1. Pilot House
Perched atop the
riverboat is this small cabin from which the pilot controls the
vessel. To that end, there are a number of features in this area,
such as a speaking tube that leads to the boiler room; a wheel for
the ship's rudder; pedals that activate the ship's bell and steam
whistle; and the like. The walls of this room are mostly glass
windows, proving a commanding view of the surrounding water and
terrain.
2. Promenade
Located around the
main, middle and upper decks are these open areas, enclosed by
waist-high guardrails. They provide a place for passengers and crew
to take in some fresh air and to enjoy the scenery through which they
are passing. There are also staircases leading to decks above and
below each area.
3. Bathrooms
While the size and
relative comfort for each of these areas varies from deck to deck,
their features are pretty much standardized. There are toilets, sinks
and showers for those who visit them.
4. Crew Quarters
Each of these rather
spartan accommodations is furnished with a bed, a storage locker
(underneath the bed) and a sink. Each member of the crew does have
one's own room, though.
5. Elite Cabins
Along with the
furnishings found in the crew quarters and standard cabins (Areas 4
and 7, respectively), each of these rooms also boasts a writing desk
and chair.
6. Cargo Hatches
On the main deck of
the vessel, in the bow and stern, these broad (ten feet by ten feet)
hatches provide access to the lower deck. The one in the bow opens
into the boiler room, providing a means of loading the endless supply
of wood needed to fuel the steam engine, while that in the stern
grants egress for goods and supplies, along with any passengers'
belongings that can't be stored in the cabins.
7. Standard Cabins
These rooms are
outfitted in the same manner as the crew quarters, detailed above.
8. Dining Hall
Nine wide tables,
surrounded by eight chairs apiece, dominate the center of this room.
It is here, of course, that meals are served. Since not all of the
passengers and crew can be seated at the same time, passengers who
are booked into the elite cabins are given priority, followed by
other guests as well as the crew. When entertainments occur, the
tables can be left in position (such as for gambling events) or
removed to the cargo hold below (for music, dancing and the like).
9. Boiler Room
The most striking
attribute of this area is the heat. Since it takes a lot of burned
fuel to power the steamboat, the boiler room is always smoldering.
The huge boiler dominates the center of the chamber, while stacks of
firewood line the outside walls. A team of laborers is located here
at all times, ready to follow orders delivered via the speaking tube
from the pilot house above.
10. Kitchen
Only slightly more
tolerable than the boiler room, this is where all of the food for the
passengers and crew is prepared. There is a broad cooking stove that
shares a wall with the ship's boiler, along with a pair of broad
tables for preparing food. Doors from this area lead into cold and
dry storage rooms, which are kept stocked with food and beverages.
11. Cargo Hold
All manner of goods,
supplies and other items can be found in this cavernous space.
12. Sternwheel
People don't
normally come back here. In the event that it becomes necessary,
however, then the Judge is encouraged to make it into a difficult and
dangerous situation.
Characters
Detailed here are
some of the characters who can typically be found aboard a riverboat.
Owner
The
person who provides the money behind the operation can be either
idealistic or ruthless, or a combination of the two. Usually, running
a successful operation requires balancing the desires of the owner
against the technical ability of the pilot and engineer.
Attributes:
Agility d4, Smarts d6, Spirit d8, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills:
Boating d4, Gambling d4, Investigation d6, Knowledge (History) d6,
Notice d4, Persuasion d6
Charisma:
+2,
Pace:
6”, Parry:
2, Toughness:
5
Edges:
Charismatic, Rich
Hindrances:
Impulsive
Gear:
Fancy suit, pocket watch, box of cigars
Pilot
Hotshot
pilots have a reputation throughout the American frontier for taking
daring risks and, most of the time, succeeding at them. They are
often flamboyant and even arrogant individuals, but their specialized
skills makes others tolerant of this.
Attributes:
Agility d8, Smarts d6, Spirit d4, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills:
Boating d8, Fighting d4, Guts d6, Knowledge (Area) d6, Notice d4,
Repair d4, Shooting d4
Charisma:
--,
Pace:
6”, Parry:
4, Toughness:
5
Edges:
None
Hindrances:
Arrogant, Overconfident
Gear:
Clothing, Colt Navy .36
Engineer
The
engineer is second only to the pilot in importance aboard a
steamship. He is in charge of stoking the boiler fire and making sure
that there is as much steam as possible—but not too much, lest it
cause an explosion.
Attributes:
Agility d4, Smarts d8, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills:
Boating d4, Investigation d6, Knowledge (Science) d8, Notice d4,
Repair d8
Charisma:
--,
Pace:
6”, Parry:
2, Toughness:
5
Edges:
Scholar
Hindrances:
Bad Eyes
Gear:
Clothing, pocket watch, spectacles, tools
Routstabout
When
it comes to hauling cargo, helping force the steamboat past
obstructions, foraging for wood and similar tasks, these are the men
for the job. They can be a rough and surly bunch, but they give
respect to those people who show it to them.
Attributes:
Agility d6, Smarts d4, Spirit d6, Strength d8, Vigor d6
Skills:
Boating d4, Climbing d6, Fighting d6, Notice d4, Shooting d4,
Swimming d6
Charisma:
-2,
Pace:
6”, Parry:
5, Toughness:
7
Edges:
Brawny
Hindrances:
Mean
Gear:
Clothing, Bowie knife, chewing tobacco
Servant
These
women tend to be polite and agreeable, but not necessarily servile.
Some are content with a life of relative freedom and a decent wage,
while others dream of meeting someone who can take them away from it
all.
Attributes:
Agility d6, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills:
Knowledge (Area) d6, Notice d8, Persuasion d6, Stealth d4, Streetwise
d6
Charisma:
--,
Pace:
6”, Parry:
2, Toughness:
5
Edges:
Alertness
Hindrances:
Curious
Gear:
Uniform
Here's a link to a PDF version, too.
Steamboat Deck Plans PDF
-Nate
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