The Wardroom

Knowledge of the theories for the computation of trajectories of shot or thrown things, particularly of what can be shot with cannons. Knowledge of the types of projectiles and of the circumstances when to apply them with the most impressive results.

That Skill does not cover at all the correct manipulation of a cannon nor the making nor even the mending thereof. For that purpose, please refer to Skills described in the previous Section (On the Deck and in the Hold).

That Skill is mostly used with Cleverness, possibly however with Perception, depending on the concrete situation. Cleverness is required for the computations before the Naval Battle starts while Perception may become necessary in the course of events when there is no more time (possibly also no more use…) for a complete computation… Note, by the way, that that feature is similarly applicable to several Skills of the current Section.

If one had to choose the most representative Attribute of a Pirate, it would, without any doubt, be the Nerve he or she Got. As for the Skills, Command is probably the most important one for the Captain… Provided that you've got in your Crew a Quartermaster, a Navigator (or Sailing Master) and a Master Gunner… Even if it may seem to work both ways, basically, it is quite true that Command is the most important because a good management is decisive for the success of all operations on a Ship, at one time or the other.

That Skill not only covers the ability to command a Crew which is already recognise your authority but also to attempt to recover a growling one or even one on the verge of Mutiny. That Skills is also used when attempting to apply your will to persons who are not officially at your orders but, for instance, whose Fame cannot match yours.

Command is most of the time used, that's clear, with Got a Nerve! Less frequently, it may come to be used with Power and that rather in cases when the difficulty to be obeyed becomes extreme. Apart of that, in some rare occasions, Cleverness (notably for recruiting Crew Members and assign them to the post where they best belong on Board) or Perception (notably for the early detection of a mutinous mood) can have to be taken into account. Command can also relatively frequently be associated to other Skils, such as Navigation, Boarding & Looting Tactics, etc.

Knowledge and practice of chirurgy. That Skill is very diferent from the Skill Little Scratches, which corresponds to the first help (see the Section On a Desert Island). The Skill Bad Wounds requires a specific tooling, the knowledge - unfortunately still too narrow-spread - of the most basic hygiene and, also sometimes, a more developped Specialisation. The one or more Specialisations are of course different Specialities on the Pirate's Sheet.

That Skill is used with Cleverness or / and Perception for the evaluation of the measures to take on a patient, then with Dexterity, even if sometimes - and that is usually no good for the said patient… - sometimes one rather needs to use Power or really have Got a Nerve! Thus, Got a Nerve! and Power are required in situations when the situation is extreme and where the nervous tension is at its maximum because the operation is very difficult. The overall success of a chirurgical treatment usually requires several Rolls versus Bad Wounds and those different Characteristics, according to the case. The Game Master can refer to the Chapter regarding Duels and Encounters, where the healing of wounds is discussed, to evaluate the effects of a treatment.

That's the Skill which covers the ability to manoeuvre a Sail Ship. It thus covers the knowledge of her parts, her sails, ropeworks and riggings, as well as their use for Navigation. That Skill covers also the ability to organise the Crew for piloting the Ship.

Hence, it is quite clear that the Captain who « desserves the name » is of no use one a Ship he's got specialised a Pilote and a Navigator, if, while having some knowledge of Navigation and Cartography, he is unable to Navigate. That said, even if the Captain is educated in both fields, in somewhat bigger Crews, the Piloting is usually delegated to a Quartermaster or even a Sail Master.

That Skill comes most often in use with Cleverness but it happens that it has to be used with the Nerve you Got! (when closing in towards a storm for instance) or even with another Skill, especially Command in some cases when the Crew would have some reason to argue - or more!- with the orders of the Captain…