air pirates [Archive] - Wizards Community

air pirates [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
tharivol266
12-16-07, 10:31 PM what would the best way to board a flying airship be without sustaining heavy casualties?

the pcs are level 3 so flying is out of the question.
skrap-san
12-17-07, 01:45 AM flying over the other ship jump on to it and cast Feather Fall (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/featherFall.htm).

In Sharn they sell you tallismans of featherfall that last 1 round, happy timing
Kreistor2
12-17-07, 02:29 AM Heavy casualties? Airships have one ballista. Slow to aim and fire, it's a pathetic weapon. Airships also have limited crew, since every pound of man is a pound of cargo tossed overboard. That's how pirates seized ships so easily. An empty pirate ship carried 100+ men but the vessels they hunted carried a couple dozen sailors. They could be lighter to outrun their target and still outman the enemy.

If you are asking how could PC's on the ground get themselves onto an airship without decent magic, then you're pretty much SoL. An airship a hundred feet up is pretty much impossible to reach. How could you board a balloon 100 feet above you? Answer: you can't. If you have placed you PC's in this position, you're going to have to handwave a solution into the game. Flying mounts could do the job. 40' move at 4x run is only 16 mph, 4 mph slower than the airship, so you'd need somethign faster than that. Oh, note that flying creatures can't run anyway, so you're looking at something with a fly speed of 120'.

The only other thing I can think of is Levitation, but that is susceptible to winds. You can't ensure you're infront of the airship, because if it see you, it simply turns away.

If you could provide more details of the precise situation, I might be able to solve the problem.
Amaril
12-17-07, 07:04 AM flying over the other ship jump on to it and cast Feather Fall (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/featherFall.htm).

In Sharn they sell you tallismans of featherfall that last 1 round, happy timing

They only work in Sharn's manifest zone.

As for other options, one could stow away onto the airship while it's being loaded at a docking tower. The other alternative is to commission an airship that has airskiffs (mini-airships). This tactic is used in Whispers of the Vampire's Blade.
Dauthi_Overseer
12-17-07, 02:06 PM They only work in Sharn's manifest zone.

Where does it say that??? I'm pretty sure it is just like a 1 charge wand...
Lord_Madrigan
12-17-07, 02:17 PM You Must Forgive me but I can't help it.
Singing shifter Air pirates (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSs2mfb5HMo&feature=related)
Amaril
12-17-07, 02:34 PM Where does it say that??? I'm pretty sure it is just like a 1 charge wand...

Sorry, I was mixing them up with soarsleds and skycoaches.
Alex_
12-18-07, 01:32 PM You Must Forgive me but I can't help it.
Singing shifter Air pirates (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSs2mfb5HMo&feature=related)

Hmmm, took me a while to notice, but Talespin overall fits the whole pulp-noir and super-science(magic) feel of Eberron fairly well.
tharivol266
12-21-07, 02:48 PM well as it turns out i had them use desmodu cablespools to desend....the pcs killed them all and ransacked their ship and now own their own airship... :( they got soo lucky with the dicegods
skrap-san
12-21-07, 06:14 PM well as i see it, you have the following outcomes from this, assuming you don't want them to have/use the ship.

1. have it crash, this will feel really bad for the players, since owning an airship is just wicked cool etc.

2. Have it "stolen" and then they have to get it back as a sidequest.

3. Make it break something valiantly important so it cant really fly, make it expensive like the elemental ring. Then they have to fix it, most likely pay to have it fixed and you will have something to work towards.

Needless to say I would recommend solution nr 3 myself.
tharivol266
12-22-07, 01:20 PM i dont really mind that they have it i just dont want them selling it which i dont see as a major problem because most people who can afford them wouldnt be buying used.
skrap-san
12-22-07, 03:43 PM That is true. Besides what players in their right mind would sell one of the fastest ways of transport you could possibly get your hands on.
Lord_Madrigan
12-23-07, 11:52 PM Stolen Airship?

Who on the Party can fly said ship?

Since Its a pirate ship will it be recognized by authorities?
So you Pirate Scum thought you could land in my city did you
Fun to be had.

the original owner tracks them down.
I doubt the pirates had the money to Buy the ship.
tharivol266
12-24-07, 06:44 PM Stolen Airship?

Who on the Party can fly said ship?

Since Its a pirate ship will it be recognized by authorities?
So you Pirate Scum thought you could land in my city did you
Fun to be had.

the original owner tracks them down.
I doubt the pirates had the money to Buy the ship.

