Airships and Dragonmarked races [Archive] - Wizards Community

Airships and Dragonmarked races [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
TheNoblefool
08-02-05, 03:59 PM Do you HAVE to be a Dragonmarked Member of House Lyrander to be able to pilot an airship? I was just looking at the Eberron campaign setting, and it just doesn't seem like there would be a Dragonmarked member of house Lyrander for EVERY Airship, whether it's a True airship or just one of those Storm Coaches in Sharn. It just seems like overkill to have every pilot in House Lyrander specifically. . . Any thoughts on this?

On the other note, For Houses and Dragonmarks, Why is it that only one possible race is mentioned for each dragonmark? Any feedback would be vastly appreciated.
DragonWatcher
08-02-05, 04:18 PM No, you don't have to have a dragonmark to pilot any elemental vessel (airship or otherwise), though there is a dragonmark ability that House Lyrander possesses that makes it easier to control an elemental vessel.

Typically you just make a contested Charisma check against the elemental that is bound to the vessel. The elementals usually have a Cha bonus of 0. This is listed in the ECS (I think under the heading of Controlling Elemental Vessels).

As far as the races listed for each dragonmark, they're not always one race, but the simple fact of the matter is that the races listed under each dragonmark are the ONLY races that manifest that particular mark. Additionally only the common races (ie: those from the Player's Handbook) manifest dragonmarks at all. So no, there are no shifters with dragonmarks, no changelings, kalashtar, warforged, goblins, orcs, etc.

As for why this is, well, that's part of the mystery of the setting. It is not explained, and likely never will be ("officially", anyhow). There are many theories, some tied to the three great dragons of legend, some tied to the draconic prophecy, etc. It's really up to each DM to determine if he wants to explore this or just leave it a question that will never be answered.
Edymnion
08-02-05, 08:36 PM Yeah, anybody that can make the charisma checks can pilot the airship.
The Mark of Storms allows a dragonmarked pilot to maneuver without having to make the checks though.

And no, not just any dragonmark will do, it MUST be the Mark of Storms specifically.
Tanvalis
08-03-05, 01:52 AM Not just the Mark of storms but the lesser mark of storms with the winds favor abililty.
Teron Gorefiend
08-03-05, 02:00 AM Do you HAVE to be a Dragonmarked Member of House Lyrander to be able to pilot an airship? I was just looking at the Eberron campaign setting, and it just doesn't seem like there would be a Dragonmarked member of house Lyrander for EVERY Airship, whether it's a True airship or just one of those Storm Coaches in Sharn. It just seems like overkill to have every pilot in House Lyrander specifically. . . Any thoughts on this?

On the other note, For Houses and Dragonmarks, Why is it that only one possible race is mentioned for each dragonmark? Any feedback would be vastly appreciated.
Only true airships (and there are few of these, most of them owned by House Lyrandar) contain a bound elemental that must be dominated, and I think the House can easily spare a 'marked pilot for each one it owns.

The sky coaches of Sharn function through simpler enchantments facilitated by the manifest zone; they don't work outside the city, but within it they're easy to operate and probably don't require any magical ability on the part of the operator.
Sereno
08-03-05, 10:26 AM Not just the Mark of storms but the lesser mark of storms with the winds favor abililty.

I think this is only a requirement for the new Windwright Captain PrC.

The ECS, in the section about "Controlling an Elemental Vessel" says only that the dragonmark focus items (Wheel of Wind and Water, Lightning Reins) make it possible for a properly marked character to control the ship without making the charisma checks.
PoeticJustice
08-03-05, 11:15 AM Read the entry for 'wind of wheel and water' under Dragonmark focus items
andras_rannoch
08-03-05, 11:16 AM If you have the power and desire to do so, you can construct a magic item which uses charm monster or you can just cast it yourself, but then the elemental gets a will save, which it may have a decent chance of making, depending on the caster. This adds a level of complexity to the controlling of the thing, but it works if you have an airship and no other means of command.
Tanvalis
08-03-05, 03:10 PM I think this is only a requirement for the new Windwright Captain PrC.

The ECS, in the section about "Controlling an Elemental Vessel" says only that the dragonmark focus items (Wheel of Wind and Water, Lightning Reins) make it possible for a properly marked character to control the ship without making the charisma checks.

