How do airships work? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How do airships work? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
janco
02-10-06, 01:42 PM Hi everyone,

I don't run an Ebberon campaign but I love the idea od the airships, which I believe are a major part of the setting.

I was wondering if anyone could briefly describe how they work and the game mechanics for including them in a campaign.

Are they magically powered? Or is it like a hot air balloon?

Thanks in advance...
stone_river_glory
02-10-06, 03:19 PM I recommend going to a local bookstore and opening the ECS and reading on them. Most bookstores don't mind you sitting in the section and reading a book. If they have an issue with it, explain what your doing, because paying $40 on a book to use a page or two of it is insane. Don't ask to make copies, or photograph the pages in question, just read it. Another good source of flying ships is in the Arms and Equipment Guide, the cloudkeel on a standard sailing ship lets it fly. They even provide a ship example. Good Luck.
ekomega
02-10-06, 03:30 PM Also, Explorer's Handbook goes into it in further detail. Just go check the books out, there's really nothing we can say that doesn't border on reprinting copyrighted material.
Purple Yin
02-10-06, 03:41 PM rough mechanics- think boats. that fly. and crash if dispelled.
Temjinstrife
02-10-06, 04:15 PM Actually... the airships don't crash... a combination of the techniques used in their creation and the materials they are made of make them neutrally buoyant in air, at least until enough of the structure has been physically destroyed.

Imagine a ship the size of a football field, with a ring of fire coruscating around it and propelling it forward at a speed of around 20 mph. No masts, just a pair of winglike "air rudders."

If you play Magic, think of the Weatherlight with a ring of fire bound by four radial struts around the hull.
DragonWatcher
02-10-06, 04:52 PM Actually... the airships don't crash... a combination of the techniques used in their creation and the materials they are made of make them neutrally buoyant in air, at least until enough of the structure has been physically destroyed.

This truly depends on what you're using as primary source. The Explorer's Handbook came up with this naturally buoyant fluff, while several other sources have indicated that if the elemental ring is destroyed, or the elemental otherwise becomes unbound, the ship is going to be heading groundward at an alarming rate.

So... if you're using the ECS as primary source, they do crash if the elemental is freed from the ship. Soarwood is naturally buoyant in water, and lighter than normal wood... but it doesn't float on air all by itself. If you're using the XHb as primary source... well, then you're correct. In my Eberron, breaking the binding will cause a crash every time. ;)
Temjinstrife
02-11-06, 03:18 AM If the elemental becomes uncontrolled, odds are it's going to attempt to smash the ship groundwards anyways. Most of the time, the elemental in a ship is not happy to be bound into servitude, and smashing into the ground stands a good chance of dealing enough damage to the "binding matrix" to free it.
Edymnion
02-11-06, 02:46 PM Yes, Explorer's Handbook pulled that neutrally boyant stuff out of it's butt, just ignore it. These things are heavier than air craft that require the elemental to keep them up there.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
janco 02-10-06, 01:42 PM	Hi everyone, I don't run an Ebberon campaign but I love the idea od the airships, which I believe are a major part of the setting. I was wondering if anyone could briefly describe how they work and the game mechanics for including them in a campaign. Are they magically powered? Or is it like a hot air balloon? Thanks in advance...
stone_river_glory 02-10-06, 03:19 PM	I recommend going to a local bookstore and opening the ECS and reading on them. Most bookstores don't mind you sitting in the section and reading a book. If they have an issue with it, explain what your doing, because paying $40 on a book to use a page or two of it is insane. Don't ask to make copies, or photograph the pages in question, just read it. Another good source of flying ships is in the Arms and Equipment Guide, the cloudkeel on a standard sailing ship lets it fly. They even provide a ship example. Good Luck.
ekomega 02-10-06, 03:30 PM	Also, Explorer's Handbook goes into it in further detail. Just go check the books out, there's really nothing we can say that doesn't border on reprinting copyrighted material.
Purple Yin 02-10-06, 03:41 PM	rough mechanics- think boats. that fly. and crash if dispelled.
Temjinstrife 02-10-06, 04:15 PM	Actually... the airships don't crash... a combination of the techniques used in their creation and the materials they are made of make them neutrally buoyant in air, at least until enough of the structure has been physically destroyed. Imagine a ship the size of a football field, with a ring of fire coruscating around it and propelling it forward at a speed of around 20 mph. No masts, just a pair of winglike "air rudders." If you play Magic, think of the Weatherlight with a ring of fire bound by four radial struts around the hull.
DragonWatcher 02-10-06, 04:52 PM	Actually... the airships don't crash... a combination of the techniques used in their creation and the materials they are made of make them neutrally buoyant in air, at least until enough of the structure has been physically destroyed. This truly depends on what you're using as primary source. The Explorer's Handbook came up with this naturally buoyant fluff, while several other sources have indicated that if the elemental ring is destroyed, or the elemental otherwise becomes unbound, the ship is going to be heading groundward at an alarming rate. So... if you're using the ECS as primary source, they do crash if the elemental is freed from the ship. Soarwood is naturally buoyant in water, and lighter than normal wood... but it doesn't float on air all by itself. If you're using the XHb as primary source... well, then you're correct. In my Eberron, breaking the binding will cause a crash every time. ;)
Temjinstrife 02-11-06, 03:18 AM	If the elemental becomes uncontrolled, odds are it's going to attempt to smash the ship groundwards anyways. Most of the time, the elemental in a ship is not happy to be bound into servitude, and smashing into the ground stands a good chance of dealing enough damage to the "binding matrix" to free it.
Edymnion 02-11-06, 02:46 PM	Yes, Explorer's Handbook pulled that neutrally boyant stuff out of it's butt, just ignore it. These things are heavier than air craft that require the elemental to keep them up there.