26.0  Privateers

 

26. Privateers:

 

26. 1 Introduction: A private citizen may purchase and outfit a sea going vessel for use as a Privateer. A Privateer is a vessel manned by private citizens that wage war against enemies of their country. The Minister of War must issue a Letter of Marque for the ship (issued on a 7+, influenceable) otherwise the vessel is technically a pirate. There will be 3 such documents issued each year. The documents must be renewed on an annual basis.

 

26.2 Obtaining and maintaining a Privateer. A ship, suitable for privateering may be purchased for the amount of 5000cr. This ship must be maintained in order for it to remain sea-worthy. The cost of this maintenance is 500cr per season.

 

26.3 Operating a Privateer. Within the framework of the game, a Privateer will function as a ship, within a fleet that is independent of the RN framework. The Owner of the Privateer may crew the ship(s) in anyway he sees fit. Including assigning himself as one of the officers of the ship. The division of prize money is also at the discretion of the owner. The two most important officers for a privateer are the Ship’s Captain and the commanding officer of the Marines.

 

26.4 Campaigning as a Privateer: The privateer will function exactly as a fleet within the Royal Navy, except that they will never perform defensive operations. Players, operating on said Privateers will not be eligible for promotion (the roll is NOT made at all), but is eligible for MID’s at a –3 (as such all rules pertaining to MIDs apply equally to privateers, for example, eligibility for knighthoods and Nobility rolls).

 

26.5 Notes concerning privateering: If a member of the Royal Navy functions in any capacity as a privateer he will be considered permanently ‘beached’ ( this also applies to any marines officer). This reflects the disdain held by the Royal Navy for privateers. If a privateer is captured, the enemy usually will hang the crew as pirates (7+ on 2d6).