Cost of an AirShip [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cost of an AirShip [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lord Splendor
05-04-07, 06:44 PM In the campain setting and in the explorers book an air ship costs 92,000 gp. Comparing the Air Ship to other vehicles; The GreatShip (Stormwrack) is 40' x 150', while a Air Ship (Explorers handbook) is 90 x 300'. Nearly twice as big. A Greatship costs 30,000 gp, if it was made of soar wood it would be 120,000 gp and still be 1/2 the size of and air ship and couldn't fly.

How are these numbers figured?
How much does just the magical part of the Air ship cost?
Ricohard_Draconis
05-04-07, 11:03 PM partly its the fact that theres a monopoly on airship production.

the helm is listed in the magic items section. As for the ring thats up in the air.
Lord Splendor
05-04-07, 11:37 PM A monopoly on air ships wold make them more expensive then they should be, not cheaper. Air ships are much larger then standard D&D sailing ships, yet they are actually cheaper to buy.

By "helm" I am guessing you mean the "Wheel of Wind and Water". Thats not what I am talking about. I mean the enchantment on the ship, the binding of the elemental. How much does that cost? Separate from the ship.
Phalo
05-05-07, 05:35 PM think of it this way a airship has to fly and a elemental ship gets to float
a blimp has to be alot bigger than a ship to carry similar weight. A ship has to be water tight a airship doesn't. in fact it could be mostly empty space which would really be preferable(anything that is not soar wood would just be more ballast.)
Ardent
05-06-07, 05:53 PM In the campain setting and in the explorers book an air ship costs 92,000 gp. Comparing the Air Ship to other vehicles; The GreatShip (Stormwrack) is 40' x 150', while a Air Ship (Explorers handbook) is 90 x 300'. Nearly twice as big. A Greatship costs 30,000 gp, if it was made of soar wood it would be 120,000 gp and still be 1/2 the size of and air ship and couldn't fly.

How are these numbers figured?
How much does just the magical part of the Air ship cost?
I imagine they are figured in a very specific context: players should never own their own airship. At best, they should be loaned one by House Lyrandar (commissioned as the captain, granted free use of the vessel in exchange for a percentage of profits, etc). If, perhaps, they destroy said airship, 92,000gp is what they would owe House Lyrandar in recompense on average.

Whereas anyone can buy a greatship, even one made of soarwood, provided they can pony up the gold to the elves.
Cifer
05-06-07, 08:22 PM I imagine they are figured in a very specific context: players should never own their own airship. At best, they should be loaned one by House Lyrandar (commissioned as the captain, granted free use of the vessel in exchange for a percentage of profits, etc). If, perhaps, they destroy said airship, 92,000gp is what they would owe House Lyrandar in recompense on average.
That's actually one thing I very much doubt. 92,000 is a sum a mid to high level group can cough up without problems and having your own airship (if there's a Lyrandar heir in the group or one can be hired) is pretty much a cliche.

However, I'd believe Phalo's idea to be the most logical one: Noone cares whether the airship is watertight. There is no water pressure. All in all, airship construction will follow principles rather different from sea vehicles. Whether those are more or less expensive is anyone's guess.
snakebliskan
05-07-07, 09:09 AM I imagine they are figured in a very specific context: players should never own their own airship. At best, they should be loaned one by House Lyrandar (commissioned as the captain, granted free use of the vessel in exchange for a percentage of profits, etc). If, perhaps, they destroy said airship, 92,000gp is what they would owe House Lyrandar in recompense on average.

Whereas anyone can buy a greatship, even one made of soarwood, provided they can pony up the gold to the elves.

why? If your party wishes to spend the gold and wait the time to get there ship then more power to them although they will have a bad time once they figure out that they must pay for a pilot, crew, and all the items needed to run a ship..... now i have a party and we figured out they would need about 200k gold to start ( thats money enough to keep them going for 6 months with out chartering out there ship to others. they decided not to buy one....lol and I was kind of hoping they would buy it so i could have sky pirates take there ship from them .... or try to any way.
Also house lyrander never sells nor loans there ships out... they would have to buy one from the gnomes who make them.
Ryoden_Anariavas
05-07-07, 09:28 AM One of the things you need to remember is that the cost of something is not a reflection of how much it would cost to make using real world formulas. It is actualy a suggestion, on behalf of the designer, for when it should be introduced to the campaing.

hope that makes sense
Wymarc
05-07-07, 03:10 PM The Wizards that live by the Coast pulled lots o numbers in that book out of thin air.
Ardent
05-07-07, 06:10 PM Also house lyrander never sells nor loans there ships out... they would have to buy one from the gnomes who make them.
Except, you know, to Windwright Captains...and other favored members of House Lyrandar or individuals that have done a great service to the House.

