T.W. “Blackflame” class Ley Line Frigate / Ocean vessel:

Throughout History, there have been many famous pirates. Some of these include Blackbeard, "Black Bart" Bartholomew Roberts, and William Kidd. These famous names pirated the Caribbean during the famous age of piracy. These were often lawless times. Eventually, the organization of powerful military forces put down the threat of large scale piracy but there was even piracy during the Twenty-First century. With the coming of the Rifts and the resulting devastation, the world returned to virtually lawlessness. Pirates once more appeared on the world's stage. At the same time, a new kind of pirate was born. This was the air pirate. Some operated from planes while others operated from Ley Line ships.

Some Ley line ships are converted pre-rifts sailing vessels which were taken over by pirates. Other pirates manage to acquire Ley Line schooners, corvettes, and frigates though various means. Still, some pirates want have wanted more than that and have had special built "Pirate" type Ley Line vessels. Often these ships are design to look fearsome even malevolent. One of the better known vessels of this type is the “Blackflame” and many scholars believe that the ship’s appearance is inspired by ships known as the "Demon Black Ships." Unlike many other Ley Line Vessel classes, these ships are not based directly on an specific vessel design. The ships fly black sails and appear to be constructed from not wood but demon bone.. Where these ships actually come from with speculation running from Atlantis, to a secret pirate base somewhere in the South Atlantic Ocean, to even Hell itself. While extremely dangerous, these ships normally avoid engaging larger Ley Line vessels especially the "New Ironside" class frigate which is based on the USS Constitution. There are stories about a single ship of the Blackflame class, renamed the Phoenix, which was captured from pirates and is used to fight pirates.

While some do speculate that the ships are truly constructed from the bones of demon, the simple truth is that it would be impossible to get enough demon bone to build one of these ships and the value of the bone would drive the value of the ship to beyond the ability for any pirate to afford. It is far more likely that the ships are constructed from some sort of enchanted wood or something else relatively affordable. Still, the ships are completely immune to fire, even the ship’s sails. Otherwise, the ships are about as tough as some of the smaller Ley Line Frigates such as the Pandora class. Like many of the better ley line vessels, these ships are extremely sea worthy and are well constructed. As a result, they can be found pirating the seas as well as along Ley Lines.

Like most Ley Line vessels, the main weaponry of the ship are telekinetic cannons. The ship is armed with four longer ranged 12 Pounder Long Guns and sixteen shorter ranged but more powerful 32 pounder carronades. With ten cannons on each side, the main battery can be devastating at short range. As well, two of the 12 pounder long guns can fire directly forward and two can fire directly to the rear. All of the 32 pounder carronade battery is mounted on a single deck. The ship is also armed with four heavy flame cannons mounted on the deck. These are useful against fast moving targets such as aircraft and missiles.

The most spectacular ability of the ship is to create a flame aura around the ship. The flame aura gives protection against missiles and other weapons although is more limited than the “Armor of Ithan” force field which protects many other ship classes. As well, the field can potentially ignite other objects if they are flammable. This fire aura does not effect people on the ship itself including those who are on deck or in the rigging. This fire shield can be activated up to three times per day. As most other Ley Line vessels, the Blackflame has a variety of other enchantments including the ability to become invisible. This can be extremely useful when trying to take another ship by surprise.

Like most Ley Line ships, these ships have large crews. Crew live in tight quarters although more comfortable than sailing ships of old were. The officers of the pirate ship, including normally the techno-wizard, have more comfortable quarters with the captain having the most comfortable quarters. The ship has magical life support and sanitary facilities. As might be expected, the ships carry a large number of marines with many using power armor. These are often used in the capture of other vessels. Mystic Power Armors are common although other armors can be used as well. Up to around fifty troops can be embarked onboard. The only relatively common class which embarks around the same compliment is the “New Ironsides”

Model Type: “Blackflame” Ocean & Sky Ship
Vehicle Type: Ocean & Sky Sail Frigate (Light)
Crew: 130 with usually at least two techno-wizard, two air warlocks, and two other spell casting types recommended but not absolutely needed.
Troops: 50 (Normal of 20 pilots for Mystic Power Armors, 30 soldiers in body armor)

Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:

Mystic Power Armors (Possible)

M.D.C. by Location:

