T.W. “New Ironsides” class Ley Line Ship / Ocean vessel:

It seems like there are few design areas which Techno-Wizards will not experiment with. One of the more interesting example is when a techno-wizard found the plans to the sail frigate "USS Constitution" and decided to construct a ley line ship based on the plans. A ley line ship is a vessel that travels along ley lines. The “New Ironsides” is also capable of sailing on an ocean as well. The USS Constitution is famous as Old Ironsides due to the fact that cannonballs were know to bounce from her hull and from her, the Techno-Wizard had the perfect name for the new ship class. This was “New Ironsides”. So far only a handful of these ships have been built but there is a huge demand for the ship and the Techno-Wizard and his assistants are producing the ships as fast as he can. He is not being successful at keeping up with demands and is consider opening a second slipway to be able to construct make more of the ships at a time. Each ship is as close to the original "USS Constitution" as he could make it. This makes the ships take along time, almost three years, and each ship is hand crafted. The fate of the true USS Constitution is unknown although there are rumors of a phantom sailing ship matching the description of Old Ironsides. If this is really the "USS Constitution" or another resurrected ancient sailing vessel is unknown.

The ships are initially constructed in virtually the same fashion as the original sail frigate although some types of woods are used in place of other types of wood that are not available. In some cases the wood pieces are created by Earth Warlocks instead of being cut. The ship is tested to see if it floats on water and only after the hull is complete and floated is the magic work begun on the ship. The first step is making the ship virtually indestructible. Multiple castings of the spell “Ironwood” makes the ship incredibly tough. While this makes the ship able to survive combat, it also has the added advantage of making the ship impervious to natural rot, worms, and many of the other problems that wooden ships have always had. The next step for the Wizards is the magic to make the ship a true Ley Line Ship. As far as known, these ships are the largest sky boats ever created. The Internal fitting out of the ship and the ships guns are worked on while all the reinforcement and enchanting is being completed. Each cannon is cast in a mostly traditionally way and while being cast, they are enchanted as TK Thunderball Cannons. This is in a similar fashion to those used on the Windjammer T.W. class frigate. Only a tiny change is added to the weapon mounts on the ship, four T.W. converted Civil War style Gatling Cannons were added to the ship to help protect the ship from smaller opponents such as power armors. The ship also has a powerful mystic energy battery to charge the spells on the ship and for the ships crew to use in combat.

While the Sail Frigate is much smaller than a Sea King class cruiser, it is likely a broadside from the “New Ironsides” could sink or badly damage it. The ships big disadvantage is a lack of range being only a fraction of modern ranges. The ship can often use magic to get close to another opponent and destroy it.

The ship, like the original, requires a large crew. Magical sanitary facilities and water producing have been added so the crew may have decent comforts but the quarters have been kept similar to the original ship because it was felt that the original feel was the best. The officers, specifically the captain, have more comfortable quarters. Standard is 55 marines who often use Mystic Power Armor

Model Type: “New Ironsides” Ocean & Sky Ship
Vehicle Type: Ocean & Sky Sail Frigate
Crew: 395 with usually at least two techno-wizard, two air warlocks, and two other spell casting types recommended but not absolutely needed.
Troops: 55 (Normal of 25 pilots for Mystic Power Armors, 30 soldiers in body armor)

Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:

Mystic Power Armors (Possible)

M.D.C. by Location:

	24 pounder Long Guns (34, 2 Bow, 16 each side):	200 each
	32 pounder Carronades (20, 10 on each side)	150 each
	TW Gatling Cannons (4, 2 Each side):	100 each
	[1] Foremast (Forward Mast):	350
	[1] Mainmast (Middle Mast):	500
	[1] Mizzenmast (Rear Mast):	350
	Sails (15)	100 each
	Rudder:	550
	[2] Main Body:	6,000
	[3] Armor of Ithan Force Field (Three Times per Day):	1,000

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. The ship does have the Techno-Wizard addition of impervious to energy. Specifics are listed in Weapon systems.
[3] As per the spell “Armor of Ithan” - Magic, fire, lightning, and cold all inflict one-half damage. Each activation lasts for 30 minutes.

