Looking for strong hands and a drink

Ahoy there!

Last time we had a brief tour around Nantucket, now it’s time to take a closer look to what the town has to offer. The inevitable first stop has to be at the tavern, where you will be able to hire some helpful hands during your adventures.

Nantucket features five different character classes, each one specialized in a different seafaring area.

• Sailors are valiant explorers who spend their lives at sea. No matter is a majestic vessel, a whaleboat or a simple board, they know how to keep it afloat, come rain or shine.
• Hunters are men without fear, born to chase their preys. They can stand on a whaleboat’s bow sailing toward danger or face the wickedest pirate without hesitation.
• Craftsmen are experts artisans, specialized in dealing with all the practical errands of a ship. Their hands are surely the dirtiest and most useful at sea.
• Scientists are investigators of the natural world. Their curiosity and competence can unlock unknown knowledge about the sea and, above all, save lives on your ship.
• Cabin boys are inexperienced young helpers. They are maybe the least specialized, but you can address their learning path and make them be the men you want them to be.

Each class (excluding cabin boys) has three different branches that define the character specialization. For example, hunters could have the Harpooner, Man-at-arms or Survivor branch, each one characterized by specific special ability to use during the game. We will speak about abilities in the next weeks, since it’s something that covers a lot of aspects of the game not yet discussed on these pages.

Apart from their working experience and specialization, each character has his own personality, defined by Traits. Character personalities aren’t something to ignore, since they will matter a lot at sea, affecting the relationship with your crew and social dynamics among them.

Finally, time to pay. Actually, not yet. Nantucket uses a waging system similar to the one historically used on whaling ships, based on a Lay system. Each hired character comes with a lay, so a share of the catch of your next travel. Higher is the character experience and higher will be his lay request, lowering yours. Don’t be greedy, you could regret it once facing the charge of a 60 foot whale.

Well, since we are here, time for a drink.

A whiskey for me, bartender!

Mex