New Airship Design: The Storm Rider [Archive] - Wizards Community

New Airship Design: The Storm Rider [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ColtFlenn
06-03-07, 09:57 PM Ok, here is my go at this thing. I had a player recently want to have a small air vessel made for only two people that could move quickly. He attempted to design it himself, but he had no idea what he was doing. So I thought that I would attempt it. I skimmed through some books, read some rules and this is what I came up with. It is the first vessel (that I know of) with a storm elemental bound to it. Let me know what you think! I have posted it a few weeks ago, but I think that the majority of the airships ideas are here, so I thought I would try it here!

Cheers
Colt Flenn

Storm Rider: Large Vehicle; Airworthiness +1; Shiphandling +4; Speed Fly 200ft. (good), Overall hp 50 (hardness 10); Overall AC 20; Ram 5d6; Face 10 ft. by 5 ft.; Height 5 ft.; Crew 1; Passengers 1; Cost 40,000 gp.

Storm Rider
A Storm Rider uses the power of a bound storm elemental to move extremely quick and nimble through the air with the ability to easily outmaneuver an airship.
Lore: During the Last War, house Cannith designed the Storm Riders as a way to quickly get from an airship to another area quickly, while being able to dodge incoming projectiles. It had the extra seat to be able to transport high ranking military officials across battle fields fast and without the need for a full airship. The warring nations quickly found that these new inventions could also bear archers (-4 ranged attack) and that quickly gave a new name for airborne combat. House Cannith, seeing the demands grow found a new way to make more money and began making more. (Knowledge [history] DC 15).
Since the Last War, they have lost their taste for battle and are now used as short range transports and as leisure craft for wealthy nobles. House Cannith still finds itself making good money from the Storm Riders and hasn’t ceased production, as adventurers have also bought them for quick traveling (Knowledge [history] or Knowledge [local] DC 20).
House Lyrandar and House Orien provides limited Storm Rider transport from Wind Galleons and airships at a rate of 2 gp per minute. Many have been seen in Sharn as an alternative to the Skycoach at relatively the same price (Knowledge [local] or Gather Information DC 20).
Description: A Storm Rider is a rounded arrow-head shaped vessel with a saddle-like seat toward the front and a second seat with a back toward the rear. Four binding struts curve from the back holding the storm elemental in its ring shape. Two handles on either side of the Rider in front of the seat require the driver lean forward parallel to the Rider. A leg guard on either side allows the driver’s legs to rest while the feet are put in straps close to the base of the lower binding strut. The upper seat is at the base of the upper binding strut with a pair of feet straps just in front of the passenger’s seat. The two handles toward the front of the Rider allow the driver to communicate with the elemental bound to the vessel.
The Storm rider is made to carry just the driver and one passenger. There is no storage space (unless the passenger holds it). It can carry up to 600 pounds before it begins to drop.
The Rider moves much like an airship or Skycoach, but is much faster and can maneuver much easier. The storm ring hums and crackles as it flies through the air, but if the driver accelerates quickly (see below), it gives off a loud thunderclap, although not loud enough to cause any harm.
Activation: Because of the wide variety of buyers and users during the Last War, the bound elemental is under a continual Charm Monster spell that allows the driver to command the elemental with little real resistant. Any driver with any mark of Storm or Passage can direct the storm elemental. The driver can pilot the Rider normally as with the Controlling a Bound Elemental Rules (see page 25 of the Explorer’s Handbook). But the driver must make a DC 20 Profession (pilot) check to activate the Accelerate ability.
Effect: The Rider can move at a constant speed of 40 miles per hour. However, the Storm Rider has the unique ability to accelerate very quickly. It can increase its speed by 100 ft. in a single round instead of only 20 ft. as with normal maneuverability rules. This allows it to reach its max speed very fast. With two consecutive successful check, the Storm Rider can go from standing still to its maximum speed of 200 ft. in two rounds.
Aura/Caster Level: Strong conjuration.. CL 12th.
Construction: Requires Bind Elemental, charm monster spell, expeditious retreat spell, permanency spell, planar binding spell, 20,000 gp, 4,000 XP, 40 days.
Weight: 800 lbs.
Price: 40,000 gp.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/ColtFlenn/File0001-1.jpg
Holy_Beholder
06-26-07, 04:15 PM It's pretty expensive. Also, large is 8 times the volume of medium, and assuming it has a medium elemental, there is room for 7 people. Since you said its face is 10ft by 5ft, it would be 4 times the volume, with a medium elemental, there is room for 3 people. Not bad for a small party, but it seems odd. Also, usually, facing is in squares.
FaelonOnyxblade
06-26-07, 04:35 PM 600 pounds of weight for 2 people seems extremely light.

