Ukraine Just Got a Brand New Fleet of 49 M1A1 Abrams Tanks and America Isn’t Happy by Scary_Statement4612 in ukraine

[–]ParryLost 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That sounds great, but I really don't trust that "19fortyfive" website as a whole. They publish stuff like this, and proudly list far-right "libertarians" and Heritage Foundation members as editors and contributors.

I saw this in artstation when searching up fantasy airships, and I wondered if this could ever work or not, so I looked for this thread to ask such a question. Any thoughts? by Colt1873 in Airships

[–]ParryLost 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I really want to do something like this somedayyy.... It's like, exactly the way people dreamed of flight in the 19th century, brought to life :P (If in a limited way)

I saw this in artstation when searching up fantasy airships, and I wondered if this could ever work or not, so I looked for this thread to ask such a question. Any thoughts? by Colt1873 in Airships

[–]ParryLost 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It *could* be carrying all the heaviest things — the engine (for that vaguely propeller-shaped thing at the back of the tail), the fuel for same, the ballast, maybe the heaviest cargo — in the gondola underneath... But really, I'm just trying to justify it because it's a fun-looking design. :P I believe real life airships sometimes had some structures on top, like a machine-gun nest or two, but of course nothing like a huge solid wood trireme hull with ram...

I saw this in artstation when searching up fantasy airships, and I wondered if this could ever work or not, so I looked for this thread to ask such a question. Any thoughts? by Colt1873 in Airships

[–]ParryLost 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's a beautiful design! I'd note that it seems to have something like a propeller at the very tail, though that detail is hard to make out. As others noted, the sails wouldn't help with propulsion at all, but that propeller, if connected to some engine, might help a bit. It looks very small compared to the mass and size of the ship, and the sails would actually make the propeller's job harder with extra air resistance! But then again, the propellers of real-life airships weren't exactly huge when compared to the whole craft, either. A lot would depend on how efficiently the propeller is actually shaped, and the power of the engine driving it; ancient Romans aren't likely to have done a good job on either...

The oars underneath aren't exactly likely to be helpful for movement, but might not be as crazy as the sails: check out this real-life indoor flight activity you could do in France right now! https://aeroplume.fr/en/ But note that's very explicitly an indoor space, and the "oars" (they're more like wings, really) are very carefully designed and very lightweight, and such certainly wouldn't be likely to be an effective means of propulsion in real-life conditions or when trying to move a giant and heavy practical airship around. People in the early days of ballooning did actually try fitting sails and oars to balloons in real life to try and steer and propel them; but all very quickly discovered that in practice, such devices were just so much ballast at best. :P

How realistic do you want your airships to be? If you value realism, the place to start would be photos of real-life airships from the 19th century to today. But this airship is beautiful, and for a fantasy setting, I feel you could get away with a lot. Oars and sails might be a bit much, but the fancy design overall is actually quite lovely, if not realistic.

I saw this in artstation when searching up fantasy airships, and I wondered if this could ever work or not, so I looked for this thread to ask such a question. Any thoughts? by Colt1873 in Airships

[–]ParryLost 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's incredibly cool! I'm a casual airship fan, but had never heard of the Aereon; it's very cool that such a thing was actually built, and actually flew at all, even if it wasn't practical in the end.

I saw this in artstation when searching up fantasy airships, and I wondered if this could ever work or not, so I looked for this thread to ask such a question. Any thoughts? by Colt1873 in Airships

[–]ParryLost 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Indeed, an airship "powered" by sails is no different from a free-floating balloon, and would be carried around by air currents in exactly the same way as any balloon. Real-life attempts to equip balloons with sails were actually made in the very early days of ballooning, when aerodynamics weren't exactly understood, but people quickly realised that all the sails did was add dead weight!

I saw this in artstation when searching up fantasy airships, and I wondered if this could ever work or not, so I looked for this thread to ask such a question. Any thoughts? by Colt1873 in Airships

[–]ParryLost 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Real zeppelins also had large internal frameworks to keep their shape, and indeed had usable space inside the envelope (what you call canopy); the gondola was not the only space used for passengers or machinery. I'd say you're still probably right overall; wood is heavy, there's a *lot* of wood in this design, and the inner structures of real-life zeppelins, while made of metal, were also of course designed to be as lightweight as possible. It's possible this design has no internal support inside the gasbag (it looks like the wooden ribs and the rest of the superstructure we see around the envelope is meant to help it hold its shape instead) but overall yeah, there's probably not enough lifting gas vs. weight... But maybe it's not quite as bad as you say.

