Every spelljamming vessel has a certain amount of room for cargo. In previous editions cargo was presented in tons of 100 cubic yards. This ruleset defines a single ton as two 5x5 ft. squares of between 7 and 10 ft. height. Tons are sometimes referred to as units.
A ton of cargo may be physically spread across a wide area in multiple containers, or may be in larger solid boxes and crates.
In most circumstances cargo can be considered an abstract and won’t require models during play, but the DM is encouraged to present it artistically on maps and use it as an impediment to combat. Fighting in an empty
Cargo Hold would be as easy as fighting in an empty room, but fighting in a hold half filled with cargo may have multiple occupied spaces granting cover, and a dock warehouse full to the brim might make an excellent maze or chase location.
Cargo is generally secured to prevent its movement, and secured where possible using padlocked chains, sealed in crates, or held down with webs or rope. It is generally sealed for transport, and opening cargo may devalue or destroy its worth at the DMs discretion.
Some cargo can be repacked into facility supplies in a pinch. One unit of cargo can be repacked into one unit of matching facility supplies over 5d6 minutes. Once repacked in this manner it cannot be turned back into cargo.
Compressed Cargo
Every adventurer who has had the opportunity to raid a dragon hoard, is a collector of written works, or just likes to keep objects on hand is familiar with a Bag of Holding. These and other similar items access interdimensional spaces for storage, and in some cases can be used to store cargo, but the spelljamming has long since industrialised this magic for its own purposes as compressed cargo.
Compressed Cargo is cargo that has been magically reduced in size and sealed in preservative containers for transport. A compressed cargo container contains 2 tons of cargo within one half ton of cargo space, but it cannot be compressed through further means or teleported long distances without danger.
Compressed cargo is traded while still sealed. Unsealing a compressed cargo container requires four 5x5 ft. areas between 7 and 10 feet in height. Depending on the type of cargo this may be anything from liquid or small objects to large solid objects that require a specific layout of space. Once unsealed, the cargo held within is no longer compressed cargo.
Once unsealed a compressed cargo container becomes worth more as individual units of cargo, but may be harder to sell and requires a greater amount of labour.
Some cargo types can’t be compressed (particularly any living creature). The cargo prices table indicates where a type of cargo is unsuitable.
Cargo Flavour Text
Generally, cargo will remain sealed (particularly if it is compressed cargo), however sometimes it's fun to add a little flavour to the game. Consult the following descriptions for some ideas.
Arcana, Rare. Carved Ivory, glass orbs, spell scrolls up to 3rd level, crates of bat guano in a preservation field, Wand of Smiles, Conductor’s Wands, crates of blank books, blocks of expensive incense, potions of climbing, crates of Bert’s Bursting Boba (name brand beads of nourishment)
Arcana, Very Rare. Diamond Dust, Spells scrolls up to 5th level, dragonbreath potions, potions of flying, residuum (a 4e era substance that was created when the enchantment of an object was removed, and could be used as a component in enchantment), bottles of life extension elixir, methods of contacting Yugoloths and devils to make contracts. Demon ichor. Ritual circle to summon specific demons into the world. Scales and blood of a dragon
Arcana, Black Market. Bag of Devouring, beads of fireball, various cursed items like armor of vulnerability. Residuum Drug (the idea is to take that Residuum and make it a consumable drug that empowers spell casting), an Iron flask holding a demon
Luxury, Uncommon. 500 thread count sheets, brass candlesticks, luxury padded chairs/fainting couches, a set of Rendilus Keen’s authored books of “The Adventures of Keen-Eye Ren,” a famous set of gnomish adventure stories, incence
Luxury, Rare. 1000 thread count sheets Silver Candlesticks, high end padded chairs/fainting couches, collection of 'Flannigans Fantastic Voyages', bath soaps and oils
Luxury, Very Rare. Silk sheets, Golden candlesticks, magical bath soaps, a set of stone/marble/granite statues that were all crafted by a particularly good sculptor and a set of their work is worth a fortune.
