An area of possible career opportunities that exists in other En Garde games with some success is the practice of Medicine. There are plainly some worthwhile literary precedents to draw upon (Maturin etc) to help players.

Could we consider an expansion of the rules to include a Medical post onboard? Nothing too complicated.

I would have thought that a Surgeon post onboard most ships would be sufficient with the possiblity of one or two assistants ( lob-lolly boys) for 1st to 3rd rated ships.

Progression like the RM but with only 1 tier; Surgeon of the Fleet.

Qualifications could be by 3 months attending in a hospital (then receive warrant) or by prior experience at the GM's discretion. The new skill would be MA (Medical ability).

Apart from the normal ship-board rolls (for death, MID's, plunder and promotion) we could add an experience roll; this would reflect the Surgeons practical effects on the crew's battle-wounds or ordinary health. Success increases expertise.

What do others think?

I like the idea - you could couple it with the "Nelson touch" suggestion I made:

Perhaps whenever a character would have been killed on campaign or in a duel, instead they make a "saving roll", which can give a range of outcomes, from minor scars or gimpy legs, to amputations or to death, which would be modified through the medical skill of the attending doctor and also by how badly the death roll was missed (say it was a 8+ roll for death, and the roll was 11, then there would be a -3 to the chance of surviving) or for how far below zero endurance a character was reduced in a duel.

The tables could be modified from rolling for "death" to a slightly more likely "injury and death roll". It might encourage players to duel or to choose heroic bravery if they knew death wasn't certain.

It's a touch macabre perhaps, but Nelson managed with one arm and a dodgy eye, and a lot of navy men bore the wounds of battle. I think it would add character.

The medical skill of a doctor could also have a (small) effect on the battle outcome for a ship, as a measure of how healthy the crew was (and how many have died on the voyage from scurvy/malaria/cholera/smallpox/yellow fever/and venereal diseases!)

You could have a few ranks if you made a distinction between a sickroom attendant (sailor), surgeon (masters mate) and physician (lieutenant).

Historically, surgeons were examined by the Barber-Surgeon's Livery Company (Guild), and Physicians were members of the (English) Royal College of Physicians (though the most scientific doctors of the time were trained in Scotland or France)

Andy

hehe I was going to add that it would link nicely with your 'Nelson touch' ideas :)

I like the idea about amending death-rolls but we should be careful to suggest rules changes that don't add a lot of data-gathering and note-keeping duties on the GM's :)

Is this a career that would be open to everyone, or only those of a particular medical ability? And if someone went for the medical career, would it stop of slow him on the regular career path?

It certainly makes for some good role playing, no matter what. I like what Winshester is doing with it so far.

-Carol

In general I like the idea of medical aides in our game. :)

Perhaps we will introduce them as an alternative to the 'normal' military career - starting with a three month course in the Barber-Surgeon's Livery Company. That would give you some medical ability and you could be promoted, get MiDs and also loot depending on an ability check. I have to think about it carefully. :wacko:

Although I like the idea of 'Nelson touch' too I fear that would cause too much data for us GM's... :(

Matthias :capt:

there would also need to be some struchered promotion route as well...

some links...

Naval surgeons history

some more

Surgeons uniforms.

I will try and find some more information about promotions later

I think there is nothing to stop a player from roleplaying as a surgeon if they wanted to, within the existing rules without any changes. They could just say they are a surgeon, get a place on a ship on that basis as a master's mate (which is the equivalent rank), and roleplay it. If they got promoted, they could choose to stop calling themselves a surgeon and become an ordinary lieutenant, or they could refuse the promotion and remain a surgeon. If they refused twice, then they would remain at the rank permanently anyway.

As for a career structure, they can move from lower to higher status ships to increase SPs - I'm sure that player captains/admirals would help with the cost of purchasing new positions, or you could have one small rule change - that a player who calls themselves a surgeon is not eligible for promotion to lieutenant, but does not have to pay a purchase price to get appointed to other ships.

I don't really see any point making more of it, unless the surgeon's skill would have an effect on the survival of characters or the battle outcome of a ship.