	12 pounder Long Guns (4, 2 each side on swivel mounts):	100 each
	32 pounder Carronades (16, 8 on each side)	150 each
	Flame Cannons Mounts (4, main deck):	80 each
	[1] Foremast (Forward Mast):	200
	[1] Mainmast (Middle Mast):	250
	[1] Mizzenmast (Rear Mast):	200
	Sails (15)	60 each
	Rudder:	300
	[2] Main Body:	2,000
	Fire Aura (3 times per day):	200

Notes:
[1] Destruction of a mast reduces ocean and ley line speed by 1/3 for each mast lost.
[2] Destroying the main body causes the ship to lose structural integrity, causing the ship to sink if in the water. There are enough life preservers and inflatable life boats (one of the few items of technology added) to accommodate everyone on the ship. Note: the ship (including the sails) has a permanent enchantment which makes it impervious to fire and heat (including magical fire and plasma.) As well, the ship has the Techno-Wizard addition of impervious to energy. Specifics are listed in Weapon systems.

Speed:
Ocean Surface: 12 knots or higher depending on the wind (approximately 13.81 miles per hour or 22.2 km per hour)
Ley Lines: 150 mph (240 kph). Requires the Telekinesis Spell (double cost at 16 P.P.E.) or 20 I.S.P. to initiative take off and Telekinesis Spell (double cost at 16 P.P.E.), Levitate Spell (double cost at 10 P.P.E.) or 20 I.S.P. to land the ship. Otherwise, the ship will float away slowly (2 mph) at about 100 feet (30.5 meters) off the ground. The ship can only travel through the air along ley lines and can switch directions at ley line nexus points.
Height: While Flying, maximum of 1000 feet (305 meters) and minimum of 200 feet (61 meters) without landing.
Maximum Effective Range: Effectively Unlimited. The ship carries two months worth of supplies on board.

Statistical Data:
Length: 115 feet 9 inches (35.3 meters)
Beam: 34 feet 3 inches (10.4 meters)
Draft: 15 feet (4.6 meters)
Displacement: 540 tons
Cargo: 20 tons of nonessential equipment and supplies. Most of the ships spaces are take up by extra ammo, armor, troops, weapons, sails, and other equipment.
Power System: Magic and sails.
Market Cost: 250 or more million credits, the source of these vessels is unknown and the ships are extremely difficult to acquire.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

