Folks are going to want to know how I handle things like experience and magic treasure and what not.

I'll cover that here when it comes up. Just so you know how it's going to work.
This message was last updated by the GM at 03:50, Sun 08 Oct 2023.

I am NOT using milestones. This game isn't going to be that clear cut on stages. I'm hoping to make it a living game in so far as your actions have some consequences down the road. Fail to destroy that Nautiloid, and the Ulithard Captain may start hunting you with an increasingly dangerous and nonstandard crew. And there are a LOT of non standard mindflayer adjacent critters.

Anyhow... Earned Experience.

Ships have ACs, Hit points, to hit bonuses, damage ratings. The CR of one can be determined, hence the experience for one can be determined. And, if you decide to board and survive the experience, more experience and even some treasure probably await.

Or you can realize you're not up to one on one with mindflayers or beholders and run and let them suffocate and starve over time. It's up to you, and it affects advancement. And Survival, of course.

The DMG give guidelines on a certain minimum number of magic items you should have at any given time based on level/tier of character. You're starting right at the number:0, but about to find SOMETHING, hopefully. You have 5 levels to do so.

That's not great. Xanathar's agrees, and gives a somewhat different break down, but by party, not by individual. And Xanathar's count includes (I think) your lifetime haul of consumables, even if you've used them already.

Well, you aren't there, either, although you should be. Assume you've drank a few healing potions and have used it all up. The party is still2 major items short, but you're about to get a ship with a Helm and Orrery, so...call it a draw.

You have a patron. Well, 3, but only some of you can claim the extras one of the individual patrons gives. This patron group will be suppling necessary magic items as they deem appropriate. It will, in part, be a way for me to make sure you're prepared for the next mission, and to ensure that just because you're smart enough not to think 6 5th levels can take on 10 beholders just because you destroyed their ship (You can't. You really can't), you don't lose out on earned rewards.

This doesn't mean that you're getting what you want, of course, just that you're getting what they think you need (and that they can acquire).

Also, please remember: every Quality of Life magic item they add to the ship (Heat Metal enchanted cooking pots, Alchemy Jug, etc) counts against this group total.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:41, Sun 08 Oct 2023.