Flags (Skull & Shackles)

On the sea, the position of your flag can mean the difference between life and death. Even pirates prefer to obey flag etiquette unless they’re deliberately attempting to deceive others.

Flag types

Three types of flags are commonly used on the water.

Ensign: An ensign is a ship’s domestic flag. For example, an Andoren ship would fly the Andoren flag as its ensign.

Courtesy: A courtesy flag is the flag of a foreign nation. An Andoren ship in Taldan waters would fly the Taldan flag as its courtesy flag.

Private Signal: A private signal is the personal flag of a particular ship or captain. This flag is usually the captain’s personal emblem or the emblem of an organization. Like a coat of arms, the private signal is a point of honor; two captains flying overly similar signals are likely to quarrel. A privateer ship must register her personal emblem before obtaining her letters of marque; this emblem appears on her private signal, and helps the government track her ship.

Flag positions

Ships use several common flag positions to signal their intentions. These are smaller flags, not the large naval colors used on more moderns ships, often a pennant variant of the flag.

In domestic waters, a ship flies its ensign at the top of the mast. Beneath the ensign appears the ship’s private signal. A private signal flown alone means the ship considers itself unaffiliated with any government—in short, a pirate vessel. Pirate flags are generally flown alone.

In foreign waters, a ship flies the courtesy flag at top mast. Beneath the courtesy flag, ships fly the ensign and then the private signal. Flying an ensign without a courtesy flag in foreign waters can be seen as a declaration of hostile intent.

Some large official ships are beginning to carry flagpoles in the aft. This is by no means standard, especially on smaller, private, or pirate vessels. On ships with a flagpole, the ensign is always hoisted aft, as close to the stern as possible. This is always the official ensign, not a pennant. The courtesy flag, if any, is flown fore (close to the bow) and the private signal is flown amidships.

A flag flown upside-down is a signal of distress.

Flag gallery

Some flags for use in the Skull & Shackles campaign.

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  Pirate flag of the Setting Sun.

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  Ensign of the Shackles. Also used by the Pirate King.

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  Generic pirate flag with Besmara's symbol.

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  Pirate flag.

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  Pirate flag.

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  Pirate flag.

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  Pirate flag.