Voodoo Ships! Last update 20th May 2001

Details the operation of voodoo ships. The voodoo captain/shaman, his native lackeys and the zombies who do the work. How voodoo affects a ships sailing or in combat, and how voodoo crews affect other vessels crews.

 

The voodoo ship can be any of the varieties of ship afloat, from longboats to pinnaces to frigates and brigs, though commonly they are the smaller vessels. They are armed with cannon suitable to the type of vessel. The voodoo ship tactics is more of a pirate style boarding action, as the cannon skills are not the best.

The crew consist mostly of zombies led by their voodoo priest master and his cohorts. The break up is

• Voodoo Priest Captain. For cannon purposes the captain has a skill rank of 0. For all other purposes he has a skill rank of 1. He may choose any one skill and make it rank 3. His magic power is detailed under the magic section.
• Voodoo Cohort Bosun. All skills rank 1 except any one chosen can be rank 2. He is not a zombie, but a normal man
• Voodoo Cohort Gun Captain - cannon skill rank 0, all other ranks 1. He is not a zombie, but a normal man
• 4 zombies per cannon as gunners. Sword skill rank 2, all other skill ranks the lowest possible. ie 0 or 1 depending on skill
• 1 zombie per ship sail as sailors. Sword skill rank 2, all other skill ranks the lowest possible. ie 0 or 1 depending on skill

The zombies are not undead type zombies as would be in most fantasy role playing games. They are in fact mind controlled living people. If the Captain is slain, his power over the zombies will disapate within 24 hours and they will be reasonable, sane people, but in the meantime they will continue on the last operation they were involved in, and then go lifeless. For example, if they were in a ship to ship combat and the captain is killed, they will continue the combat until they win/lose or the target flees. Once that is certain, they will become lifeless as they have no further commands to obey. It would not cover instances such as finish ship fight, board her and plunder her, sail on to Tortuga, and loot the town.

Example

The voodoo ship Black Chant, under the voodoo captain Ulu Lation

Black Chant - 6 gun sloop

Captain Ulu Lation

Bosun - Scary Mary

Gun Captain - Big Bertha

zombie gunners - 24

zombie sailors -