Welcome to Immoren - Ruling the High Seas [Navies]

A somewhat superficial look at the development of naval architecture and related technology of the Iron Kingdoms.
Warriors of WMH - Boarish Ambitions transcript link (docs.google.com/document/d/1x...)
Addendum - a number of very significant assumptions run throughout this one, unfortunately, most notable being the level of technology available to the Iron Kingdoms as a direct analogue to real world historic developments in metal-working, with little reference to how magic plays a role in either accelerating or stagnating how it evolves (other than to say it does). With respect to shipbuilding, these assumptions are related to how, broadly speaking, the technology is equivalent to that represented at the Battle of Hampton Roads in virtually all respects (with all the limitations that poses). Coppering is left out of the discussion entirely, simply because its status or that of an equivalent isn’t known. Concerning the concept of refitting and upgrading, while what is mentioned here is speculation from an out-world perspective, it is nonetheless quite probable. However, dozens of historic examples exist of ships which underwent extensive and intensive refits when their operators were at war with ongoing naval operations, the easiest point of reference being the various active navies of the two World Wars. That said, if a ship was functional in its current state and only ever really required minor repairs, full refits were generally eschewed for maintaining fleet strength, while only severely damaged ships in great need of large-scale repairs saw refits if earmarked for them or if it was opportune. A fair few exceptions existed, though, when a ship was considered insufficient in one way or other, whether because of age or design, quite how this might be applied in the context of naval combat in the Iron Kingdoms is up to one’s imagination, hence why this particular consideration is not even referred to here. Back to the content itself, the Skorne Empire is also, if more awkwardly but just as deliberately, left out since it requires analysing the ethnic backgrounds and the respective histories of these groups since very little is mentioned in the source material about their maritime traditions. Resolving everything was somewhat troublesome for just how little addresses their maritime exploits. Also, even more of that segment would be given over to speculation and conjecture than what is already featured.
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[@johntitor1256]

The navies of the Iron Kingdoms are certainly some of the more niche portions of the Iron Kingdoms. Warjacks do make for better anchors than swimmers, after all.

[@ServantofNyrro]

If Cryxian treatment of their crabjacks is anything to go by, they're something of a cross between of those two(!)

[@OrigamiShinigami]

Hmm... Does the Sea King have the front half of Skarre's ship? Does she want it back?

[@ServantofNyrro]

I'm inclined to say 'no' and 'she'd have to hunt them down and check individually, but she's got better things to do, her half of the ship works fine as it is(!)', since the Sea King isn't unique. 'A' Sea King might, which would make for an amusing side story.

[@Tzaarga]

I long for the day when cortexes(spelling?) will be used in other equipment than just 'jacks. Guided missiles, semi-sentient vehicles, fixed weaponpositions or the first logic engines.

[@ServantofNyrro]

I'd have to check the 'Doug Seacat says...' thread on the old forums, but IIRC, semi-canonically, they did try installing cortexes on ships, but they just tried ramming each other because they didn't have any articulated limbs to attack with and no direct control over ship-board weapons, hence hull as a weapon it was. There's something to be said for the increased complexity for controlling a ship (like, where would the eyes be to cover the full field of view, or what would a more suitable sensory system look like? etc.). It would make for an interesting thought exercise: what would a cortex controlled ship look like overall? What's different, what's the same?

[@Tzaarga]

@@ServantofNyrro I think that some design parallels with the Behemoth design with cortex and sub-cortex working together. Then just have a focuser spellcaster bond with the main cortex.

[@ServantofNyrro]

@@Tzaarga This I could definitely see, with something like a cortex network (a central one linking all sensory systems, while sub-cortexes control turret mounted guns).