In fact, they're frequently loaned out, but you're right, I doubt the House finds itself selling airships very often. Considering you need the Mark of the Storm to reliably pilot an airship, there's little reason House Lyrandar should sell an airship. More to the point, the gnomes of Zilargo probably would not bother selling an airship to anyone but House Lyrandar. I mean, sure, there could be exceptions...but they seem unlikely to me.
ClobberinTime
05-07-07, 08:36 PM An airship campaign would be great fun for DM and PCs combined, I say go for it.
snakebliskan
05-07-07, 11:58 PM Except, you know, to Windwright Captains...and other favored members of House Lyrandar or individuals that have done a great service to the House.

In fact, they're frequently loaned out, but you're right, I doubt the House finds itself selling airships very often. Considering you need the Mark of the Storm to reliably pilot an airship, there's little reason House Lyrandar should sell an airship. More to the point, the gnomes of Zilargo probably would not bother selling an airship to anyone but House Lyrandar. I mean, sure, there could be exceptions...but they seem unlikely to me.

the gnomes will sell them to anyone as long as they have the money! and you dont need a mark hire a minor pilot with the mark. Also house Lyrander doesnt own the rights to the air ships they just can use them the best... any one with a good charisma, profession sailor, and access to a few spells can pilot one. spells like charm monster will help,as will elemental command or dominate monster work well.
Ardent
05-08-07, 06:09 PM the gnomes will sell them to anyone as long as they have the money! and you dont need a mark hire a minor pilot with the mark. Also house Lyrander doesnt own the rights to the air ships they just can use them the best... any one with a good charisma, profession sailor, and access to a few spells can pilot one. spells like charm monster will help,as will elemental command or dominate monster work well.
Notice I said "reliably," I'm aware that, say, a specialist Enchanter or a Sorcerer with a very specialized spell selection could do fairly well as an airship pilot.

As far as hiring someone with the Mark of the Storm as your pilot...well, honestly, almost all of them work for House Lyrandar in some capacity. Which is why we don't bother fighting it; the airship is remanded into the custody of the Lyrandar heir of the group (or assigned to them via the Twelve or chartered, etc) and they just end up paying a tithe of their adventure earnings for the services of the airship.

As far as the gnomes selling to anyone; I can't argue that they wouldn't. I just don't think their production is as impressive as some people presume it to be and I sincerely doubt some ragtag adventurers could significantly pressure the gnomes to breach lucrative contracts with House Lyrandar and other more legitimate powers for production.

So, sure, you can spend 92,000gp to purchase an airship. You'll have to wait three years for it to be produced, though.
Cifer
05-09-07, 10:07 AM As far as the gnomes selling to anyone; I can't argue that they wouldn't. I just don't think their production is as impressive as some people presume it to be and I sincerely doubt some ragtag adventurers could significantly pressure the gnomes to breach lucrative contracts with House Lyrandar and other more legitimate powers for production.

So, sure, you can spend 92,000gp to purchase an airship. You'll have to wait three years for it to be produced, though.
Actually, their production is most definitely not impressive enough. However, House Cannith's production is, which is why they build the lightning rail coaches, the airship hulks and so on and just need the gnomes to put in the elemental.
snakebliskan
05-09-07, 12:54 PM So, sure, you can spend 92,000gp to purchase an airship. You'll have to wait three years for it to be produced, though.[/QUOTE]

the book states and I quote" Orders for new airships typically take more than 3 months to fill." Not 3 years.
SethKalis
05-22-07, 06:40 AM Meh... forget buyin one... Ima steal it and cast Planar Navigation (Stormwrack) on it... take it to the ethereal plane so they can't come after me... XD Course, this involves a few things...

1. Getting the crew off.
Prolly one of the most difficult bits... but I think that a reasonably intelligent party of 7th or higher level could come up with a few ways. Think Sparta.

2. Piloting the ship.
Hmm.... well... if I remember correctly, all it takes to pilot the ship is an opposed charisma check against the elemental (which will have CHA 11, MM). If you need a crew... try the leadership feat... hirelings... or if you wanna get creative... Animate Dead (PHB) + Awaken Undead (Libris Mortis?).

3. Casting Planar Navigation
This may be problematic... It is a 9th level spell. There is another solution howver. A magic item can solve the problem. 'Planar Helm' Stormwrack, Pg. 134. Can cast the spell twice a day when the command word is uttered.