Four (4) T.W. 12 Pounder Long Guns: These weapons are surprising powerful weapons and use special magic ball that inflict large amounts of damage. The cannon balls look like standard Iron balls but in reality come in three different types. The first is Thunderball which inflict considerable damage and creates a thunderclap that effects everyone within 10 feet (3 meters) of the cannon balls impact. The second is called Thunderfire and it erupts into fireball and inflicts greater damage than Thunderball ammunition but does not have the Thunderclap. The Third type of ammunition is Magic Grape Shot. This shot is designed to be used against a wide area and is very effective against personnel. All mounts can fire to the side and two cannons can fire forward and two can fire aft. The cannons use telekinesis to throw the rounds and does not use any gunpowder.
Maximum Effective Range: 4,740 feet (1,444.8 meters)
Mega-Damage: Thunderball Ammunition: 1D4x10 per round or 2D4x10 for two cannons. Each Thunderball will also release a thunderclap as per the spell (thunderclap effects a 10 feet (3 m) radius. Thunderfire Ammunition: 2D4x10 per round or 4D4x10 for two cannons. The Thunderfire will often also ignite flammable materials. Magical Grape Shot Ammunition: 4D6 per round or 8D6 for two cannons. Each Magical Grape Shot will effect all targets within a blast radius of 20 feet (6 m).
Rate of Fire: One shot per cannon per melee (all cannons can be fired at the same time). Cannon can be loaded and fired quickly due to not needing to load gunpowder.
Payload: 400 rounds (100 per cannon), 200 rounds of Thunderball ammunition, 100 rounds of Thunderfire ammunition, and 100 rounds of Magical Grape Shot ammunition
Notes: If the cannons are used against small targets (personnel, aircraft, missiles, etc) the cannons have a -4 penalty to strike (Grape shot has +4 to strike and can be used against small targets) with no bonuses to strike to strike for hand to hand or physical prowess. As well, only a single cannon can be targeted against a small target.
Sixteen (16) T.W. 32 Pounder Carronades: Carronades fire a larger ball for a smaller cannon when compared to long guns but have a reduced range when compared to long cannons. The cannon balls look like standard Iron balls but in reality come in three different types. The first is Thunderball which inflict considerable damage and creates a thunderclap that effects everyone within 10 feet (3 meters) of the cannon balls impact. The second is called Thunderfire and it erupts into fireball and inflicts greater damage than Thunderball ammunition but does not have the Thunderclap. The Third type of ammunition is Magic Grape Shot. This shot is designed to be used against a wide area and is very effective against personnel. The ship has eight carronades on each side. The cannons use telekinesis to throw the rounds and does not use any gunpowder.
Maximum Effective Range: 3,510 feet (1,069.8 meters)
Mega-Damage: Thunderball Ammunition: 2D6x10 per round or 2D6x80 for a complete broadside. Each Thunderball will also release a thunderclap as per the spell (thunderclap effects a 10 feet (3 m) radius. Thunderfire Ammunition: 4D6x10 per round or 4D6x80 for a complete broadside. The Thunderfire will often also ignite flammable materials. Magical Grape Shot Ammunition: 1D6x10 per round or 1D6x80 for an entire broadside. Each Magical Grape Shot will effect all targets within a blast radius of 20 feet (6 m).
Rate of Fire: One shot per cannon per melee (all cannons can be fired at the same time). Cannon can be loaded and fired quickly due to not needing to load gunpowder.
Payload: 1,600 rounds (100 per carronade), 800 rounds of Thunderball ammunition, 400 rounds of Thunderfire ammunition, and 400 rounds of Magical Grape Shot ammunition
Notes: If the cannons are used against small targets (personnel, aircraft, missiles, etc) the cannons have a -4 penalty to strike (Grape shot has +4 to strike and can be used against small targets) with no bonuses to strike to strike for hand to hand or physical prowess. As well, only a single cannon can be targeted against a small target.
Four (4) Heavy Flame Cannons: Mounted on the deck of the vessels in swivel mounts. Each weapon is a converted heavy plasma weapon. All of the flame cannons can be fired together and inflict incredible damage when all four are fired together. No matter how many cannons are fired together, it counts as one attack. The flame cannons have a slightly better range and have an unlimited payload compared to hand held flame cannons. The weapon pulls its energy from a tiny Rifts into the Elemental plane of fire. Additional optics and fire control have been added to enable the system to track and target aircraft and missiles
Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (914 meters).
Mega Damage: 1D6x10 per flame cannon
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
Magical “Fire Aura”: The Blackflame frigate can produce an aura of fire up to three times per day. The crew can see clearly through the fire aura and is not effected. While this field is active, the ship is clearly on fire and cannot be concealed using the spells of Chameleon or Invisibility. The field is too close to the ship for ramming attacks although some pilots have tried. It is effective against creatures who try to grab the ship and attackers who try and board the ship. Missiles can be fired by the crew. See spell description for more details.
Maximum Effective Range: 0.5 feet (0.15 meters) around vessel
Mega Damage & Effects: 6D6 M.D.C. to any targets attempting to grab ship or board and has a 50% chance of catching combustible materials on fire. Fire Aura also gives a 200 M.D.C. Force field which damage must be subtracted from first.
Payload: Three Times per day.
Techno-Wizard Modifications: The Blackflame has the following Techno-Wizard Modifications built into the ship. These require P.P.E. or I.S.P. from the ships crew or P.P.E. battery.
Special Features:

Special Systems:

Magical “See the Invisible” Optics: The ships has several special optical systems with see the invisible on them. Same as spell and used at will. 2,000 feet (610 meters) range. Can see forces, objects, and creatures which can turn invisible, or are invisible. Can also see vaporous beings and astral bodies.
P.P.E. Battery: The ship has a special P.P.E. battery, unlike similar systems in Phase World, it does not generate magical energy but stores magical energy. The system will store up to 300 P.P.E. and can be stored by crew members and absorbs P.P.E. from Ley Lines and Nexus Points. It will absorb P.P.E. at the rate of 10 per hour on ley lines and 20 per hour on nexus points.

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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