the available rowing crew, the vessel’s rowing speed is reduced by an equal percentage. For example, if 10% of the oarsmen are being used to repair hull damage, the vessel moves at 90% of its normal speed (i.e. 10% slower than normal).