Martial, Common. Weapon parts, daggers, crossbows, shields
Martial, Uncommon. Assembled martial weapons. Texts outlining specific martial practices (weapons/steeds/armour). A collection of “How to books” similar to the Volo’s Guide books of Forgotten Realms fame. A text of the “Exercises of Arnd” a popular workout routine for soldiers from the world of Greyhawk
Martial, Rare. Collection of Pendrakes Monsternomicons. full suits of armor, magic weapons +1, sets of culturally specific weapons that “collectors” purchase because they are fans of the culture, or they are just rich weebs. Like a human who insists on finely crafted dwarven polearms, or a halfling that adores goblin made slicers.
Martial, Black Market. Land mine parts, gas weapons, weaponised disease samples, poisoned rations
Nature, Common. Sunflower seeds, fern cuttings, apple tree saplings, bags of animal feed.
Nature, Uncommon. Premium soil, enhanced growth food, apiary equipment
Nature, Rare. Rare varieties of tulip
Nature, Very Rare. Taxidermy supplies/samples, magical flora
Nature, Black Market Dehydrated Green Spotted Orange Toads
Trade, Common. Rolls of common cloth, supplies
Trade, Uncommon. Cutlery, furniture, household goods (comfortable)
Trade, Rare. Cutlery, furniture, household goods (wealthy)
Trade, Very Rare. Cutlery, furniture, household goods (aristocratic)
Trade, Black Market. Pornography (including magical), slaving equipment, torture devices
Worship, Common. Texts covering the worship of Pelor, Celestian, Chauntea, Lathander, Boccob, and other common gods
Worship, Uncommon. Prayer beads, candles, common holy symbols crafted of wood
Worship, Rare. Holy symbols crafted from higher grade materials like silver, holy water, sacred incense
Worship, Black Market. the reliquary of a saint/holy person taken from its resting place, a sacred idol that is supposed to remain in a specific temple (or museum), a box bound by holy seals and said to contain a great evil, a sealed vampire’s coffin, the banned texts of a certain philosopher, the skull of a high priest, Coutal feathers, a chained hollyphant, drops of golden ichor from a bleeding angel. A statue of Demogorgan, or any of the demon lords. Dark and foul texts of demon worship and evil idoltry
Ore, Common. Copper Ore, Tin Ore
Ore, Uncommon. Iron Ore, Silver ore
Ore, Rare. Gold Ore, Adamantite
Ore, Very Rare. Mithril Ore, Star Metal Ore
Ore, Black Market. Irradiated Iron Ore, Infernal Iron Ore, Celestial Iron Ore, Fleshsteel Vat
Bars, Common. Copper Bars, Tin Bars, Bronze Bars
Bars, Uncommon. Brass Bars, Iron Bars
Bars, Rare Adamantium. Bars, Silver Bars, Electrum Bars, Cold Iron Bars
Bars, Very Rare. Gold Bars, Mithril Bars, Star Metal Bars, Ignan Brass Bars, Harmonic Copper Bars, Titanium Bars
Bars, Black Market. Irradiated Iron Bars, Infernal Iron Bars, Voidmetal Bars, Chlorophyte Bars, Celestial Steel Bars, Dark Iron Bars, Fleshsteel Bars
Construction, Common. General construction equipment
Construction, Rare.Renovation equipment/upper class household appliances
Consumables, Uncommon. Flay's Spicy Chips, Beer, Ale, Compressed perishables
Consumables, Rare. Flay's Black Label Chips, wine, spirits, compressed perishables
Consumables, Very Rare. Flay's Unspicy Wimp Chips, fine wine, enchanted spirits, compressed magical perishables
Unrefined Sugar*. Cocaine Pulp
Refined Sugar*. Purified cocaine
Fine Sugar*. Magically enhanced cocaine
Dried Spice*. Marijuana
Livestock, Uncommon. Functional insects like lady bugs, earth worms, bees
Livestock, Rare. Element-infused animals like fire-wooled sheep; rehoming endangered creatures like tigers or rhinos onto a preserve. Wyvern eggs, griffon eggs, hippogriffs (full animal), chickens, goats, pigs, cows, horses, sheep, bees, Hippogriffs, Hippocampus, Giant Elk, Giant Goats, Giant Glow Beetles, Axebeaks, Aurochs, Stegosaurus.
Livestock, Black Market. Fire Ants, Rhino horn, tiger skins, behir eggs, ankegs, displacer beasts, Griffons, Giant spiders, Giant Scorpions, Obviously anything sentient. Though this is one that could have a variety of options since different worlds might outlaw different creatures. For example there could be a world Bees are outlawed.
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