For example, lightly armored driver taking a fully armored high ranking official into and out of battle situations was the original intent right? If so, I would think that for 2 people with armor and weapons, and probably a storage compartment, is going to be a fairly standard occurance in the heat of battle, 2 guys weighing in at 200 lbs, plus armor, plus weapons, plus whatever else they might be carrying... I think 600 might be just a bit light.

But hey, it's still a cool concept! Just thought I'd share my 2 coppers. :)
bigsnarf
06-27-07, 03:44 PM Looks cooool! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
turalisj
07-04-07, 09:07 PM 600 pounds of weight for 2 people seems extremely light.

For example, lightly armored driver taking a fully armored high ranking official into and out of battle situations was the original intent right? If so, I would think that for 2 people with armor and weapons, and probably a storage compartment, is going to be a fairly standard occurance in the heat of battle, 2 guys weighing in at 200 lbs, plus armor, plus weapons, plus whatever else they might be carrying... I think 600 might be just a bit light.

But hey, it's still a cool concept! Just thought I'd share my 2 coppers. :)

It takes two tons of metal and plastic to move around roughly 200lbs of human. Where as with this, it takes only 600lbs to move around roughly 400lbs of humanoid.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ColtFlenn 06-03-07, 09:57 PM	Ok, here is my go at this thing. I had a player recently want to have a small air vessel made for only two people that could move quickly. He attempted to design it himself, but he had no idea what he was doing. So I thought that I would attempt it. I skimmed through some books, read some rules and this is what I came up with. It is the first vessel (that I know of) with a storm elemental bound to it. Let me know what you think! I have posted it a few weeks ago, but I think that the majority of the airships ideas are here, so I thought I would try it here! Cheers Colt Flenn Storm Rider: Large Vehicle; Airworthiness +1; Shiphandling +4; Speed Fly 200ft. (good), Overall hp 50 (hardness 10); Overall AC 20; Ram 5d6; Face 10 ft. by 5 ft.; Height 5 ft.; Crew 1; Passengers 1; Cost 40,000 gp. Storm Rider A Storm Rider uses the power of a bound storm elemental to move extremely quick and nimble through the air with the ability to easily outmaneuver an airship. Lore: During the Last War, house Cannith designed the Storm Riders as a way to quickly get from an airship to another area quickly, while being able to dodge incoming projectiles. It had the extra seat to be able to transport high ranking military officials across battle fields fast and without the need for a full airship. The warring nations quickly found that these new inventions could also bear archers (-4 ranged attack) and that quickly gave a new name for airborne combat. House Cannith, seeing the demands grow found a new way to make more money and began making more. (Knowledge [history] DC 15). Since the Last War, they have lost their taste for battle and are now used as short range transports and as leisure craft for wealthy nobles. House Cannith still finds itself making good money from the Storm Riders and hasn’t ceased production, as adventurers have also bought them for quick traveling (Knowledge [history] or Knowledge [local] DC 20). House Lyrandar and House Orien provides limited Storm Rider transport from Wind Galleons and airships at a rate of 2 gp per minute. Many have been seen in Sharn as an alternative to the Skycoach at relatively the same price (Knowledge [local] or Gather Information DC 20). Description: A Storm Rider is a rounded arrow-head shaped vessel with a saddle-like seat toward the front and a second seat with a back toward the rear. Four binding struts curve from the back holding the storm elemental in its ring shape. Two handles on either side of the Rider in front of the seat require the driver lean forward