Creating a Crew: Five Narrative Hooks to Inspire Your Warband

The 13th Sailor
Jun 20
2 min read

In Tides of Ruin, every warband is more than just stats and weapons - it's a story waiting to be told. Whether you’re building your first crew or breathing new life into an existing one, anchoring your warband in a strong narrative hook gives weight to every battle, betrayal, and cursed treasure haul.

Here are five evocative starting points to spark your next crew’s journey:

The Oath-Broken “We made a pact once. Now we carry its weight like ballast.”

Once bound to the service of the empire - or perhaps to a more sinister force - this crew broke their vows or fled their duty. Now, they sail not just for gold, but for redemption, revenge, or defiance.

Drowned and Returned “We went down with the tide. But something brought us back.”

Your crew vanished years ago - presumed dead in a storm, shipwreck, or naval slaughter. Now they return, changed. They don’t speak of what they saw in the Drift… and the sea never gives without taking something.

The Debtor’s Crew “Every coin we spend is a borrowed one. Every breath, a grace.”

This warband owes its existence to someone else - a powerful patron, an occult society, or a terrifying sea-god. Their ship was a gift… but the payments are coming due.

Scavengers of the Lost Empire “We don’t steal. We recover. From those who buried it poorly.”

These treasure-hunters claim they’re archaeologists, not pirates - but gold is gold, and the drowned ruins don’t care who claims them. Their ship is patched together from pieces of the old world.

The Firebrand’s Rebellion “The empire drowned. So why are its chains still on our necks?”

This crew is born of rebellion - freedom fighters, ex-slaves, or revolutionaries turned raiders. They reject the old world’s chains and fly a banner soaked in blood and liberty.

Each of these hooks is just a starting point - it’s up to you to fill in the faces, scars, grudges, and legends. Whether your crew fights for coin, cause, or curse, their story and legend is yours to craft in the storm-tossed, blood-slicked world of Tides of Ruin.

Our rulebook will contain a full crew builder to enable you to customise your characters’ abilities, personality, and special traits, as well as equipment and weapons. This will empower you to craft a crew tailored to your play style - and leave your mark on the drowned world.

What drives your warband? Drop your crew’s tale in the comments - or tag us on socials with your backstory using #tidesofruin.