Airships are how common? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Airships are how common? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
rice830
05-22-06, 10:48 PM how many airships are there throughout eberron? do they keep thorough tabs on them? or can you see one practically everyday?
ekomega
05-22-06, 11:48 PM You can probably see them everyday, but there aren't that many. The ECS lists problems like expense, obtaining soarwood from Aerenal, getting the gnomes to bind the elemental, and building a huge ship, as problems that slow down the production of airships.

Also, they've only been around for a few years, so they haven't had time to make that many.

But I bet every major city has one stopping there at least a couple of times a week.
Korhal_IV
05-23-06, 12:19 AM You can see one every day - if you're in Sharn, Fairhaven, Korranberg, or Korth. Other than that - ZILCH.

Seriously. Ludicrously expensive, widely scattered raw components, requiring you to negotiate with international and intra-national powers, plus a tediously long construction time requiring the constant labor of internationally renowned experts from several different, self-interested clans, plus a large and specialized crew?

I'd peg the number of airships currently in service across Khorvaire as 15, maybe 20. They serve about ten hubs on a semi-daily basis, and are pressed into service to accomodate shifting House needs (and politics) frequently.

Sure, it's kind of a harsh view of airships, but it's a very gritty, realistic need, and it serves the DM very well. Airships will only pop up as the plot needs, and as the PCs can *really* convince House Lyrandar to help out.
Sereno
05-23-06, 08:58 AM Also, they've only been around for a couple of years -- just since the end of the Last War.

Korhal_IV estimate is probably pretty close to the number currently in operation.

If you live in a backwater, you might not have even HEARD of them, yet ... let alone, seen one.

Of course, if you live in Sharn, you'll probably see at least one a week at the Lyrandar Tower.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
rice830 05-22-06, 10:48 PM	how many airships are there throughout eberron? do they keep thorough tabs on them? or can you see one practically everyday?
ekomega 05-22-06, 11:48 PM	You can probably see them everyday, but there aren't that many. The ECS lists problems like expense, obtaining soarwood from Aerenal, getting the gnomes to bind the elemental, and building a huge ship, as problems that slow down the production of airships. Also, they've only been around for a few years, so they haven't had time to make that many. But I bet every major city has one stopping there at least a couple of times a week.
Korhal_IV 05-23-06, 12:19 AM	You can see one every day - if you're in Sharn, Fairhaven, Korranberg, or Korth. Other than that - ZILCH. Seriously. Ludicrously expensive, widely scattered raw components, requiring you to negotiate with international and intra-national powers, plus a tediously long construction time requiring the constant labor of internationally renowned experts from several different, self-interested clans, plus a large and specialized crew? I'd peg the number of airships currently in service across Khorvaire as 15, maybe 20. They serve about ten hubs on a semi-daily basis, and are pressed into service to accomodate shifting House needs (and politics) frequently. Sure, it's kind of a harsh view of airships, but it's a very gritty, realistic need, and it serves the DM very well. Airships will only pop up as the plot needs, and as the PCs can really convince House Lyrandar to help out.
Sereno 05-23-06, 08:58 AM	Also, they've only been around for a couple of years -- just since the end of the Last War. Korhal_IV estimate is probably pretty close to the number currently in operation. If you live in a backwater, you might not have even HEARD of them, yet ... let alone, seen one. Of course, if you live in Sharn, you'll probably see at least one a week at the Lyrandar Tower.