Airships

Airships serve as flying transportation in ArcheAge Chronicles, connecting major population centers across Erenor's continents. They are faster than ground-based carriages and cover longer distances, making them the preferred method for intercontinental travel alongside ships.

Functionality

Airships operate as a transit system between designated locations. They fly above ground-level threats (hostile creatures, PvP zones, and difficult terrain), providing safe passage at the cost of fixed routes and departure schedules. The scenic views from airship altitude give players a different perspective on the world they explore on foot.

Narrative significance

Airships are not just a convenience feature but a narrative element. The central storyline of ArcheAge Chronicles begins with a catastrophic airship crash during the Age of Pioneers. The player character is stranded after this crash and must rebuild their position. This sets up airship technology as both a marvel of the Pioneer era and a reminder that the world's dangers can reach even those who fly above them.

Relationship to gliders

Airships complement gliders, which provide short-range personal aerial traversal. Gliders are player-controlled and offer freedom of movement, while airships are fixed-route mass transit. Together they create a layered aerial transportation system: airships for long distances, gliders for local exploration and tactical movement.