I'm sure there's a really simple answer here, but looking through GoS, each ship with a helm specifies that the ship uses its helm to move, verbatim:
Move. The ship can use its helm to move with its sails.
Does this imply that if a helm is destroyed that the ship can no longer move? The stat blocks are somewhat inconsistent on the matter, because under the helm section of the stat block, it says:
Move up to the speed of one of the ship's sails, with one 90-degree turn. If the helm is destroyed, the ship can't turn.
This implies that movement is still possible without a helm but turning is not. So which is it?
The helm is like a steering wheel. If the sails are still in tact and catching the wind, the ship will keep moving, but without the helm to steer, it will just keep going whichever direction the wind blows it.
I’m not a sailor, but even I know that’s an oversimplification of how sailing works. But for D&D purposes I think it’s probably close to what’s intended.
The helm is like a steering wheel. If the sails are still in tact and catching the wind, the ship will keep moving, but without the helm to steer, it will just keep going whichever direction the wind blows it.
I’m not a sailor, but even I know that’s an oversimplification of how sailing works. But for D&D purposes I think it’s probably close to what’s intended.
Well it specifically says it can move even if the helm is destroyed, so that.
Where?
Well the rules for ship components say:
Control. A control component is used to steer a ship.
Movement. A movement component is the element of the ship that enables it to move, such as a set of sails or oars, and has a specific speed.
And you yourself pointed out the text that says if the helm is destroyed only the ability to turn is lost. Specifically, the helm is used to control the sails direction (or so it seems to indicate).
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Hi all,
I'm sure there's a really simple answer here, but looking through GoS, each ship with a helm specifies that the ship uses its helm to move, verbatim:
Does this imply that if a helm is destroyed that the ship can no longer move? The stat blocks are somewhat inconsistent on the matter, because under the helm section of the stat block, it says:
This implies that movement is still possible without a helm but turning is not. So which is it?
Well it specifically says it can move even if the helm is destroyed, so that.
The helm is like a steering wheel. If the sails are still in tact and catching the wind, the ship will keep moving, but without the helm to steer, it will just keep going whichever direction the wind blows it.
I’m not a sailor, but even I know that’s an oversimplification of how sailing works. But for D&D purposes I think it’s probably close to what’s intended.
Where?
I'm inclined to agree with you there.
Well the rules for ship components say:
And you yourself pointed out the text that says if the helm is destroyed only the ability to turn is lost. Specifically, the helm is used to control the sails direction (or so it seems to indicate).