So I was wondering to myself, how is it that the Aethyr Pirates can keep fleets of airships in operation over a US city and not fall prey to sorties from Air Force strike fighters, or any other form of organized assault.
I would like to suggest a zone, "Cloudy Cove" that is more or less the Opal Room of the skies. A floating city built on a combination of magic and technology, shielded from scrying and satellite surveillance, that functions as a freeport for airship captains and other aeroadventurers... maybe even a pitstop for extraterrestrials visiting Earth, like a Stuckey's in the sky. It would have a style patched together from the Caribbean islands from the golden age of piracy, a healthy mix of steam/diesel punk, and some ultra-futuristic high technology. It should only be accessible by air travel or teleportation, but more importantly, even through those travel powers you can't get there without access to "The Beacon". The Beacon would be a simple thing, similar in functionality to the exploration badge in Ouroboros, but the general rule is that if you don't know how to find it, we can't tell you how to find it. Those without access to The Beacon might find a way to fly into the giant cloud formation that is rumored to contain Cloudy Cove, but they'll never find the actual zone. Perhaps if they stow away on and Aether Pirate airship (a daunting task in it's own right) or find a magical portal located within the base of a secret society, they can reach this mysterious hideaway, and convince the Governor to allow them to return so long as they swear not to betray the secret (after of course, convincing the Governor to allow them to leave).
I think in general the idea of extra islands, be they floating on iar or the regular kind, would be good to have. That and other stuff accessible by clicking on the right door or transport object. CoX had trains, helicopters, boats, etc that could take you to different places. A space ship to a moon base would be cool too. Or to an asteroid base, another planet, another dimension, etc.
R.S.O. of Phoenix Rising
An aerial assault over TC carries a high risk to the citizens and structures below; falling debris and live ordnance.
Although, if such objects could be targeted by PCs...
[img]https://i.imgur.com/26pBVBG.png[/img]
([i]Currently developing the Sapphire 7 Initiative[/i])
The only thing I don't really like about this is the magic part. Aethyr pirates are well established that they aren't a magic based faction but rather a technology based faction. Sure it's technology that's based off older beliefs about how the world worked, but it's technology none the less and not something that's based off magic. Everything hiding cloudy cove should be based off steampunk, other than that it would make for a nice hangout for anyone who wants to side with them, but magic shouldn't have anything to do with how the place works.
not my video just one I lke ===> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6-SdIN0hsM
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What some people call science, others call magic.
I got chills! They're multiplyin'. And I'm losin' control. Cuz the power, I'm supplyin'. Why it's ELECTRIFYIN'!!
Well still, steampunk is retro sci fi and it should remain as such, especially considering that this game is based in an alternative universe that works like a comic book. Maybe if this game was set in a future version of out universe we would have to say that there technology is based off magic but it isn't. Cloudy cove should be thoroughly retro sci fi with futuristic technology and magic only being added by outside forces or what they stole and reverse engineered.
not my video just one I lke ===> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6-SdIN0hsM
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I also doubt that the aether pirates are likely to have anything to do with magic. However, it is a comic book / superhero setting, which means the difference between magic and technology can basically be summarized to be:
Screws (Nuts & Bolts) = technology
Runes = magic
Or, if you prefer, if the magic wand looks like a rifle it's probably technology.
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[font=Pristina][size=18][b]Hail Beard![/b][/size][/font]
Support [url=http://cityoftitans.com/comment/52149#comment-52149]trap clowns[/url] for CoT!
To quote noted sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. That said, while the comic book genre is one that allows for Doctor Strange to team up with Iron Man, and even for Doctor Doom, armor and all, to dabble in the occult (it really happened in the comics) on an individual basis, I think it works better if the steampunk-themed group remains primarily steam-powered, so to speak. I mean, it would be fine, to me, if you end up fighting a boss that happens to be an Aether Pirate who has stolen, say, a magic ring or something, but by and large the AP as a group ought to evoke "steampunk" as a general rule.
That said, I like the idea of having instanced maps where you can go to fight the badguys in their lair, like the Hall of Doom, Asteroid M, Atlantis, Orenbega, the Rikti Mothership, etc.
R.S.O. of Phoenix Rising
Just to clear up some confusion, the mix of magic and technology is to make the zone have something for players of either bent (or both). While the intent is that the Aether Pirates are one of the groups that get the most out of it, it's not "their" zone. They just give the Governor a portion of their loot as tribute in return for a safe harbor, as should most others who show up there. Players would be most likely to give "tribute" by performing some service or favor that earns them the Governor's respect and/or appreciation (Or maybe they just took down a Chaser transaction, and have a *Bag of Cash* in their inventory). The zone, like the rest of the game, is for the players. It just happens to be my preferred answer to "Where do they hide all those airships?"