If you read the description of the magical item "Wheel of Wind and Water" it says it can only be used by a Marked person with the Wind's Favor Ability.
DragonWatcher
08-03-05, 03:40 PM Only true airships (and there are few of these, most of them owned by House Lyrandar) contain a bound elemental that must be dominated, and I think the House can easily spare a 'marked pilot for each one it owns.

The sky coaches of Sharn function through simpler enchantments facilitated by the manifest zone; they don't work outside the city, but within it they're easy to operate and probably don't require any magical ability on the part of the operator.

While you are correct about the skycoaches working via lesser enchantments, even true airships (of which there are more than "just a few", though admittedly they are not all over the place) do not NEED the Mark of Stoms to control. It has even been stated that not all of these airships are owned or controlled by House Lyrandar. There are privateers that have true airships and provide transportation.
Sereno
08-04-05, 10:04 AM If you read the description of the magical item "Wheel of Wind and Water" it says it can only be used by a Marked person with the Wind's Favor Ability.

Ah, I guess that's what "properly marked" meant in the "Controlling" description. :)
Aubri
08-04-05, 10:31 AM And remember that a failure to control the airship merely results in it continuing the previous order or stopping; once you set course it'll keep going until you try to change it. An unmarked pilot COULD control the thing reliably, if he's got a fairly high Cha. It'd be interesting to see a "pirate captain" PrC that offered a bonus on that check.
Teron Gorefiend
08-04-05, 02:03 PM While you are correct about the skycoaches working via lesser enchantments, even true airships (of which there are more than "just a few", though admittedly they are not all over the place) do not NEED the Mark of Stoms to control. It has even been stated that not all of these airships are owned or controlled by House Lyrandar. There are privateers that have true airships and provide transportation.
Alright, make that "relatively few" compared to most other means of transportation, and I did say House Lyrandar owned most of them, not all. Also, I never said that a Lyrandar heir was required to run an airship - just that the elemental has to be dominated, one way or another. Since the Mark of Storms is the most reliable way to do it, though, I think the House would indeed assign a 'marked pilot to each of its ships.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
TheNoblefool 08-02-05, 03:59 PM	Do you HAVE to be a Dragonmarked Member of House Lyrander to be able to pilot an airship? I was just looking at the Eberron campaign setting, and it just doesn't seem like there would be a Dragonmarked member of house Lyrander for EVERY Airship, whether it's a True airship or just one of those Storm Coaches in Sharn. It just seems like overkill to have every pilot in House Lyrander specifically. . . Any thoughts on this? On the other note, For Houses and Dragonmarks, Why is it that only one possible race is mentioned for each dragonmark? Any feedback would be vastly appreciated.
DragonWatcher 08-02-05, 04:18 PM	No, you don't have to have a dragonmark to pilot any elemental vessel (airship or otherwise), though there is a dragonmark ability that House Lyrander possesses that makes it easier to control an elemental vessel. Typically you just make a contested Charisma check against the elemental that is bound to the vessel. The elementals usually have a Cha bonus of 0. This is listed in the ECS (I think under the heading of Controlling Elemental Vessels). As far as the races listed for each dragonmark, they're not always one race, but the simple fact of the matter is that the races listed under each dragonmark are the ONLY races that manifest that particular mark. Additionally only the common races (ie: those from the Player's Handbook) manifest dragonmarks at all. So no, there are no shifters with dragonmarks, no changelings, kalashtar, warforged, goblins, orcs, etc. As for why this is, well, that's part of the mystery of the setting. It is not explained, and likely never will be ("officially", anyhow). There are many theories, some tied to the three great dragons of legend, some tied to the draconic prophecy, etc. It's really up to each DM to determine if he wants to explore this or just leave it a question that will never be answered.
Edymnion 08-02-05, 08:36 PM	Yeah, anybody that can make the charisma checks can pilot the airship. The Mark of Storms allows a dragonmarked pilot to maneuver without having to make the checks though. And no, not just any dragonmark will do, it MUST be the Mark of Storms specifically.
Tanvalis 08-03-05, 01:52 AM	Not just the Mark of storms but the lesser mark of storms with the winds favor abililty.
