In reply to Dread Pirate Robert (msg # 38):

Alicia and Jarrun will be on the ship.  There's been lots of development there, but don't leave without us.

I will post entering aboard the ship shortly... well maybe in a few hours...
This message was last edited by the player at 03:55, Mon 25 July 2016.

As will I.

Sorry about that - I composed a post a few days ago, but must have failed to send it.

I'm getting there! I just got swamped all of sudden... trying to get caught in the midst of more swamping!

Just curious. If, the Captain does not come to play. Will there be a NPC. I can rework character slightly. I could of received ship as reward from Sea Dogs.

Dueling is so much more lethal. Combat use one raise equals one wound. A duelist uses one raise, and he does wounds equal to their weaponry which would be probably 3 considering Starting Skill level rules

Awesome you are back Marcelo. Problem solved.

Was there a problem?

We thought we lost a player that was playing the Captain, but he is back

This is a modern interpretation of the Duties of a Captain

Responsibilities of the Captain

 This is the top maritime job, that of a Master or Captain on board a cargo or passenger ship. A Captain is, simply, overall in charge of the entire vessel and the highest authority at sea. More specifically, he is in charge of safety of the crew, vessel and cargo. He is charged with ensuring that all international and local laws are followed properly, and that all management policies are fully complied with.

He is responsible for the navigation and discipline of the crew. In addition, although the Chief Engineer is directly responsibility for the ship’s machinery or engines, the ‘Chief’ reports to the Captain on all operational matters, and the movement of the Engines are under the Master’s control.

If, I remember right that Passengers were actually considered as Cargo thus subject to the Captain.

Somewhere I'd heard the word 'supercargo' applied to passengers. I think it was used to differentiate crew from passengers, but also cargo from passengers. Even though that's not the true definition of supercargo, it's the term I'll use.

Technically, it could be construed as accurate. The supercargo is a person aboard a ship who is responsible for someone's cargo being shipped. So you could say a passenger's possession are her cargo, and since she's responsible for it, that would make her supercargo.

In other news.  GenCon next week, which I'll miss this year.  But they said they'll be mailing the new books to kickstarter backers after GC.  I can't wait.

Most captains derive their responsibility from one or more ranks of authority above them. Kings. Admirals and such. Unless he is a pirate, of course.

The Seekers are not line officers or warrant officers. They are civilians who have contracted transportation. At least one of the Seekers will be telling the captain what they want he, the ship, and the crew to do for them.

Think of this man, or woman, as an admiral...

I've been going to GenCon for 35 years or so. It's much too big for its own good nowadays, but it still has things that aren't at any other Game Con.

Again, I think you are incorrect. I agree with your idea that a ship derives authority from a government. I would have to believe that this ship would be the same whether by letter of Marque or Registered privately to a country.

The Seekers would of purchased the right passage which would place them under the Captain's direct authority on items regarding the ship.

I agree there would be a contract stating what service would be rendered, but none the less that does not diminish, or grant higher authority then a Captain. Example, if there is a rule not to drink on the ship, and a passenger was found drinking they would be subject to the Captain's Authority under Maritime law. One would think the Captain would handle it differently with them than the crew.

But, I will defer to the IC Captain and the ST

Looks like the books are in the mail unless you are in Australia.  Should have mine soon.  Anyone planning on playing 7th Sea at Gencon?  Not going this year, and it's been many years since I went, but I did get in a 7th Sea LARP my last trip.

I agree that it is too big - I end up liking the gaming at my local cons better.

So, I guess what we need from the GM is a little bit of clarity to resolve the disagreement.

1. Is the ship privately owned?  Does it have a commission via a governmental navy?  Is the captain of the ship the owner, or is the owner a non-sailor who has hired a skillful captain to keep his/her interests afloat?
2. Are the Seekers simply passengers?  Or does the Seeker's have a formal charter for the full use of the vessel and crew?  (IE: Who determines the goals/etc of the ship?)


The ship's captain has absolute authority over its crew, but until we figure out whether the Seeker's are paying the bills as a whole or are simply riding along, the rest is still in the air.


I figure some of this would be hammered out in game, but some of it will really need to have been addressed before anyone stepped foot on the ship.

Very Well said, I sort of think it is a combo of Charter and Privately owned.

But again, I think you defined the issues well.

I take it that we are awaiting final word from Dread Pirate before continuing?


Because honestly, if it's that the captain is NOT the captain of his own ship, I'm going to have a little...disassociation/disagreement with that.

Whether or not it affects the rest of the game, I have no idea.  But it definitely needs to be nailed down, especially since it's already affected how some people have responded to certain...intriguing actions already taken.

Marcelo is not only the captain of the ship, but he is also the owner. At the present time, the ship is not registered to any country.

He and the ship are always subject to the local authority of whatever port they put in to.

The Explorer's Society has chartered the ship for the Seekers, even though the Seekers, individually, may be along for their own reasons.

There has been some speculation that the Black Pearl may be a Syrne artefact, or it may be a cursed item. It is the former that interests the Society... outside of the reputed value of the pearl, and, of course, the reward being offered.

While the charter is in effect, the Seekers tell the captain where they wish to go, but it is generally up to the captain to decide how and when to get there. He still has final say; for example, if the Seekers wanted him to sail into a whirlpool, he would have the right and authority to say NO.

It is up to the Seekers to decide when the charter has been completed: the Pearl is found and delivered to someone willing to pay for it.


Does that answer everyone's questions?

I think that answers the out of character questions nicely.  Thanks.

Apologies for not posting: had some RL issues to deal with.

Now with a new portrait.

If anyone saw the old British series The Onedin Line, that had the interesting dynamic of the owner aboard and the captain - the owner employed the captain, but the captain was still in charge of the ship. Which led to a few arguments :)

So, the meeting thread seemed like it was for the Seekers only.

Are any of y'all around? This seemed to kind of grind to a halt.

I tried to get a little bit of conversation going on the departure thread.