Need help with ideas for rooms. - Writers Forum

Hayden · 01-12-2006, 03:40 AM

Okay, so I've got this story where the characters are just being led through this huge magical ship of sorts. On the outside it looks like one of those old Pirate boats complete with a deck, sails and a mast, but underneath it is quite futuristic, with shiny white walls of steel and a very modern look to it. The ship doesn't go on water by the way, and flies through the air instead.

I need ideas for different rooms that could be on this ship. I've already included a living quarters, a kitchen and a recreational room with a air hockey table and things like that.

Any ideas anyone?

mammamaia · 01-13-2006, 03:11 AM

too many ideas to list... you have to decide what kind of 'rooms' you need there to be, for your plot to work... ships have holds... they have crew's quarters and officers' cabins, crew's mess and an officers' saloon, and lots of other 'rooms'... if it's not driven only by sail, it would even have an engine room... the kitchen is called a 'galley' on a ship, btw...

Hayden · 01-14-2006, 05:36 AM

A galley, eh? I'll make note of that, and of a mess hall as well.

Well, you see, the thing is, it's not really a traditional pirate ship. Like I said, it looks like one on the outside, but it's kinda advanced on the in.

I do like the idea of a saloon. unfortunately, only one of the main characters is over eighteen, the rest being ages 9 to 15, so a saloon would be no good for them. Did old ships even have saloons???

Lucky you mentioned an engine room though as I had forgotten all about one. The ship is powered by a big propellor at the back, so it would make sense for an engine room of some description.

thanks

Any more ideas, anyone?

journyman161 · 01-14-2006, 06:02 AM

nope, no saloons... particularly not on older ships, though riverboats in the US may have had them. And not mess halls, just a mess - officer's mess, crew's mess
Sailors are called hands or deckhands & the first mate leads them. Quartermaster is the guy in charge of stores and loading.

Rooms to think about - bridge -the control room
staterooms where non-crew & officers sleep
galley - kitchen
mess - where officers and/or crew eat
head - toilet
lounge - where passengers eat &/or socialise
engineroom
hold - where cargo & luggage is stored
foc’sle - cabin up the front of the ship - think it is on deck but not positive about that
locker - cupboards for sails, ropes (called sheets) and other parephernalia
decks - things you walk on at various levels on the ship - could be up to 6 or 7 decks
chartroom - where the maps are & navigating is done
crowsnest - observation post hig up on the mast

Stewart · 01-14-2006, 11:19 AM

Quote:

bridge -the control room

Sometimes also called the wheelhouse. There's another term you might be interested. The roof of the wheelhouse, where you can stand on, is called the monkey island.

Quote:

foc’sle - cabin up the front of the ship - think it is on deck but not positive about that

Yes, the forecastle is to the bow of a ship and is on deck. The poop deck is at the stern.

Quote:

chartroom - where the maps are & navigating is done

The chartroom is usually found in the wheelhouse. Some ships may not have a specific room.

You don't use wall, floor, and ceiling either. These are, respectively, a bulkhead, deck, and deckhead.

mammamaia · 01-14-2006, 06:53 PM

not a 'mess hall'... the 'crew's mess' is the place where they eat... on board ship, it wouldn't be a large 'hall' type space... a 'mess hall' is what you'd find in a military academy...

and at sea, a 'saloon' is not a 'bar'!... it's like the 'living room' or 'parlor'...

thedarkboots · 01-14-2006, 07:17 PM

How about a cinema, swimming pool, libruary, football pitch, go cart track, a mini zoo or jungle. How about a mystery room no one knows whats within. These could be within a futuristic flying ship.

Hayden · 01-14-2006, 09:02 PM

A cinema would be cool, though there aren't any Tv's in the story's world. A swimming pool is a good one though.

osiris · 01-16-2006, 06:16 PM

Don't forget a sick bay (or whatever it may be called in non-trek ships

).