Blade (Spelljammer Supplement)

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Blade

Built By: Goblins, Kobolds

Used Primarily By: Goblins, Kobolds

Cost: 6,000 gp

Hit Points: 60

Damage Threshold: 20

Crew: 1/2

Max ability modifier:

Landing—Land: No

Landing—Water: No

Armor Class:16

Standard Armament:

• 1 Greek fire projector (aft)

• 1 Piercing ram

• 1 Light ballista

Cargo: One half ton*

Cargo(tons): 2

Keel Length:20

Beam Length:20

Description

The Blade also known as Goblin Blade or Kobold Arrow are small attack ships. A blade (or arrow) is shaped like an arrowhead, with the spelljammer helm amidships and the weapon (if any) mounted on top. Many spacefaring races use ships of this design today. Humans and halflings find blades useful for short range uses, and giff and gnomes find them to test their devices on. If unarmed, a rail-lined crew platform surrounds the weapon-mount, connected by hatch and ladder to the interior.

Ship Uses

Kobold Arrow: Many Kobold Arrows were fitted with wooden runners to enable them to land on sand, salt pans, and flat grasslands.

Boarding Boat: When outfitted as a short range boarding vessel, a Blade is stripped of all armor and much of its hull skin, except a flame-retarding paste (AC drops to 14 and Damage Threshold to 10). a boarding boat is crammed with coiled tether-lines, grapnels or even gnome tangle-guns. Most boarding boats are unarmed; some are fitted with a light ballista. Armed or not, the ship's railed upper platform may be outfitted with boarding pikes, shields, (regular warrior's shields) tether lines, and armored bins of oil pots ready to throw.

Fire Ram: When used as a mobile fire ram, a Blade may be powered by a death helm, lifejammer, or even a chemical explosive rocket. the latter propellant provides a one-shot, one direction(no turning) burst of forward speed. In such cases, the ship may be unmanned, or crewed by a soul who lights its Greek fire projector by tossing a fiery object down the open hatch and hurriedly abandoning ship. The flaming ship then (hopefully)rams the enemy ship and explodes, doing both Greek fire and ramming damage.

Tug: Blades used as a short range shuttle are often stripped of armor and weaponry to increase their carrying capacity. Their AC can drop as far as 14, but their internal cargo space can increase to 4 tons. Such tugs, unable to safely land, usually make 'flying drops' of their cargo barges (which can land on water).

Escape Craft: Found only aboard the largest ships, blade escape craft are similar to stripped-down tugs. They are usually unarmed and stripped of as much armor as the owners deem prudent, and fitted with a major helm, a minor helm, or furnace.

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