T.W. “Speedy” class Ley Line Brig / Ocean vessel:

H.M.S. Speedy had an amazing history. It ended up changing handles multiple times with the French capturing her, the British recapturing her, and the French capturing her again. The vessel, under one of her captains, Lord Cochrane, was able to capture a frigate three times her size. It was not until engaged by a large force of frigates that he was forced to surrender. The captain was a highly controversial figure who served in the navies of multiple South American nations and helped in their battles for independence from the mainland European powers.

There were no known surviving plans for the HMS Speedy unfortunately after the coming of the Rifts and the Techno-Wizards who designed her had to base the design on fragmentary information. The designers based the design on other small sailing vessels including the design of a replica of "HMS Pickle." Still, it would probably be more accurate to say that the “Speedy” is an amalgamation of different vessels. Other British vessels which techno-wizard have created magical line ship version include the Pandora and Unicorn, both quite a bit larger. Several American vessels also have techno-wizard line ships versions with the Ironsides, a copy of the USS Constitution being the most famous. Several smaller American vessels have techno-wizard line ship versions as well.

The “Speedy” is one of the smaller Ley Line vessels and are one of the more common designs as well due to be being less expensive than many. Like the better Techno-Wizard craft, the “Speedy” is a work of art. Even though they are easier to build than larger vessels, it still takes many months to build them. These vessels are build using traditional ship building techniques and are quite sea worthy. They are slightly larger than the HMS Speedy that they are based on and likely of slightly newer construction. There is a lot of variation between vessels with no two exactly alike. Many owners will get their boats customized in various ways. Sails are fitted in brig fashion with only two mast while most larger vessels have three masts.

Some of the wood these vessels are made from is naturally grown but some of the wood is created through Earth Warlock magic. It is hard to find some of the trees which these vessels were originally built from are hard to find. The wood is enchanted by the spell of “Ironwood” which makes the vessel able to withstand damage than no natural wooden boat could withstand. In fact, the boat is able to take as much damage as if it was made from modern alloys and composites. It also makes the ship virtually immune to the elements and the attack of rot and marine organisms.

While seaworthy and able to travel on the surface of the ocean, something not all line vessels are capable of, the “Speedy” class brigs normally travel on Ley Lines. Along ley lines, they can travel at a maximum speed of up to one hundred and fifty miles an hour along ley lines at altitudes up to one thousand feet. The spell of "Levitate" is used to launch these vessels into the air. These vessels have an unusual method of travel compared to most Ley Line vessel. The “Speedy” class is able to make a Ley Line Phasing similar to a Ley Line Walker. It can only phase to locations on the same ley line and can only switch lines at a nexus point. The vessel is limited to two phasing per hour and four in a twenty-four hour period.

The original HMS Speedy was armed fourteen four pounder long guns and twelve half pound swivel guns. Instead of long guns, the techno-wizard mounts twenty-four pound carronades. While much shorter ranges, the carronades are far more powerful. With "Thunderfire," "Thunderball", and Magical "Grapeshot," a seven carronade broadside can be extremely devastating. Fifty rounds per cannon are normally carried. Most larger vessels carry one hundred rounds per cannon. Four lightning cannons, lighter than the standard lightning cannons, are mounted instead of the swivel guns. These four mounts have to be recharged each month with the spell "Call Lightning." Fitted with fire control systems, these light weapons can target incoming missiles and other flying targets. In addition, the crew usually has small arms such as T.W. Firebolt Pistols and Firebolt Rifles.

A number of enchantments are carried in addition to the enchantments already described. The ship has a techno-wizard battery. This battery stores magical energies when the vessel is on ley lines and ley line nexus. Because the ship most frequently travels on lines, the battery usually can be kept charged. The magical energies can be used to power enchantments on the boat and well as used by spell casters on the crew. The vessel has enchantments of invisibility and impervious to energy. Finally, the ship has a magical “Armor of Ithan” force field for protection. This enchantment can be activated up to three times per day but does not draw off of the magical energy battery.

