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Message: <blockquote data-quote="weem" data-source="post: 4925529" data-attributes="member: 9470">I love airships. Ever since getting Champions of Mystara way back and reading through the airship "designers manual", I've always wanted to incorporate them in games, and I have over the years - however, I never had one built out in any kind of detail - they were there, and they worked (for the most part) but the how/why and what their layout looked like never really mattered.Well, looking through the box set again and looking at the layout of the Princess Ark, I thought... you know what? I'm going to lay one out - one that can sit on the game table (in my 4e campaign) and that the players can explore.So this is the place where I will explore/share that process for those interested. Please feel free to tell me what you think!======Brad L, and Aaron C, please don't read this...======Step 1The CardboardFirst, I cut out the good section of one side of a big (LCD) screen TV box. I measured it in inches so I knew how many squares I had to work with...<img src="http://www.lastlands.com/upload/airship/step01.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />Step 2The GridNext, I drew out the grid (1 inch squares)<img src="http://www.lastlands.com/upload/airship/step02.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />Step 3First CurveThe first curve I ran into was at the Bow (front) of the ship. What I did was laid down a piece of paper, drew my curve, and then cut it out with a box knife. That way, I could trace it for one side, flip it around and do it for the other so that both sides (curves) were the same.Oh, and you will also notice the standard graph sheet here with the layout drawn on it - I counted the squares available once I was done making the grid and then drew the basic outline on the graph pad so I knew how it would all fit on the cardboard...<img src="http://www.lastlands.com/upload/airship/step03.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /><img src="http://www.lastlands.com/upload/airship/step04.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />Step 4The Basic (Pencil) OutlineOnce I had the Bow and Aft curves/ends done, I darkened the pencil lines (with the same pencil) so I had my basic outline of the main portion of the ship...<img src="http://www.lastlands.com/upload/airship/step05.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />Step 5Outer HullsNow I needed to add the outer hulls, or wings to the sides of the ship. This involved more curves, so with some more drawing/cutting/tracing, I hammered that out...<img src="http://www.lastlands.com/upload/airship/step06.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /><img src="http://www.lastlands.com/upload/airship/step07.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />Step 6Darken BorderAt this point, I was happy with the outline of the entire thing, so I went over it with a black sharpie...<img src="http://www.lastlands.com/upload/airship/step08.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />Step 7Begin DetailsWith the outline darkened with the sharpie, I now drew in some details (mainly the decks and stairs for now)...<img src="http://www.lastlands.com/upload/airship/step09.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />Step 8Time For SleepAnd finally (for now) I was ready for bed, but before I stopped, I started a side-view (or cutaway) of the Bow of the ship, so my players would have a basic idea of how the decks stacked (see the portion on the bottom left side of the cardboard)...<img src="http://www.lastlands.com/upload/airship/step09.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />Next time......I'll explore a bit about the magic behind powering these, primarily regarding what I intend on using for this and how it will fit into the design. I may even get into laying out the next level or two of the ship...</blockquote>

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