[Low-Tech] Boating vs Shiphandling

[Phil Masters]

I will just say that any interpretation that requires the cox of a rowing eight to take Shiphandling skill jars with me very badly for aesthetic reasons...

[gruundehn]

Originally Posted by Phil Masters

I will just say that any interpretation that requires the cox of a rowing eight to take Shiphandling skill jars with me very badly for aesthetic reasons...

Never paid that much attention to rowing crews, does the cox of a rowing 8 steer or is that race just straight line?

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by gruundehn

Never paid that much attention to rowing crews, does the cox of a rowing 8 steer or is that race just straight line?

They steer, keep time for the rowing and make the tactical decisions, such as "look for a part of the river where the current is more favourable, at the risk of a slightly longer route?"

It's a highly skilled job, it just doesn't involve much physical effort, unlike everyone else in the boat.

[Dalillama]

Originally Posted by johndallman

They steer, keep time for the rowing and make the tactical decisions, such as "look for a part of the river where the current is more favourable, at the risk of a slightly longer route?"

It's a highly skilled job, it just doesn't involve much physical effort, unlike everyone else in the boat.

Possibly the Coxswain uses Boating and the rowers use Oarsman?

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by Dalillama

Possibly the Coxswain uses Boating and the rowers use Oarsman?

At that point, what are we gaining by the Coxswain not using a form of Shiphandling?

[Phil Masters]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

At that point, what are we gaining by the Coxswain not using a form of Shiphandling?

Like I said, aesthetics. The vessel in question is basically a highly refined TL8 plank of wood, with seating. It is not by any sane stretch of semantics a "ship".

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by Phil Masters

Like I said, aesthetics. The vessel in question is basically a highly refined TL8 plank of wood, with seating. It is not by any sane stretch of semantics a "ship".

I think in GURPS, you really don't want to get hung up on the names of Skills any more than you do on the names of Advantages.

[Phil Masters]

Originally Posted by gruundehn

Never paid that much attention to rowing crews, does the cox of a rowing 8 steer or is that race just straight line?

Yes, last I looked the cox was operating a rudder. Even straight-line races require sticking to that line.

To be honest, I'd probably go for the Sports (Rowing Cox) option in that case. It's a highly specialised sort of boating. But it's certainly not Handling a Ship.

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by Phil Masters

Yes, last I looked the cox was operating a rudder. Even straight-line races require sticking to that line.

That's pretty decisive, as Shiphandling is specified as not involving any physical activity; you give orders to the guy at the wheel or the rudder or the steering oar. Actually handling the rudder is either an aspect of Boating or an aspect of Crewman. And that means you don't have any separate person in command. So the skill of Shiphandling doesn't apply.

Take just an ordinary rowboat. It can have half a dozen guys at the oars, and maybe one at the rudder, if it has one. But it's pretty obviously Boating. There's nothing in Boating that says it only applies to one-man craft.

Bill Stoddard

[Humabout]

So basically, if there's a guy in charge who doesn't physically help with ship operations, use Shiphandling/Crewman, but if the guy in charge helps physically, use Boating? That's an easy delineation to make. It might raise some eyebrows when it comes to sailors switching between Boating and Crewman based on if the captain is physically helping or not, but it works nicely for the captain.

Perhaps crewmen should use the better of Crewman or Boating? But that doesn't sit well with a sailor on a nuclear aircraft carrier performing duties with Boating. That break actually seems more problematic than the one between Shiphandling and Boating.