Airships, Building tips for a noob. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Airships, Building tips for a noob. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
RandomAction
01-27-08, 09:16 PM First let me say that if this is posted in the wrong place, then I am truely sorry.

Ok, I would like to build a custom airship using an elven wingship as the base design. Is there any threads or posts that discuss on how to build airships. Or where I can find some or all the following:

1.) Information on the quantity and quality of elemenals bound versus movement rates of the ship.
2.) Set of deckplans for an elven wingship or similiar vessel. (I have looked and so far found nothing.)
3.) Is there a specific ring design that is used or can someone use a figure 8 pattern?

If it is any help the captain is a half-elven warmage. Also the main goal is to reduced the amount of crew needed to operate it, since PCs will be filling many of ther roles. This may lead the ship to be a little smaller than the average, which is golden in my book.
ChaoticGood
02-09-08, 05:04 AM I'm not sure what an "elven wingship" is, but the process of building an airship is detailed in Magic of Eberron. Airships with two rings have been mentioned elsewhere - Voyage of the Golden Dragon, I believe - so I don't see any reason to prevent you from constructing a figure-8 elemental ring. Remember that you have to figure in the cost of binding each elemental separately, though, which is going to increase the cost of the ship quite a bit.
CannibalSmith
02-09-08, 01:04 PM 1.) Information on the quantity and quality of elemenals bound versus movement rates of the ship. Nowhere. And you can only bind one elemental. Unless DM (you?) rules otherwise, of course.

Set of deckplans for an elven wingship or similiar vessel. (I have looked and so far found nothing.) You may try obtaining some Spelljammer books - they contain lots of ship deck plans both exotic and mundane. See this. (http://www.spelljammer.org/ships/deckplans/)

3.) Is there a specific ring design that is used or can someone use a figure 8 pattern? There is only circular ring shape. Unless, as always, DM rules otherwise.

Also the main goal is to reduced the amount of crew needed to operate it, since PCs will be filling many of ther roles. Airships need no crew (besides the dragonmarked pilot) already. There is no rigging.
Syltorian
02-09-08, 02:39 PM 1.) Information on the quantity and quality of elemenals bound versus movement rates of the ship.

There is no information on that, that I am aware of. Magic of Eberron describes the process of binding an elemental (p.10-14), including the size of Khyber shard you need for an elemental of a certain HD, and some fluff about why airships use powerful elementals and large shards, without apparently really requiring them. For more speed, perhaps you would do best to have a look at the magic items in Stormwrack and add them to your ship... even if you have to change the description to say that they are not Oars of Speed but a construction around the Khyber shard that helps focus the elemental better.

3.) Is there a specific ring design that is used or can someone use a figure 8 pattern?

I admit I am having trouble imagining a figure-8 pattern. To me that sounds as if the ship, to be balance, would have to be in the centre, which is where the two circles meet... and that will incinerate your ship pretty fast, or at least everyone on it. So I must be imagining this wrong - could you please tell me what you had in mind here?

Nowhere. And you can only bind one elemental. Unless DM (you?) rules otherwise, of course.

Actually, the mobile fortress Argonth (and presumably its sister Dejarn, as well as the destroyed Veldarren) has three bound elementals: air, fire and earth (Forge of War, p.45). It does not mention this, but you most likely need different khyber-shards for each elemental - if that is what you meant, just ignore me. Also, the elemental forces of Argonth are not visible from the outside, though it does not say whether they are bound into rings or something different.

Airships need no crew (besides the dragonmarked pilot) already. There is no rigging.

I agree that this is the impression the ECS gives, in the Controlling an Elemental Vessel sidebar (p.267), but the description of the airship on the same page says that it "requires" a crew. Explorer's Handbook (p.25) explicitly states that "not even the best pilot can control an airship, a wind galleon, or a lightning rail coach single-handed." An airship may not have rigging, but p.29 of the same book lists it as having control fins and rudders.