Well then in that case I like it, there definitely should be more steampunk than magic or futuristic technology since even though the Aethyr pirates don't own it they are still a big presence in it and the governor would want them to feel at home, but it does feel real place. Good Job :)
not my video just one I lke ===> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6-SdIN0hsM
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I'm sure that as a zone, it would be functionally broken up into a few neighborhoods...
[i]EDIT: added some more fleshing out, because sometimes the words get free of their cells, and stuff happens.[/i]
[b]The Aetherhood -[/b] a Caribbean Steampunk shantytown. Unlike most of the other islands in the chain, Aethyrhood and Ptera Peak are the same landmass, and the second largest in the bunch. If game technology allows, Aetherhood should be infested with steampunk cyborg monkeys and parrots, who when clicked on, will reach into your inventory and steal a random boost, or deposit one.
[b]Ptrera Peak -[/b] Where the flying dinofolks hang out. Also a popular getaway for climbers that are neither shiny nor tasty.
[b]The Black Block -[/b] a subdued set of warehouses and runways used by modern military and espionage forces. Unlike other neighborhoods, an exclusive contract has been arranged that makes everyone else unwelcome in The Black Block, except by explicit invitation from its administration. Don't come looking for them. If they think you should be here, they'll let you know.
[b]Area 53 -[/b] a parking garage, spaceship wash, and interstellar Stuckey's, also functioning as a "no questions asked" drop off point for alien abductees. Repairs to nearly any form of conveyance can be arranged here at any time of day. It's the intent for Area 53 to take some of the most horrifying tropes about alien abduction and invasion, and turn them on their head to make this a friendly, maybe even a little campy, location. A little less goofy than the diner in Spaceballs, but kinda leaning that direction.
[b]New Old Kabal -[/b] a neutral zone for angels, demons, wizards, witches, and anyone else who can burn the right candles and speak the wrong words to find it
[b]Undertown -[/b] A mysterious subterranean section that has been colonized mostly by mole men. Even though there are no physical tunnels connecting the separate islands, Undertown manages to connect to all of them.
[b]Zzen -[/b] A high tech hacker hotspot. Unlimited free wifi. 12G speeds. Also popular with cyborgs and robots. The premier market for bleeding edge tech overnight express from Japan.
[b]The Fort -[/b] The centerpiece of the zone, and largest island in the group is a semi-active volcano with a military fort built around it. It is here that The Governor is rumored to reside and command his forces, a cosmopolitan group of volunteers representing the larger factions of the island. Like the Wizard of Oz, The Governor is a mysterious figure. If anyone is ever in direct contact with him (or her, or it?) nobody knows for certain who that is. Some theorize that The Governor doesn't even exist, and is just a fictional figurehead allowing the faction leaders to act with authority. Others claim to have been entertained personally by The Governor, but are unwilling, or unable to give details of the meeting.
Cloudy Cove itself is an island chain that makes pun of the phrase, being a number of smaller floating islands literally chained together by gigantic rusty anchor chains. Some of the islands have springs and pools and waterfalls, some have bubbling lakes of lava. The sky varies from clear and sunny and blue to cloudy and thunderstorms, following a day and night cycle close, but not perfectly aligned, with it's external geographical location. The weather seems to be independent of local weather patterns and seasons, though once a major hurricane did have an effect on the islands as well. To the best of anyone's reasoning, the overall phenomena is the result of a nexus between other dimensions commonly associated with the 4 primary "elements" of Fire, Earth, Air, and Water, but nobody seems to know exactly how it all works, or if they do, they aren't telling. Some suspect magic, some suspect technology, others suspect both or neither. One way or another, it works. Conceptually it is somewhat similar to a TARDIS, having as much interior space as it needs without regard to how much external space it covers. It might be connected to The Bermuda Triangle, with things that disappear there ending up here.
Cloudy Cove isn't just for people on the run or needing to hide out, but also for those willing to work for or with such people, or even those who just need to live someplace a little more free of authority. Like The Opal Room, it's something of a neutral zone for those who can reach it, but not quite so strict. Many of it's residents and visitors are violent people who react violently to other violent people. The occasional brawl or even murder is accepted, but if things get too out of hand, the major factions put a stop to it so that it doesn't become a problem for them.