Cost of sea passage at TL1/2 - Page 3

DanHoward · 05-20-2018, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purple Haze

Merchant ships are not rowed. Only warships are rowed. Nobody is getting a berth as an oarsman.

Was the Argo a warship or a trade ship? Most current interpretations of the Golden Fleece Quest involve some kind of trade mission.

Phantasm · 05-20-2018, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanHoward

Was the Argo a warship or a trade ship?

Considering it never engaged in actual naval warfare (at least in the Argonautica), being mainly transportation with the intent to bring cargo back from the Black Sea, I'd call it a trade ship, albeit one carrying 50 warriors in case they ran into trouble.

DanHoward · 05-20-2018, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ravenfish

Did we specify what variety of ship was available?

Assuming we are limited to primarily sail-powered ships (of this period), are there any tasks where strong-and-willing-but-not-particularly-nautically-skilled folk would be worth taking on?.

I'd be looking at social angles, not occupational ones. The ship isn't going to land anywhere important unless it has the right people and paperwork on board. If you want a reason for the PC to be on board then give him a personal acquaintance with an important contact at the destination port.

Keep in mind that this is an age of gift giving and conspicuous consumption. The ruling class didn't buy anything. They took what they wanted from their own estates, or they fought for things they wanted from their neighbours' estates, or they exchanged gifts with their peers, or they received largess from their superiors.

malloyd · 05-23-2018, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanHoward

I'd be looking at social angles, not occupational ones. The ship isn't going to land anywhere important unless it has the right people and paperwork on board. If you want a reason for the PC to be on board then give him a personal acquaintance with an important contact at the destination port.

This isn't an era people travel on a spec much either. If he's planning not to starve to death, a relationship with somebody at his destination is pretty important.

A large amount of portable wealth, or some really, really esoteric skill might work too, but would also give him something to trade for his passage.