Admittedly, that's the same book that tells you airships simply float even if the elemental has gone back home to Lamannia or Fernia, and it lists a different watch (p.30) than the ECs (p.267) does.
CannibalSmith
02-09-08, 03:15 PM Actually, the mobile fortress Argonth Well, he's asking about airships. *shrug*

I agree that this is the impression the ECS gives, in the Controlling an Elemental Vessel sidebar (p.267), but the description of the airship on the same page says that it "requires" a crew. Modern ships require crews too for full operation, but still can be steered by a single person.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
RandomAction 01-27-08, 09:16 PM	First let me say that if this is posted in the wrong place, then I am truely sorry. Ok, I would like to build a custom airship using an elven wingship as the base design. Is there any threads or posts that discuss on how to build airships. Or where I can find some or all the following: 1.) Information on the quantity and quality of elemenals bound versus movement rates of the ship. 2.) Set of deckplans for an elven wingship or similiar vessel. (I have looked and so far found nothing.) 3.) Is there a specific ring design that is used or can someone use a figure 8 pattern? If it is any help the captain is a half-elven warmage. Also the main goal is to reduced the amount of crew needed to operate it, since PCs will be filling many of ther roles. This may lead the ship to be a little smaller than the average, which is golden in my book.
ChaoticGood 02-09-08, 05:04 AM	I'm not sure what an "elven wingship" is, but the process of building an airship is detailed in Magic of Eberron. Airships with two rings have been mentioned elsewhere - Voyage of the Golden Dragon, I believe - so I don't see any reason to prevent you from constructing a figure-8 elemental ring. Remember that you have to figure in the cost of binding each elemental separately, though, which is going to increase the cost of the ship quite a bit.
CannibalSmith 02-09-08, 01:04 PM	1.) Information on the quantity and quality of elemenals bound versus movement rates of the ship. Nowhere. And you can only bind one elemental. Unless DM (you?) rules otherwise, of course. Set of deckplans for an elven wingship or similiar vessel. (I have looked and so far found nothing.) You may try obtaining some Spelljammer books - they contain lots of ship deck plans both exotic and mundane. See this. (http://www.spelljammer.org/ships/deckplans/) 3.) Is there a specific ring design that is used or can someone use a figure 8 pattern? There is only circular ring shape. Unless, as always, DM rules otherwise. Also the main goal is to reduced the amount of crew needed to operate it, since PCs will be filling many of ther roles. Airships need no crew (besides the dragonmarked pilot) already. There is no rigging.
Syltorian 02-09-08, 02:39 PM	1.) Information on the quantity and quality of elemenals bound versus movement rates of the ship. There is no information on that, that I am aware of. Magic of Eberron describes the process of binding an elemental (p.10-14), including the size of Khyber shard you need for an elemental of a certain HD, and some fluff about why airships use powerful elementals and large shards, without apparently really requiring them. For more speed, perhaps you would do best to have a look at the magic items in Stormwrack and add them to your ship... even if you have to change the description to say that they are not Oars of Speed but a construction around the Khyber shard that helps focus the elemental better. 3.) Is there a specific ring design that is used or can someone use a figure 8 pattern? I admit I am having trouble imagining a figure-8 pattern. To me that sounds as if the ship, to be balance, would have to be in the centre, which is where the two circles meet... and that will incinerate your ship pretty fast, or at least everyone on it. So I must be imagining this wrong - could you please tell me what you had in mind here? Nowhere. And you can only bind one elemental. Unless DM (you?) rules otherwise, of course. Actually, the mobile fortress Argonth (and presumably its sister Dejarn, as well as the destroyed Veldarren) has three bound elementals: air, fire and earth (Forge of War, p.45). It does not mention this, but you most likely need different khyber-shards for each elemental - if that is what you meant, just ignore me. Also, the elemental forces of Argonth are not visible from the outside, though it does not say whether they are bound into rings or something different. Airships need no crew (besides the dragonmarked pilot) already. There is no rigging. I agree that this is the impression the ECS gives, in the Controlling an Elemental Vessel sidebar (p.267), but the description of the airship on the same page says that it "requires" a crew. Explorer's Handbook (p.25) explicitly states that "not even the best pilot can control an airship, a wind galleon, or a lightning rail coach single-handed." An airship may not have rigging, but p.29 of the same book lists it as having control fins and rudders. Admittedly, that's the same book that tells you airships simply float even if the elemental has gone back home to Lamannia or Fernia, and it lists a different watch (p.30) than the ECs (p.267) does.
CannibalSmith 02-09-08, 03:15 PM	Actually, the mobile fortress Argonth Well, he's asking about airships. shrug I agree that this is the impression the ECS gives, in the Controlling an Elemental Vessel sidebar (p.267), but the description of the airship on the same page says that it "requires" a crew. Modern ships require crews too for full operation, but still can be steered by a single person.