The Plunder System

After a ship is seized and raided, draw a hand of playing cards. Numbers are quantity of items found, the suit is the type. Usually, 1 "barrel" of plunder allows the crew to take the associated action. (ie 1 barrel of Gunpowder allows the ship to enter combat on that hex, 1 barrel of Provisions must be consumed each day for upkeep to the Crew Morale, etc)

♠ Spades are Gunpowder and Cannonballs (for combat)

♣ Clubs are Wood (for making ship repairs)

♥ Hearts are Food and Provisions (to improve or maintain crew Morale)

♦ Diamonds are Valuables (traded for gold)

Standard poker hands decipher what is earned. Always round down if the number is odd.

• High card gets the half of the number of provisions of the highest card.

• Two pair gets you half of the provisions of both cards in the pair.

• Three of a kind gets you half of the provisions of all three cards.

• Straight gets you half of the provisions of each card in the straight.

• Flush gets you half of the provisions of each card in the flush.

• Full House gets you half of the provisions of all of the cards.

• Four of a Kind gets gets you the provisions of all four cards.

• Straight Flush gets you the provisions of all the cards.

• Royal Flush gets you the provisions of all the cards plus a powerful and unique magic item.

Obviously its not a perfect system, but its a fun way to randomize the loot and give the feel of taking ships being a gamble as it was back in the day. I usually reskin what they get each time too, like barrels of rum for Provisions or tobacco for Valuables, giving infinite combinations of what they can find and loot.