Speed:
Ocean Surface: 13 knots or higher depending on the wind (approximately 14.95 miles per hour or 24 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 three months worth of supplies on board

Statistical Data:
Length: 204 feet (62.16 meters) (billet head to taffrail); 175 feet at waterline (53.32 meters)
Beam: 43.5 feet (13.25 meters)
Mast Height: foremast, 198 feet (60.33 meters); mainmast, 220 feet (67.03 meters); mizzenmast, 172.5 feet (52.56 meters)
Displacement: 2,200 tons
Cargo: 200 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 42,710 square feet of sail on three masts.
Market Cost: 800 million credits, there is a long waiting period and the cost to get one will often involve many extra costs as well.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

Thirty Four (34) T.W. 24 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. The ship has two bow chasers and sixteen cannons on each side. The cannons use telekinesis to throw the rounds and does not use any gunpowder.
Maximum Effective Range: 5,400 feet (1,645.9 meters)
Mega-Damage: Thunderball Ammunition: 2D4x10 per round or 2D4x160 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: 4D4x10 per round or 4D4x160 for a complete broadside. The Thunderfire will often also ignite flammable materials. Magical Grape Shot Ammunition: 1D4x10 per round or 1D4x160 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: 3400 rounds (100 per cannon), 1700 rounds of Thunderball ammunition, 850 rounds of Thunderfire ammunition, and 850 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.
Twenty (20) T.W. 32 Pounder Carronades: Carronade 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 ten 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 2D6x100 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 4D6x100 for a complete broadside. The Thunderfire will often also ignite flammable materials. Magical Grape Shot Ammunition: 1D6x10 per round or 1D6x100 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: 2000 rounds (100 per carronade), 1000 rounds of Thunderball ammunition, 500 rounds of Thunderfire ammunition, and 500 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.
TK Gatling Cannons (4): These cannons are the only know period weapon on the ship. Mounts have been enchanted by a series of spells so the cannons act as a more powerful version of the TK Machine gun. This increases the weapons damage and instead of being reloaded, the cannons must be recharged by the spell Telekinesis and 100 P.P.E. once per month. The cannon does full damage to targets that are impervious to energy. Additional optics and fire control have been added to enable the system to track and target aircraft and missiles.
Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,220 meters).
Mega Damage: 12D6
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: Unlimited, although the spells (100 P.P.E. each cannon) on each must be renewed every month whether the cannon have been used or not .
Techno-Wizard Modifications: The New Ironsides 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 500 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 20 per hour on ley lines and 40 per hour on nexus points.

[ Altarain TM, Bandito Arms TM, Brodkil TM, Chipwell Armaments TM, Coalition States TM, Cyber-Knight TM, Federation of Magic TM, Free Quebec TM, Golden Age Weaponsmiths TM, Horune TM, Iron Heart Armaments TM, Kankoran TM, Kittani TM, Kydian TM, Larsen’s Brigade TM, M.D.C. TM, Mechanoids TM, Mega-Damage TM, Megaversal Legion TM, Millennium Tree TM, Mutants in Orbit TM, Naruni Enterprises TM, Naut’Yll, New Navy TM, New Sovietskiy TM, NGR TM, Nog Heng TM, Northern Gun TM, Phase World TM, Psyscape TM, Rifter TM, SAMAS TM, S.D.C. TM, Shemarrian TM, Splugorth TM, Stormspire TM, Sunaj TM, Tolkeen TM, Triax TM, Wellington Industries TM, Wilk’s Laser Technologies TM, Xiticix TM, and Zaayr TM are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]

[ Beyond the Supernatural®, Heroes Unlimited®, Nightbane®, Ninjas & Superspies®, Palladium Fantasy®, and Rifts® are registered trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]

Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

Return