(06-12-2016, 06:32 PM)Valence Wrote: What is a wind aspected aether dense space to begin with? I mean, where do we find those? Everywhere as long as it's in the sky? Could manacutters work everywhere as long as you drop them high enough in the sky?
Wedge Wrote:In other words, there are a few places you can fly...and lots of places you can't.
Based on Wedge's earlier statement on the manacutter, we're looking for areas that are specifically awash with wind-rich aether. Meaning... unfortunately you're looking for floating islands. Specifically, the manacutter may be limited to the Sea of Clouds and areas immediately surrounding, which include Coerthas and Dravania. So basically, the places you can actually fly a manacutter. Though, you may also be able to fly them as far as Nym or upper Vylbrand...
Sightseeing Vista #033 Wrote:The Floating City of Nym
Suspended high above the foothills of Mt. O'Ghomoro is the Floating City of Nym - central hub of a lost civilization which prospered on Vylbrand during the Fifth Astral Era. The accepted theory was to how the city was torn from the realm involves the over-aspecting of corrupted wind crystals - a phenomenon witnessed late in the Sixth Astral Era.
Which would explain how in 3.3 the Talons and Redbills are able to reach Yafaem on airship. Though, to be fair, Yafaem sits upon the southern Coerthan lowlands. In 1.0, this southern portion was available for travel and consisted of lakes and farmland and the zoneline into Mor Dhona. To the east, roughly, would be Yafaem. So, either this stretch of wind-over-aspected aether stretches from the Sea of Clouds southeast to Vylbrand, or Yafaem is close enough that the residual wind aether is fit for manacutters.
OR, lore was forgotten. Who knows. This would be a question best posed to Fernehalwes.
Anyways, here's a couple more things.
Aether Compass Wrote:A glass case containing a wind-aspected needle balanced on a pin. Nearby aether currents exert torque on the pin, "pulling" it in their direction.
Lodestone Wrote:Nestled in the mountains of Abalathia sits the Sea of Clouds. The water and wind-aspected energies of the surrounding area create a perpetual mist reminiscent of clouds, thus making the location true to its name. These same energies can be attributed to floating islands within its mist-shrouded borders. The unique climate conditions of these islands have given rise to heretofore unseen animal life. And with the advent of airship technology, Ishgard has slowly expanded into this brave new frontier.
Also, unsure of the "dropping airships at high altitude" thing would work. So far, the record for max airship height is roughly three malms up. Assuming you got an airship carrier that high up and that the wind aetherial density was more pronounced at a higher altitude (we have no confirmation if this is the case) your manacutter would still be restricted to staying up that high to function. If it lowered too far into less aether dense or into uncharted aether currents, your manacutter would likely crash?
Tataramu Wrote:'Twas a shaky start, but the Dezul Qualan and I both returned unharmed! And we reached our target altitude of five thousand yalms─that's higher than any Eorzean airship has ever flown! A new aeronautic record! ...Unofficial, though it may be.
I'm not sure what more I can help with on this topic. I'd say safest bet is to have a character who is working on making this technology a possibility, as it does have backing in lore. (Viltgance-type) Unless Fernehalwes came around and said the Ironwork's new ships were able to fix their energy conversion ratio in areas less dense in aether, you might be limited to those areas with your manacutters. Unless you ICly began construction the other airship models or creating modifications to the manacutter design, like ceruleum powered magitek wings or float bladder. I don't know.
