Quote:
Originally Posted by The Colonel
The purser (who would be called a quartermaster in modern terms) and the cook did not get their positions on merit.
In the Royal Navy at least, alcohol tolerance was virtually compulsary.
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As GURPS Swashbucklers observed, on a typical pirate ship, the two imost mportant posts were Captain & Quartermaster. The Pirate Captain's word was law, in battle. Otherwise pirates were about as concerned with ranks about as much as power gamer PCs. Oh, he could choose destination and see which sails were to be used, but he was first among equals. The quartermaster decided what was issued. In transit or at port. he was likely the most important crew member aboard.
In naval vessels, the post was civil rather than military. Like a ship's surgeon, he was
supposed to be a trained expert in his field.