parallel to the Rider. A leg guard on either side allows the driver’s legs to rest while the feet are put in straps close to the base of the lower binding strut. The upper seat is at the base of the upper binding strut with a pair of feet straps just in front of the passenger’s seat. The two handles toward the front of the Rider allow the driver to communicate with the elemental bound to the vessel. The Storm rider is made to carry just the driver and one passenger. There is no storage space (unless the passenger holds it). It can carry up to 600 pounds before it begins to drop. The Rider moves much like an airship or Skycoach, but is much faster and can maneuver much easier. The storm ring hums and crackles as it flies through the air, but if the driver accelerates quickly (see below), it gives off a loud thunderclap, although not loud enough to cause any harm. Activation: Because of the wide variety of buyers and users during the Last War, the bound elemental is under a continual Charm Monster spell that allows the driver to command the elemental with little real resistant. Any driver with any mark of Storm or Passage can direct the storm elemental. The driver can pilot the Rider normally as with the Controlling a Bound Elemental Rules (see page 25 of the Explorer’s Handbook). But the driver must make a DC 20 Profession (pilot) check to activate the Accelerate ability. Effect: The Rider can move at a constant speed of 40 miles per hour. However, the Storm Rider has the unique ability to accelerate very quickly. It can increase its speed by 100 ft. in a single round instead of only 20 ft. as with normal maneuverability rules. This allows it to reach its max speed very fast. With two consecutive successful check, the Storm Rider can go from standing still to its maximum speed of 200 ft. in two rounds. Aura/Caster Level: Strong conjuration.. CL 12th. Construction: Requires Bind Elemental, charm monster spell, expeditious retreat spell, permanency spell, planar binding spell, 20,000 gp, 4,000 XP, 40 days. Weight: 800 lbs. Price: 40,000 gp. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/ColtFlenn/File0001-1.jpg
Holy_Beholder 06-26-07, 04:15 PM	It's pretty expensive. Also, large is 8 times the volume of medium, and assuming it has a medium elemental, there is room for 7 people. Since you said its face is 10ft by 5ft, it would be 4 times the volume, with a medium elemental, there is room for 3 people. Not bad for a small party, but it seems odd. Also, usually, facing is in squares.
FaelonOnyxblade 06-26-07, 04:35 PM	600 pounds of weight for 2 people seems extremely light. For example, lightly armored driver taking a fully armored high ranking official into and out of battle situations was the original intent right? If so, I would think that for 2 people with armor and weapons, and probably a storage compartment, is going to be a fairly standard occurance in the heat of battle, 2 guys weighing in at 200 lbs, plus armor, plus weapons, plus whatever else they might be carrying... I think 600 might be just a bit light. But hey, it's still a cool concept! Just thought I'd share my 2 coppers. :)
bigsnarf 06-27-07, 03:44 PM	Looks cooool! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
turalisj 07-04-07, 09:07 PM	600 pounds of weight for 2 people seems extremely light. For example, lightly armored driver taking a fully armored high ranking official into and out of battle situations was the original intent right? If so, I would think that for 2 people with armor and weapons, and probably a storage compartment, is going to be a fairly standard occurance in the heat of battle, 2 guys weighing in at 200 lbs, plus armor, plus weapons, plus whatever else they might be carrying... I think 600 might be just a bit light. But hey, it's still a cool concept! Just thought I'd share my 2 coppers. :) It takes two tons of metal and plastic to move around roughly 200lbs of human. Where as with this, it takes only 600lbs to move around roughly 400lbs of humanoid.