A question about Airships [Archive] - Wizards Community

A question about Airships [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Duregar Stonehammer
08-09-06, 09:32 PM I have the Explorer's Handbook, the Five Nations, and of course, the Eberron sourcebook. But my question isn't addressed therein. Are they loud or noisy? A friend of mine said he read an Eberron novel and that the airships' bound elementals made a constant roaring sound. Is this so, or are they quiet like a normal ship? If they are noisy, are they all the time? And, are there or could there be quiet ones? I know I can make my own house rules, but I want the general community's thoughts on it. I'm thinking about scenes in my mind of waking up aboard ship and sailing peacefully in the morning fog just above the treetops of a vast forest or jungle...stuff like that. Kinda' kills it with the whole "huge, constantly roaring elemental" thing.
Nerdicus
08-09-06, 10:00 PM I think it would depend on the type of Elementals bound, and the process in which they were bound. Like an air elemental might be more silent then a fire elemental. But then again, maybe not.

I would say that the Gnome faction that is said to bind elementals by coaxing them and befriending them might be more likely to have a quiet airship, aposed to the airship that uses an elemental that was forced into the job. That one might make a tad more noise.

But really, it's up to the DM and how he invisions the airships. I personally have airships of all kinds in my adventures. Some are top notch crafts with three bound elementals that can move in udder silence if need be, to crummy airships that make a whole racket of noise, and tend to be rather unruly.
Errant
08-10-06, 01:30 AM A fire-elemental powered airship has a ring of flame around it big enough to circle the entire hull. I imagine that has a volume at least equal to a reasonable sized bonfire.

I'd guess that the volume would vary from a little less loud than people talking while stationary/at rest up to the volume of raised voices, maybe even shouting at full power/speed.

With air-elemental powered airships I imagine it would be the sound of rushing wind rather than crackling flames, but probably the same volumes.
DoveArrow
08-10-06, 05:48 PM I've never really thought about it to tell you the truth, but I would imagine it's probably akin to the sound of a roaring furnace. However, if that doesn't appeal to you as a DM, don't feel restricted to it, even if your friend did read it in one of the novels. After all, the Eberron novels aren't canon. If you want silent airships, then silent airships it is. :)
Duregar Stonehammer
08-11-06, 12:32 AM Thanks, all of you. That pretty much answers my question. As an interesting side note, I read today in the Explorer's Handbook that the bound elemental doesn't actually provide the lift for the ship. It just provides the thrust and the control. It's the soarwood from the elven isle of Aerenal combined with magical infusions during construction that makes them float. That implies that there could also be in existance a few airships that for some reason never received or no longer have their elemental to propell them. Thus, these ships, while still lighter-than-air boyant, have gone back to using old fashioned sails and wind to actually sail the sky! Pretty colorful possibilities I do see.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Duregar Stonehammer 08-09-06, 09:32 PM	I have the Explorer's Handbook, the Five Nations, and of course, the Eberron sourcebook. But my question isn't addressed therein. Are they loud or noisy? A friend of mine said he read an Eberron novel and that the airships' bound elementals made a constant roaring sound. Is this so, or are they quiet like a normal ship? If they are noisy, are they all the time? And, are there or could there be quiet ones? I know I can make my own house rules, but I want the general community's thoughts on it. I'm thinking about scenes in my mind of waking up aboard ship and sailing peacefully in the morning fog just above the treetops of a vast forest or jungle...stuff like that. Kinda' kills it with the whole "huge, constantly roaring elemental" thing.
Nerdicus 08-09-06, 10:00 PM	I think it would depend on the type of Elementals bound, and the process in which they were bound. Like an air elemental might be more silent then a fire elemental. But then again, maybe not. I would say that the Gnome faction that is said to bind elementals by coaxing them and befriending them might be more likely to have a quiet airship, aposed to the airship that uses an elemental that was forced into the job. That one might make a tad more noise. But really, it's up to the DM and how he invisions the airships. I personally have airships of all kinds in my adventures. Some are top notch crafts with three bound elementals that can move in udder silence if need be, to crummy airships that make a whole racket of noise, and tend to be rather unruly.
Errant 08-10-06, 01:30 AM	A fire-elemental powered airship has a ring of flame around it big enough to circle the entire hull. I imagine that has a volume at least equal to a reasonable sized bonfire. I'd guess that the volume would vary from a little less loud than people talking while stationary/at rest up to the volume of raised voices, maybe even shouting at full power/speed. With air-elemental powered airships I imagine it would be the sound of rushing wind rather than crackling flames, but probably the same volumes.
DoveArrow 08-10-06, 05:48 PM	I've never really thought about it to tell you the truth, but I would imagine it's probably akin to the sound of a roaring furnace. However, if that doesn't appeal to you as a DM, don't feel restricted to it, even if your friend did read it in one of the novels. After all, the Eberron novels aren't canon. If you want silent airships, then silent airships it is. :)
Duregar Stonehammer 08-11-06, 12:32 AM	Thanks, all of you. That pretty much answers my question. As an interesting side note, I read today in the Explorer's Handbook that the bound elemental doesn't actually provide the lift for the ship. It just provides the thrust and the control. It's the soarwood from the elven isle of Aerenal combined with magical infusions during construction that makes them float. That implies that there could also be in existance a few airships that for some reason never received or no longer have their elemental to propell them. Thus, these ships, while still lighter-than-air boyant, have gone back to using old fashioned sails and wind to actually sail the sky! Pretty colorful possibilities I do see.