Galley

Gargantuan Vehicle (130ft by 20ft)

Galleys are long vessels that rely on sails and sizable rowing crews to move. These ships can carry siege weapons and soldiers to war or transport large amounts of cargo for merchants. No matter the ship's purpose, the crew almost always hires extra protection, since galleys make large, cargo-rich targets for pirates.

Creature Capacity 80 crew, 40 passengers
Cargo Capacity 150 tons
Travel Pace 4mi per hour (96mi per day)
Damage Immunities poison, psychic
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, incapacitated, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, prone, stunned, unconscious

Actions

On its turn, the ship can take 3 actions, choosing from the options below.

• It can take only 2 actions if it has fewer than 40 crew
• It can take only 1 action if it has fewer than 20 crew
• It can't take these actions if it has fewer than 3 crew.

Fire Ballistas (4)

The ship can fire its ballistas (DMG, ch. 8).

Fire Mangonels (2)

The ship can fire its mangonels (DMG, ch. 8).

Move

The ship can use its helm to move with its oars or sails. As part of this move, it can use its naval ram.

Hull

Armor Class 15
Hit Points 500 (damage threshold 20)

Control: Helm

Armor Class 16
Hit Points 50

Move up to the speed of one of the ship's movement components, with one 90-degree turn. If the helm is destroyed, the ship can't turn.

Movement: Oars

Armor Class 12
Hit Points 100; -5ft. speed per 25 damage taken
Speed (water) 30ft. requires at least 40 crew

Movement: Sails

Armor Class 12
Hit Points 100; -10ft. speed per 25 damage taken
Speed (water) 35ft; 15ft while sailing into the wind; 50ft. while sailing with the wind

Weapon: Ballista (4)

Armor Class 15
Hit Points 50 each

Ranged Weapon Attack:

• Hit: +6 to hit,
• Range: 120/480 ft., one target.
• Damage: 16 (3d10) piercing damage.

Weapon: Mangonel (2)

Armor Class 15
Hit Points 100 each

Ranged Weapon Attack:

• Hit: +5 to hit,
• Range: 200/800 ft., one target, can't hit targets within 60ft. of it.
• Damage: 27 (5d10) bludgeoning damage.

Weapon: Naval Ram

Armor Class 20
Hit Points 100 (damage threshold 10)

The ship has advantage on all saving throws relating to crashing when it crashes into a creature or an object. Any damage it takes from the crash is applied to the naval ram rather than to the ship.

These benefits don't apply if another vessel crashes into the ship.

Traits

Example Crew

A galley requires a crew of eighty to properly sail or row the vessel and might carry extra passengers or soldiers. If the characters are guests on a galley, the crew consists of the following creatures, all of which have proficiency with water vehicles in addition to their normal statistics:

• 1 captain (bandit captain)
• 5 other officers: a first mate, a bosun, a quartermaster, a surgeon, and a cook (scouts)
• 42 sailors (commoners)
• 12 siege engineers (guards)
• 20 guards

Ceilings

The ceiling of the ship's lower deck is 8ft high.

Light

Hanging lanterns cast bright light throughout the ship.

Rigging

Rigging on the ship can be climbed without an ability check.

Sails and Oars

The ship has one 120ft-tall mast with sails to catch the wind and oars on the lower deck for rowing the vessel.

Main Deck

The main deck of the ship has the following features:

Ballistas (4)

• 4 ballistas (DMG, ch. 8) are attached to the fore of the deck.
• 10 ballista arrows are stacked and secured near each.

Mangonels (2)

• 2 mangonels (DMG, ch. 8) are attached to the aft of the deck.
• 10 mangonel stones are stacked and secured near each catapult.

Naval Ram

The ship's stern features an iron naval ram used for attacking other ships.

Opening

A 10ft-wide, 80ft-long open space in the middle of the deck stretches fore to aft and leads down to the lower deck.

Railing

A 3ft-high rail is built around the deck's perimeter, providing half cover for Medium creatures and three-quarters cover for Small creatures behind it.

Rowboats

Eight rowboats are stacked in 2 groups of 4 on this deck. Ropes and pulleys can hoist these boats in and out of the water.

Timpani

A timpani with 2 attached mallets sits on the aft of the main deck just before the opening to the lower deck. A crew member plays this instrument while the sailors on the lower deck row, the beat helping to synchronize the rowers' strokes.

Wheel

The ship's wheel stands at the aft of the deck.

Lower Deck

The cramped lower deck of the galley ship reeks of body odor and has the following features:

Cargo Holds

Cargo holds at the fore and aft of the lower deck hold crates, barrels, and ammunition secured with rope.

Oars

32 benches are built into the deck, each with a 20ft-long oar. When the ship is rowed, crew members sit on these benches to work the oars. Ten spare oars hang on the walls.