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{{:Oblong (3.5e Creature Ability)}}
Even though a size chart has been given for large ships, it is rare that PCs would find themselves facing down with one in combat. DMs may wish to have ships larger than colossal fill out their actual size in squares, and simply keep the number of sections any segmented or oblong ships would have. This works especially well if PCs intend to board the ship, for the ship could be a battleground in and of its own.
= Operating a Vehicle =
Combat always takes its toll. A vehicle which has been reduced to less than 50% of its hp obtains the broken condition, reducing its speed as if encumbered with a medium load, applying the penalty to attack rolls and pilot checks, and showing visible signs of damage. A vehicle which has been reduced to less than 10% of its hp obtains the critical condition, reducing its speed as if encumbered with a heavy load, applying the penalty to attack rolls and pilot checks, and exposing crew to the elements outside with 90% concealment. A ship reduced to 0 hp is destroyed, though it may still be salvaged for raw materials. A ship reduced to a negative equal to its max hp is obliterated, with no functional debris remaining.
== Crews and Supplies ==
Vehicles often require some form of fuel to propel themselves, and a crew to run the vehicle. Fuel can be free, as is the case for wind sails or human powered devices, or it can come in the form of gasoline, coal, water, and other materials. Its important to note that with fuel comes weight, and so long duration craft with large fuel supplies often travel slower or need more powerful engines to push their own supply. A few vehicles may gain an endless fuel supply, though such sources are often expensive.
In addition to fuel, vehicles must be aware of crew. For small vehicles, the crew is the pilot and any passengers he can carry. Larger ships may require a minimum number of crew operators to successfully run the vehicle. The minimum amount of crew needed to operate the ship is given in the description of the vehicle. NPCs may be hired to operate vehicles which the PCs cannot handle on their own. However, when heavily damaged a vehicle may have casualties inside the ship and as a result crew may be wounded or killed, making it harder to run the vehicle. Once a vehicle is broken (under 50% hp) it is subject to a form of massive damage. Damage recieved after hardness forces a [[Fortitude]] save with the ship's saving throw, DC equal to the damage dealt. A successful save negates any casualties, while a failed save kills off 1 HD worth of crew members per HD. Since many NPC crew members only have 1 HD, this often kills them. Craft with more HD (and thus higher saves) have more mass or higher quality and thus are less likely to have its crew die from attacks.
When a vehicle reduced to the critical condition, this becomes a Fortitude save for half. At that point the ship is in shambles and its almost impossible to avoid casualties. If a ship is destroyed, it make a Fortitude save of the damage of the killing blow ''without'' hardness, with a save for half. Even if the save is made and crew survive, they might die from the vehicle sinking, falling out of the sky, or other hazards from the vehicle's location. PCs and other important characters, on account of being badass, are not subject to these rules.
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{{3.5e Sourcebooks Breadcrumb}} → [[Complete Transportation (3.5e Sourcebook)|Complete Transportation]]