Standard crew is ninety crew members, making these ships fairly cramped compared to what a modern naval ship would be. At least two of the crew needs to be a techno-wizard. One of these is commonly the captain but not in all cases. A number of other spell casters are embarked as well. The crew sleep in hammocks while the officers have larger quarters aft although even they are quite cramped. Even the captain has very little space. Generally these vessels do not embark troops although ten troops can be embarked. In many cases these troops will be equipped with mystic power armors. Magical sanitary and water facilities are part of the enchantments on the boat making it more comfortable than the original boat would have been.

Model Type: “Speedy” Ocean & Sky Ship
Vehicle Type: Ocean & Sky Sail Brigr
Crew: 90 with usually at least two techno-wizard, two air warlocks, and two other spell casting types recommended but not absolutely needed.
Troops: 10 (Normal of 6 pilots for Mystic Power Armors, 4 soldiers in body armor)

Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:

Mystic Power Armors (Possible)

M.D.C. by Location:

	24 pounder Carronades (14, 7 each side):	125 each
	Light Lightning Blaster Mounts (4, main deck):	60 each
	[1] Foremast (Forward Mast):	200
	[1] Mizzenmast (Rear Mast):	240
	Sails (12):	40 each
	Rudder:	250
	[2] Main Body:	1,600
	[3] Armor of Ithan Force Field (Three Times per Day):	400

Notes:
[1] Destruction of a mast reduces ocean and ley line speed by 1/2 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: 15 knots or higher depending on the wind (approximately 17.27 miles per hour or 28 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.
Ley Line Phasing: The vessel has the ability to teleport to a specific different location on the same ley line. In order to travel to a location on another Ley Line, the vessel must teleport to a nexus with the ley line that the target location is at and teleport on that line. The ability requires 2D6 minutes (average of three times longer than a ley line walkers ability) and requites all but Ley Line Walkers to spend 50 P.P.E. to teleport (may tap Ley Line for teleport and Ley Line Walkers require no P.P.E.). The number of teleports is also limited to two per hour and four per 24 hour period.
Range: Effectively Unlimited. The ship carries three months worth of supplies on board.

Statistical Data:
Length: 81 feet 9 inches (24.92 meters)
Beam: 26 feet 3 inches (8.00 meters)
Draft: 9 feet 9 inches (2.97 meters)
Displacement: 235 tons
Cargo: 25 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: 125 million credits, there is a long waiting period and the cost to get one will often involve many extra costs as well.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

Fourteen (14) T.W. 24 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 two mounts which can fire with the broadside or act as bow chasers. The cannons use telekinesis to throw the rounds and does not use any gunpowder.
Maximum Effective Range: 3,150 feet (960.1 meters)
Mega-Damage: Thunderball Ammunition: 2D4x10 per round or 2D4x70 for a complete broadside (seven guns.) Each Thunderball will also release a thunderclap as per the spell (thunderclap effects a 10 feet (3 meters) radius. Thunderfire Ammunition: 4D4x10 per round or 4D4x70 for a complete broadside (seven guns.) The Thunderfire will often also ignite flammable materials. Magical Grape Shot Ammunition: 1D4x10 per round or 1D4x70 for an entire broadside (seven guns.) 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: 700 rounds (50 per cannon), 350 rounds of Thunderball ammunition, 175 rounds of Thunderfire ammunition, and 175 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) Light Lightning Blaster: These are designed to look like swivel guns but are lightning blasters. These are lighter than the Lightning Blasters mounted on most larger craft and shorter ranged. Additional optics and fire control have been added to enable the system to track and target aircraft and missiles The weapon must be recharged once a month using the spells “Call Lightning”, "Energy Bolt", and 50 P.P.E.
Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (914 meters)
Mega Damage: 1D4x10+10 per electrical blaster
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
Techno-Wizard Modifications: The “Speedy” 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.

[ 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