Teron Gorefiend 08-03-05, 02:00 AM	Do you HAVE to be a Dragonmarked Member of House Lyrander to be able to pilot an airship? I was just looking at the Eberron campaign setting, and it just doesn't seem like there would be a Dragonmarked member of house Lyrander for EVERY Airship, whether it's a True airship or just one of those Storm Coaches in Sharn. It just seems like overkill to have every pilot in House Lyrander specifically. . . Any thoughts on this? On the other note, For Houses and Dragonmarks, Why is it that only one possible race is mentioned for each dragonmark? Any feedback would be vastly appreciated. Only true airships (and there are few of these, most of them owned by House Lyrandar) contain a bound elemental that must be dominated, and I think the House can easily spare a 'marked pilot for each one it owns. The sky coaches of Sharn function through simpler enchantments facilitated by the manifest zone; they don't work outside the city, but within it they're easy to operate and probably don't require any magical ability on the part of the operator.
Sereno 08-03-05, 10:26 AM	Not just the Mark of storms but the lesser mark of storms with the winds favor abililty. I think this is only a requirement for the new Windwright Captain PrC. The ECS, in the section about "Controlling an Elemental Vessel" says only that the dragonmark focus items (Wheel of Wind and Water, Lightning Reins) make it possible for a properly marked character to control the ship without making the charisma checks.
PoeticJustice 08-03-05, 11:15 AM	Read the entry for 'wind of wheel and water' under Dragonmark focus items
andras_rannoch 08-03-05, 11:16 AM	If you have the power and desire to do so, you can construct a magic item which uses charm monster or you can just cast it yourself, but then the elemental gets a will save, which it may have a decent chance of making, depending on the caster. This adds a level of complexity to the controlling of the thing, but it works if you have an airship and no other means of command.
Tanvalis 08-03-05, 03:10 PM	I think this is only a requirement for the new Windwright Captain PrC. The ECS, in the section about "Controlling an Elemental Vessel" says only that the dragonmark focus items (Wheel of Wind and Water, Lightning Reins) make it possible for a properly marked character to control the ship without making the charisma checks. If you read the description of the magical item "Wheel of Wind and Water" it says it can only be used by a Marked person with the Wind's Favor Ability.
DragonWatcher 08-03-05, 03:40 PM	Only true airships (and there are few of these, most of them owned by House Lyrandar) contain a bound elemental that must be dominated, and I think the House can easily spare a 'marked pilot for each one it owns. The sky coaches of Sharn function through simpler enchantments facilitated by the manifest zone; they don't work outside the city, but within it they're easy to operate and probably don't require any magical ability on the part of the operator. While you are correct about the skycoaches working via lesser enchantments, even true airships (of which there are more than "just a few", though admittedly they are not all over the place) do not NEED the Mark of Stoms to control. It has even been stated that not all of these airships are owned or controlled by House Lyrandar. There are privateers that have true airships and provide transportation.
Sereno 08-04-05, 10:04 AM	If you read the description of the magical item "Wheel of Wind and Water" it says it can only be used by a Marked person with the Wind's Favor Ability. Ah, I guess that's what "properly marked" meant in the "Controlling" description. :)
Aubri 08-04-05, 10:31 AM	And remember that a failure to control the airship merely results in it continuing the previous order or stopping; once you set course it'll keep going until you try to change it. An unmarked pilot COULD control the thing reliably, if he's got a fairly high Cha. It'd be interesting to see a "pirate captain" PrC that offered a bonus on that check.
Teron Gorefiend 08-04-05, 02:03 PM	While you are correct about the skycoaches working via lesser enchantments, even true airships (of which there are more than "just a few", though admittedly they are not all over the place) do not NEED the Mark of Stoms to control. It has even been stated that not all of these airships are owned or controlled by House Lyrandar. There are privateers that have true airships and provide transportation. Alright, make that "relatively few" compared to most other means of transportation, and I did say House Lyrandar owned most of them, not all. Also, I never said that a Lyrandar heir was required to run an airship - just that the elemental has to be dominated, one way or another. Since the Mark of Storms is the most reliable way to do it, though, I think the House would indeed assign a 'marked pilot to each of its ships.