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I'm part of a small group developing a horror fanfic centred on life aboard the Baldur's Gate 3 nautiloid before the crash. In our version, the vessel is not merely one ship among many in a wider flotilla; it also serves as a mobile test bed for some of G.'s prototype machinery and experiments in bridging psionic and arcane technologies. Two crews operate alongside one another: the illithids and a non tadpoled (yet) humanoid crew of artificers and scientists.

Existing nautiloids provided the initial inspiration, but additional decks and living quarters were incorporated into the design. The ship's security infrastructure was also developed, encompassing access-controlled doors, logging systems (in Qualith), weapons, communications, and the minimum number of illithids required to fulfil its critical crew roles.


We're reasonably familiar with illithid lore and have also consulted several Larian interviews discussing the studio's approach to the species in BG3. However, we're less familiar with Spelljammer and tabletop RPGs.
This is ultimately a narrative project not an attempt to build a playable campaign, but we'd like to respect the source material and incorporate its concepts wherever they fit.

We're interested in both practical advice and less obvious details that could help make the ship feel like a place where two very different crews genuinely live and work. The environment should be functional enough to sustain its operations, yet oppressive at every level, creating friction and leaving room for disaster.

Any thoughts or references are welcome.
Thanks in advance!

This is a long-term project that will take time to develop, so even if you come across this post a year from now, your input will still be valuable.