1) it might have been inherited by a pirate
2) they captured the pirate pilot and offered 10% of future loot to keep him on as the pilot (which was about a 10x raise)
3) i didnt describe it as obviously a pirate ship and they didnt know until it got way close
4) same as 1.

like i said i dont mind that they have it and in my games travel time is mostly irrelevent so to them its mostly a secure mobile campsite.
Just_some_Evil_Wizard
12-29-07, 08:20 AM What class and level is the pilot? Is he dragonmarked? I'd suspect a non-dragonmarked character capable of commanding an airship's elemental would typically be more powerful than a party of 3rd level PCs. If he's dragonmarked, though, he'll probably try to bring the ship back into his house's control.
tharivol266
12-29-07, 02:21 PM What class and level is the pilot? Is he dragonmarked? I'd suspect a non-dragonmarked character capable of commanding an airship's elemental would typically be more powerful than a party of 3rd level PCs. If he's dragonmarked, though, he'll probably try to bring the ship back into his house's control.

yes he is dragonmarked but the ship was already out of his house's control and these pcs just swabbed the deck with the last crew almost single(triple?) handedly and they are paying him better. there is no reason for him to try to do that

and the pcs are lvl 5 now.
turalisj
12-29-07, 11:15 PM i dont really mind that they have it i just dont want them selling it which i dont see as a major problem because most people who can afford them wouldnt be buying used.

Have wanted posters with their names on every dock in Khorvaire. They just took over an airship, which in my book would warrent a couple thousand bounty...

Then have bounty hunters that own mini airships chasing them and trying to stop them at every corner.
Just_some_Evil_Wizard
12-31-07, 07:28 AM there is no reason for him to try to do that

..except maybe protect the air ship monopoly of his house and family. If he's a rogue dragonmark bearer, so be it.
However, either way, the PCs might be in for some trouble, as House Lyrander might come looking for their rogue member, or the pilot might seek them out themselves.

Opportunity for... a wild airship chase. :) Wouldn't miss that as a DM.
turalisj
12-31-07, 02:19 PM Does it involve an airskiff hiding attached to the garbage port on an airship?
(half eaten cookie to anyone that gets the reference)
skrap-san
12-31-07, 09:11 PM the reference is star wars the empire strikes back, when Han Solo ran away from the empire etc etc yadi yadi.
turalisj
01-01-08, 07:25 AM *tosses skrap the half-eaten cookie*

