The World of Avlis

The recent string of pirate characters, and some discussions have sorta raised this question.

Do nations have Naval forces persay? If so what's a rough analogue to their state of development? Are they cannon using, or do they have more magical elements? Things like that...

Just more a general question to know how the world works, than less a request for something to be put in.

yes, they certainly do have naval forces. Read the Avlis campaign notes for more info.

Unless its a gnomish vessel (*shudders*) most ships in a setting with a technology level similar to Forgotten Realms use harpoons instead instead of cannons, though a ship's mage and his wand of fireballs often doubles as "cannon" as well for more wealthy/high profile ships, including those of more successful pirates.

Sweet.

BIG thanks for teh info, because a character of mine was really hinging on it as part of his/her/its backstory.

Found some references to ships, though searches for "navy" didn't bring anything up in the campaign notes. Could you be a bit more specific?(Sorry if this is bothersome) Do they have specific names(Like for exampe a Kurathene "Royal"(Or Imperial) Navy?

Zurrlock: Why harpoons instead of cannons? Certainly there's evidence of artillery-like weapons in use(the catapults in the warzone), and the presense of gunpowder seems to suggest that they're able to create the stuff, it's not that big of a jump from there to cast-iron guns.(Though, I suppose one could define the first "true" useage of naval guns as the Mary Rose and her gundeck...but that's sematics.)

Harpoons (or rather ballista, Warcraft 2 style) can be fairly easily aimed, unlike catapults, and would also be useful against the occasional sea monster. Nice big flanges on that harpoon could also tear apart sails far better than a catapult (unless it was a fairy huge one) could tear apart a ship's hulls.

Gunpowder? You mean smokepowder? Well, that's what the "unless its a gnomish vessel" comment was for, they're the only ones who dare experiment with the stuff. Others prefer to either shoot apart their foes sails then outrun or board them, or have a nice little fireball+lightning bolt chugging mage available to blast them out of the waters, put a gust of wind in their sails, contact other ships, teleport for supplies, etc.

Read 'Sea of Swords' (R.A.Salvatore) to get a good understanding of sea going combat, pirates and those who hunt the scallywags. HARRRRR!

That's Forgotten Realms though, isn't it? Just asking from an Avlissian PoV, since obviously Avlis differs from FR rather significantly in many respects. You find powderkegs placed on the streets of a major city like Mikona, and everyone seems familiar with how they work(granted, demolition use of such powder's been kinda common way before the first iron-casted cannon)

Further catapults used on the frontlines(though this is probably a game restriction) seem more like mobile fireball(the spell) launchers than historical equivilants. On the flip side, the one ship with any weapons on it that can be found in Avlis(Wilderness) has a ballista, which may mean that they are indeed still using harpoons and giant flaming bolts rather than exchanging cannon barrages.

I think a bit of the pirate lingo used is tending to reflect the Age of Sail(Drake and post-Drake uh "privateers") which was why I brought up this point.

And honestly the concept of mages on ships would probably change naval combat significantly than anything shown historically, may as well start seeing gnomish self-propelled ships(steam?), and iron-plated warships too. Having a mage with the ability to cast say firebrand, or chain lightning would be akin to have a deck full of carronades, which may end up being a referrence to a broadside.