Published on December 31, 2025
Naval warfare in Allurian has went through many evolutions, while low intensity skirmishes are common, there has been no major fleet engagements between nations for a long period
Cannons are considered the expensive “primary” weapon for ships. Slow to reload, extremely expensive and time consuming to produce, cannons are highly volatile to its crew especially in the presence of spells. Nevertheless, they remain the most efficient size to firepower ratio weapon on board warships. Cannons come in various types
Found on costal installation and on new ironclad battleships. These cannons are very slow to load on ships, extremely expensive but capable of firing extremely large cannonballs at ranges of up to six kilometers though with varying accuracy
High Calibre heavy cannon with high calibre. Often found only on the largest of ships with a dedicated large gun deck to mount. Good range and heavy firepower
Standard primary heavy cannon on board ships.
Small barreled lighter cannon often on smaller ships. Struggles at range or against larger ships, but easier to reload
High Calibre, short barreled cannons design for short range point blank firing. Devestating at close range but have limited effectivness outside a few hundred meters
With generally more accurate than most cannons at medium range., Ballistas are able to mount various warheads including explosives and flaming. However, they lack muzzle velocity to penetrate heavy armor.
Medium range anti ship weaponry, versatile if lacking a cannon's consistent punch. Easier to aim, with less maximum range but higher accurate range than accnons, these lack the penetration of punching through line ship armor but can carry specalised explosive or inscendiary or cluster war head to provide supporting roles
Unable to penetrate ships armor, these often act as secondary weapons to set sails alight or target crew or expose compartment
Catapults, are considered effective mid and long range weaponry bu useless at close range. In addition, their large space means they often hard to justify on many warships. However their ability to launch large flaming or explosive projectiles is devastating. They are often mounted on specalised ships such as attack ships or siege ships or on a few 1st rates
Ships are classified into four main groups
A brand new invention due to development of arcane propulsion. Their development and service record remains relatively unknown. Slower than wooden warships and much slower than arcane assisted wooden ships, ironclads are partially or fully armored in steel plates that are often fixed together with wood. Due to this and the instability of arcane crystals when hit, some have questioned the ships supposed toughness as steel plates could in theory be broken of from each other. Extremely expensive, these ships cost as much as ten line battleships and are the only ones capable of mounting heavier cannons in (admittedly slow) turreted mounts often of 8.5inch or greater
The ironclad built for decisive fleet battle. It is a line-anchoring capital ship whose job is to endure punishment, keep fighting after damage, and impose heavy hits at ranges that wooden ships struggle to answer. It carries fewer total guns than a wooden first-rate broadside monster, but its turreted heavy cannon and armored battery allow it to stay dangerous while presenting fewer vulnerable surfaces. However its untested, very slow and many are wary of its potential quirks with its arcane crystals and turreted weapons
A smaller ironclad and cheaper, these ships in theory outclass first rates and are not as slow as battleships. However they lack the massive cannons the battleships have and some question if they are even worth it compared to ships of the line or battleships.
Purpose: build warships for line battles. Often designed expressively for battlelines engagement.
First rates are regarded as the centerpiece of a fleet engagement often the pride of nations. Extremely expensive and often with some arcane power with dedicated mages, first rates often boast around to eight heavy weapons and more lighter weapons. They are also heavily armored with steel reinforcement and heavy wood.
The common line warship. With lesser firepower and far less command capabilities. Second rates are still well armored. They are armed with up to seventy heavy weapons
Less common, with around two decks, these ships are less well armed with fifty heavy weapons. These ships are generally less popular with advent of line cruisers,
Multi purpose warship, these ships are designed to act as the backbone of a navy capable of many taskes.
With similar or slightly less firepower than a third rate, Line cruisers are more maneuverable, though it sacricies some armor, crew and magazine depth. Line Cruisers are more versatile ships, able to act indpedentely for prolonged periods or engage in fleet battles
Fast moving warships with extreme manoeuvribility. These ships often boast specialised firepower—either long range catapults, blackpowder-tipped ballistas or carronades—and rely heavily on positioning. Their doctrine is to exploit angles, weather gauge, and formation disorder: they hit where the enemy isn’t braced, punish exposed flanks, and disengage before heavier ships can trap them. They are lethal when the fight is fluid, and far less comfortable when forced into straight, mutual broadside exchanges.
An escort and patrol warship built for convoy defense, station work, and anti-raider operations. It carries enough firepower to defeat frigates and smaller cruisers and to punish commerce raiders, but it is not built or intended to take station in the line. In fleet operations it screens, relays, protects damaged ships, and conducts pursuit — it supports battlefleet action without ever being part of the line’s numbered structure.
A specialist bombardment platform designed for coastal warfare: port reduction, harbor denial, and supporting landings. It prioritizes firing stability, ammunition carriage, and sustained bombardment over speed and seakeeping. Siege cruisers are rarely brought to open-sea battles; they are committed only when a campaign’s objective is a coastline, a harbor, or fixed defenses where their purpose-built firepower matters.
Cheap and fast warships. Frigates have little armor and boast small crews but are much faster, manouvarable. They are also highly versatile and capable of generalist or specalised task
Similar to the attack cruiser, attack frigates are frigates designed to participate in large fleet action be it by boarding or providing close range supporting fire. These ships are often small and use lighter wood which make them vulnerable to light cannon fire and medium powered ballistas.
While rarely used in large fleet battles, frigates do the dirty work, screening, escorting and scouting. They are also capable of escorting and supporting small fleets as well as operating in shallow waters.
A smaller, faster bombardment support ship meant to operate closer to shore, follow amphibious forces, and strike coastal defenses where larger siege cruisers cannot safely or economically operate. Compared to a siege cruiser it sacrifices durability and payload for flexibility—useful for rapid expeditions and contested littorals, but not intended to linger under concentrated counterfire.