.... now... who can say Spelljammer?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lord Splendor 05-04-07, 06:44 PM	In the campain setting and in the explorers book an air ship costs 92,000 gp. Comparing the Air Ship to other vehicles; The GreatShip (Stormwrack) is 40' x 150', while a Air Ship (Explorers handbook) is 90 x 300'. Nearly twice as big. A Greatship costs 30,000 gp, if it was made of soar wood it would be 120,000 gp and still be 1/2 the size of and air ship and couldn't fly. How are these numbers figured? How much does just the magical part of the Air ship cost?
Ricohard_Draconis 05-04-07, 11:03 PM	partly its the fact that theres a monopoly on airship production. the helm is listed in the magic items section. As for the ring thats up in the air.
Lord Splendor 05-04-07, 11:37 PM	A monopoly on air ships wold make them more expensive then they should be, not cheaper. Air ships are much larger then standard D&D sailing ships, yet they are actually cheaper to buy. By "helm" I am guessing you mean the "Wheel of Wind and Water". Thats not what I am talking about. I mean the enchantment on the ship, the binding of the elemental. How much does that cost? Separate from the ship.
Phalo 05-05-07, 05:35 PM	think of it this way a airship has to fly and a elemental ship gets to float a blimp has to be alot bigger than a ship to carry similar weight. A ship has to be water tight a airship doesn't. in fact it could be mostly empty space which would really be preferable(anything that is not soar wood would just be more ballast.)
Ardent 05-06-07, 05:53 PM	In the campain setting and in the explorers book an air ship costs 92,000 gp. Comparing the Air Ship to other vehicles; The GreatShip (Stormwrack) is 40' x 150', while a Air Ship (Explorers handbook) is 90 x 300'. Nearly twice as big. A Greatship costs 30,000 gp, if it was made of soar wood it would be 120,000 gp and still be 1/2 the size of and air ship and couldn't fly. How are these numbers figured? How much does just the magical part of the Air ship cost? I imagine they are figured in a very specific context: players should never own their own airship. At best, they should be loaned one by House Lyrandar (commissioned as the captain, granted free use of the vessel in exchange for a percentage of profits, etc). If, perhaps, they destroy said airship, 92,000gp is what they would owe House Lyrandar in recompense on average. Whereas anyone can buy a greatship, even one made of soarwood, provided they can pony up the gold to the elves.
Cifer 05-06-07, 08:22 PM	I imagine they are figured in a very specific context: players should never own their own airship. At best, they should be loaned one by House Lyrandar (commissioned as the captain, granted free use of the vessel in exchange for a percentage of profits, etc). If, perhaps, they destroy said airship, 92,000gp is what they would owe House Lyrandar in recompense on average. That's actually one thing I very much doubt. 92,000 is a sum a mid to high level group can cough up without problems and having your own airship (if there's a Lyrandar heir in the group or one can be hired) is pretty much a cliche. However, I'd believe Phalo's idea to be the most logical one: Noone cares whether the airship is watertight. There is no water pressure. All in all, airship construction will follow principles rather different from sea vehicles. Whether those are more or less expensive is anyone's guess.
snakebliskan 05-07-07, 09:09 AM	I imagine they are figured in a very specific context: players should never own their own airship. At best, they should be loaned one by House Lyrandar (commissioned as the captain, granted free use of the vessel in exchange for a percentage of profits, etc). If, perhaps, they destroy said airship, 92,000gp is what they would owe House Lyrandar in recompense on average. Whereas anyone can buy a greatship, even one made of soarwood, provided they can pony up the gold to the elves. why? If your party wishes to spend the gold and wait the time to get there ship then more power to them although they will have a bad time once they figure out that they must pay for a pilot, crew, and all the items needed to run a ship..... now i have a party and we figured out they would need about 200k gold to start ( thats money enough to keep them going for 6 months with out chartering out there ship to others. they decided not to buy one....lol and I was kind of hoping they would buy it so i could have sky pirates take there ship from them .... or try to any way. Also house lyrander never sells nor loans there ships out... they would have to buy one from the gnomes who make them.
Ryoden_Anariavas 05-07-07, 09:28 AM	One of the things you need to remember is that the cost of something is not a reflection of how much it would cost to make using real world formulas. It is actualy a suggestion, on behalf of the designer, for when it should be introduced to the campaing. hope that makes sense
Wymarc 05-07-07, 03:10 PM	The Wizards that live by the Coast pulled lots o numbers in that book out of thin air.