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
tharivol266 12-16-07, 10:31 PM	what would the best way to board a flying airship be without sustaining heavy casualties? the pcs are level 3 so flying is out of the question.
skrap-san 12-17-07, 01:45 AM	flying over the other ship jump on to it and cast Feather Fall (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/featherFall.htm). In Sharn they sell you tallismans of featherfall that last 1 round, happy timing
Kreistor2 12-17-07, 02:29 AM	Heavy casualties? Airships have one ballista. Slow to aim and fire, it's a pathetic weapon. Airships also have limited crew, since every pound of man is a pound of cargo tossed overboard. That's how pirates seized ships so easily. An empty pirate ship carried 100+ men but the vessels they hunted carried a couple dozen sailors. They could be lighter to outrun their target and still outman the enemy. If you are asking how could PC's on the ground get themselves onto an airship without decent magic, then you're pretty much SoL. An airship a hundred feet up is pretty much impossible to reach. How could you board a balloon 100 feet above you? Answer: you can't. If you have placed you PC's in this position, you're going to have to handwave a solution into the game. Flying mounts could do the job. 40' move at 4x run is only 16 mph, 4 mph slower than the airship, so you'd need somethign faster than that. Oh, note that flying creatures can't run anyway, so you're looking at something with a fly speed of 120'. The only other thing I can think of is Levitation, but that is susceptible to winds. You can't ensure you're infront of the airship, because if it see you, it simply turns away. If you could provide more details of the precise situation, I might be able to solve the problem.
Amaril 12-17-07, 07:04 AM	flying over the other ship jump on to it and cast Feather Fall (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/featherFall.htm). In Sharn they sell you tallismans of featherfall that last 1 round, happy timing They only work in Sharn's manifest zone. As for other options, one could stow away onto the airship while it's being loaded at a docking tower. The other alternative is to commission an airship that has airskiffs (mini-airships). This tactic is used in Whispers of the Vampire's Blade.
Dauthi_Overseer 12-17-07, 02:06 PM	They only work in Sharn's manifest zone. Where does it say that??? I'm pretty sure it is just like a 1 charge wand...
Lord_Madrigan 12-17-07, 02:17 PM	You Must Forgive me but I can't help it. Singing shifter Air pirates (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSs2mfb5HMo&feature=related)
Amaril 12-17-07, 02:34 PM	Where does it say that??? I'm pretty sure it is just like a 1 charge wand... Sorry, I was mixing them up with soarsleds and skycoaches.
Alex_ 12-18-07, 01:32 PM	You Must Forgive me but I can't help it. Singing shifter Air pirates (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSs2mfb5HMo&feature=related) Hmmm, took me a while to notice, but Talespin overall fits the whole pulp-noir and super-science(magic) feel of Eberron fairly well.
tharivol266 12-21-07, 02:48 PM	well as it turns out i had them use desmodu cablespools to desend....the pcs killed them all and ransacked their ship and now own their own airship... :( they got soo lucky with the dicegods
skrap-san 12-21-07, 06:14 PM	well as i see it, you have the following outcomes from this, assuming you don't want them to have/use the ship. 1. have it crash, this will feel really bad for the players, since owning an airship is just wicked cool etc. 2. Have it "stolen" and then they have to get it back as a sidequest. 3. Make it break something valiantly important so it cant really fly, make it expensive like the elemental ring. Then they have to fix it, most likely pay to have it fixed and you will have something to work towards. Needless to say I would recommend solution nr 3 myself.
tharivol266 12-22-07, 01:20 PM	i dont really mind that they have it i just dont want them selling it which i dont see as a major problem because most people who can afford them wouldnt be buying used.
skrap-san 12-22-07, 03:43 PM	That is true. Besides what players in their right mind would sell one of the fastest ways of transport you could possibly get your hands on.
Lord_Madrigan 12-23-07, 11:52 PM	Stolen Airship? Who on the Party can fly said ship? Since Its a pirate ship will it be recognized by authorities? So you Pirate Scum thought you could land in my city did you Fun to be had. the original owner tracks them down. I doubt the pirates had the money to Buy the ship.
tharivol266 12-24-07, 06:44 PM	Stolen Airship? Who on the Party can fly said ship? Since Its a pirate ship will it be recognized by authorities? So you Pirate Scum thought you could land in my city did you Fun to be had. the original owner tracks them down. I doubt the pirates had the money to Buy the ship. 1) it might have been inherited by a pirate 2) they captured the pirate pilot and offered 10% of future loot to keep him on as the pilot (which was about a 10x raise) 3) i didnt describe it as obviously a pirate ship and they didnt know until it got way close 4) same as 1. like i said i dont mind that they have it and in my games travel time is mostly irrelevent so to them its mostly a secure mobile campsite.
Just_some_Evil_Wizard 12-29-07, 08:20 AM	What class and level is the pilot? Is he dragonmarked? I'd suspect a non-dragonmarked character capable of commanding an airship's elemental would typically be more powerful than a party of 3rd level PCs. If he's dragonmarked, though, he'll probably try to bring the ship back into his house's control.
tharivol266 12-29-07, 02:21 PM	What class and level is the pilot? Is he dragonmarked? I'd suspect a non-dragonmarked character capable of commanding an airship's elemental would typically be more powerful than a party of 3rd level PCs. If he's dragonmarked, though, he'll probably try to bring the ship back into his house's control. yes he is dragonmarked but the ship was already out of his house's control and these pcs just swabbed the deck with the last crew almost single(triple?) handedly and they are paying him better. there is no reason for him to try to do that and the pcs are lvl 5 now.
turalisj 12-29-07, 11:15 PM	i dont really mind that they have it i just dont want them selling it which i dont see as a major problem because most people who can afford them wouldnt be buying used. Have wanted posters with their names on every dock in Khorvaire. They just took over an airship, which in my book would warrent a couple thousand bounty... Then have bounty hunters that own mini airships chasing them and trying to stop them at every corner.
Just_some_Evil_Wizard 12-31-07, 07:28 AM	there is no reason for him to try to do that ..except maybe protect the air ship monopoly of his house and family. If he's a rogue dragonmark bearer, so be it. However, either way, the PCs might be in for some trouble, as House Lyrander might come looking for their rogue member, or the pilot might seek them out themselves. Opportunity for... a wild airship chase. :) Wouldn't miss that as a DM.
turalisj 12-31-07, 02:19 PM	Does it involve an airskiff hiding attached to the garbage port on an airship? (half eaten cookie to anyone that gets the reference)
skrap-san 12-31-07, 09:11 PM	the reference is star wars the empire strikes back, when Han Solo ran away from the empire etc etc yadi yadi.
turalisj 01-01-08, 07:25 AM	tosses skrap the half-eaten cookie