So, I'm about to start playing a Diviner/Alienist with a bit of an elemental (air) fixation, and think it would be cool to eventually have him build a flying machine. Not a flying fortress, mind, but more like a personal yacht that just happens to go through air rather than water. For this, I've given him Craft Wondrous Item, and am wondering what would be the cheapest way to build a reliable flying machine. So far, my thoughts:
The Hot-Air Balloon
The least magical. This would simply be a standard zeppelin, with a constant-heat dwoemer to keep the bag permanently inflated and a few extradimensional or weight-altering charms to allow for increased capacity.
It's Just Magic
A boat with some form a Fly spell cast into it. Least obvious, and more sturdy than the zeppelin, but more vulnerable to antimagic. Also, researching and permanentizing a 1st level heat spell would cost less than permanentizing the 3rd-level Fly.
Cloud Chariot
This would be some form of vehicle with a Levitate charm on it, and then a few Air elementals or similar harnessed to it for propulsion. Possibly not even requiring a feat to create, but simply a few Planar Binding spells and maybe a Levitate and Permanancy.
Thoughts?
The Hot-Air Balloon
The least magical. This would simply be a standard zeppelin, with a constant-heat dwoemer to keep the bag permanently inflated and a few extradimensional or weight-altering charms to allow for increased capacity.
It's Just Magic
A boat with some form a Fly spell cast into it. Least obvious, and more sturdy than the zeppelin, but more vulnerable to antimagic. Also, researching and permanentizing a 1st level heat spell would cost less than permanentizing the 3rd-level Fly.
Cloud Chariot
This would be some form of vehicle with a Levitate charm on it, and then a few Air elementals or similar harnessed to it for propulsion. Possibly not even requiring a feat to create, but simply a few Planar Binding spells and maybe a Levitate and Permanancy.
Thoughts?