Ardent 05-07-07, 06:10 PM	Also house lyrander never sells nor loans there ships out... they would have to buy one from the gnomes who make them. Except, you know, to Windwright Captains...and other favored members of House Lyrandar or individuals that have done a great service to the House. In fact, they're frequently loaned out, but you're right, I doubt the House finds itself selling airships very often. Considering you need the Mark of the Storm to reliably pilot an airship, there's little reason House Lyrandar should sell an airship. More to the point, the gnomes of Zilargo probably would not bother selling an airship to anyone but House Lyrandar. I mean, sure, there could be exceptions...but they seem unlikely to me.
ClobberinTime 05-07-07, 08:36 PM	An airship campaign would be great fun for DM and PCs combined, I say go for it.
snakebliskan 05-07-07, 11:58 PM	Except, you know, to Windwright Captains...and other favored members of House Lyrandar or individuals that have done a great service to the House. In fact, they're frequently loaned out, but you're right, I doubt the House finds itself selling airships very often. Considering you need the Mark of the Storm to reliably pilot an airship, there's little reason House Lyrandar should sell an airship. More to the point, the gnomes of Zilargo probably would not bother selling an airship to anyone but House Lyrandar. I mean, sure, there could be exceptions...but they seem unlikely to me. the gnomes will sell them to anyone as long as they have the money! and you dont need a mark hire a minor pilot with the mark. Also house Lyrander doesnt own the rights to the air ships they just can use them the best... any one with a good charisma, profession sailor, and access to a few spells can pilot one. spells like charm monster will help,as will elemental command or dominate monster work well.
Ardent 05-08-07, 06:09 PM	the gnomes will sell them to anyone as long as they have the money! and you dont need a mark hire a minor pilot with the mark. Also house Lyrander doesnt own the rights to the air ships they just can use them the best... any one with a good charisma, profession sailor, and access to a few spells can pilot one. spells like charm monster will help,as will elemental command or dominate monster work well. Notice I said "reliably," I'm aware that, say, a specialist Enchanter or a Sorcerer with a very specialized spell selection could do fairly well as an airship pilot. As far as hiring someone with the Mark of the Storm as your pilot...well, honestly, almost all of them work for House Lyrandar in some capacity. Which is why we don't bother fighting it; the airship is remanded into the custody of the Lyrandar heir of the group (or assigned to them via the Twelve or chartered, etc) and they just end up paying a tithe of their adventure earnings for the services of the airship. As far as the gnomes selling to anyone; I can't argue that they wouldn't. I just don't think their production is as impressive as some people presume it to be and I sincerely doubt some ragtag adventurers could significantly pressure the gnomes to breach lucrative contracts with House Lyrandar and other more legitimate powers for production. So, sure, you can spend 92,000gp to purchase an airship. You'll have to wait three years for it to be produced, though.
Cifer 05-09-07, 10:07 AM	As far as the gnomes selling to anyone; I can't argue that they wouldn't. I just don't think their production is as impressive as some people presume it to be and I sincerely doubt some ragtag adventurers could significantly pressure the gnomes to breach lucrative contracts with House Lyrandar and other more legitimate powers for production. So, sure, you can spend 92,000gp to purchase an airship. You'll have to wait three years for it to be produced, though. Actually, their production is most definitely not impressive enough. However, House Cannith's production is, which is why they build the lightning rail coaches, the airship hulks and so on and just need the gnomes to put in the elemental.
snakebliskan 05-09-07, 12:54 PM	So, sure, you can spend 92,000gp to purchase an airship. You'll have to wait three years for it to be produced, though.[/QUOTE] the book states and I quote" Orders for new airships typically take more than 3 months to fill." Not 3 years.
SethKalis 05-22-07, 06:40 AM	Meh... forget buyin one... Ima steal it and cast Planar Navigation (Stormwrack) on it... take it to the ethereal plane so they can't come after me... XD Course, this involves a few things... 1. Getting the crew off. Prolly one of the most difficult bits... but I think that a reasonably intelligent party of 7th or higher level could come up with a few ways. Think Sparta. 2. Piloting the ship. Hmm.... well... if I remember correctly, all it takes to pilot the ship is an opposed charisma check against the elemental (which will have CHA 11, MM). If you need a crew... try the leadership feat... hirelings... or if you wanna get creative... Animate Dead (PHB) + Awaken Undead (Libris Mortis?). 3. Casting Planar Navigation This may be problematic... It is a 9th level spell. There is another solution howver. A magic item can solve the problem. 'Planar Helm' Stormwrack, Pg. 134. Can cast the spell twice a day when the command word is uttered. .... now... who can say Spelljammer?