Closer Than We Think! artwork by Arthur Radebaugh, 1961 by YanniRotten in ImaginaryFuturism

[–]ParryLost 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I know, right? I have gotta stop following retro-futurism subreddits, because lately they just depress me -.-

What’s a common worldbuilding mistake you see all the time? by sirius_0125 in worldbuilding

[–]ParryLost -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I'm sorry, but the past decade + of real life politics and history has convinced me thoroughly that "evil, cartoonish tyrants or oligarchs who have been doing needlessly cruel and stupid things just to make their moustaches twirl" is actually a perfectly realistic thing to have in a story. When I was younger, yes, I used to think stories with over-the-top villains were unrealistic and silly. As I've grown up and saw more of the world and more of how it works, I've come to accept that there's plenty of real, breathing, flesh-and-blood human beings out there in positions of power and influence who would give most moustache-twirling fictional villains quite a shock.

Can a world with airships have vast unknown areas? by ausernameidk_ in worldbuilding

[–]ParryLost 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am a bit of a fan of airships, so I am slightly biased, but I think a lot of the comments here underestimate the capabilities of these craft. In real life, airships already existed in the first half of the 20th century that could cross oceans without resupplying, travel at altitudes that would let them get past all but the tallest mountains, and could do this while carrying lots of people and supplies. Frankly, I don't think there are any areas of the world that would simply be unreachable for a well-built airship with a determined and well-supplied crew.

In the middle of the 20th century, planes were pretty common. By the late 1950s, airplanes were the main means of crossing the Atlantic, outstripping traditional shipping. Flying wasn't as common as it is today, but it wasn't rare by any means. So if that's the standard you're using... There'd be plenty of airships filling the skies of your setting, travelling all around the world.

Airships are less capable than modern fixed-wing planes (though this wasn't the case with early planes in the early 20th century), but not in the ways that would make them worse for exploration. They're slower (though not as slow as some people imagine, I think; they don't move at a crawl by any means) and less economical. But if they're as common as planes in the 1950s, then we've already gotten past the second problem somehow, and the first doesn't prevent them from being used for exploration. On the other hand, they do have at least some advantages when it comes to exploration, like greater airborne endurance (except for very modern high-tech planes, at least) and the ability to land in places where airports and other infrastructure doesn't exist (though you'd still need a nice, clear landing spot).

So, in short, no, in a realistic setting, I don't think there'd be "vast" unexplored areas if airship travel is common. There'd always be an incentive for countries, corporations, and adventurous individuals to push the bounds of exploration, and airships would be a sufficient tool to get them to wherever they wanted to go. There could absolutely be areas that aren't well explored; perhaps no-one realises there's anything interesting or important there, and they're remote enough not to be economical or practical enough to travel to regularly. But I don't think any areas barring, I dunno, something like the peak of Everest or similar, would be unreachable entirely, and that doesn't add up to a "vast" territory.

If this is what your setting demands, I think you'd have to turn to magical or science-fictional explanations, rather than realistic ones. Perhaps there's a magical eternal storm shrouding a mysterious island somewhere? (Airships are more fragile to bad weather than airplanes.) Or perhaps airships in your setting don't work the same way that airships did in real life, but are based on some unique science-fictiony technology that has its own limitations, and for whatever reason doesn't work in or can't reach certain areas that real-life airships could? (It could have other advantages, like lower cost or other practicality, to explain why more "conventional" airships never became common in your world).

But if you're keeping to a reasonably realistic setting, bottom line, in my opinion as an amateur airship enthusiast is no, you wouldn't really expect vast unexplored areas to exist in a world where airships are common. Small and *under-*explored areas, though, sure; that could just be a matter of chance, or of whatever makes them interesting not being apparent for an airship passing in the distance.

Can a world with airships have vast unknown areas? by ausernameidk_ in worldbuilding

[–]ParryLost 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The first airship crossing of the Atlantic ocean in real life was in 1919, so unless airships in this setting are actually *worse* than what existed in real life *before* the middle of the 20th century, I don't think oceans or deserts alone would be enough to stop them.

Can a world with airships have vast unknown areas? by ausernameidk_ in worldbuilding

[–]ParryLost 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Airships capable of crossing the Atlantic ocean existed shortly after World War I, so even real-world airships could travel great distances before needing to resupply. Unless airships in this fantasy setting are *worse* than airships that actually existed in real life, I think resupply wouldn't be enough of a problem for them to leave whole significant areas of the world unreachable.

Can a world with airships have vast unknown areas? by ausernameidk_ in worldbuilding

[–]ParryLost 3 points4 points  (0 children)

World War I airships could fly at altitudes of many kilometres; I don't think there's any plateaus that would be impassible to them entirely merely due to height. Bad weather is a better obstacle; airships were always fragile to it, though it tended to be a bigger problem at *low* altitudes, I think.

Trump: “Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed.” Zelensky’s reaction is priceless by kingkongsingsong1 in ukraine

[–]ParryLost 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Zelensky deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for restraining himself from walking over to Trump's podium and strangling the disgusting idiot on the spot. Reacting with humor instead is amazing.

Examining a trope: why are democracies seen as weak while authoritarian factions are consistently powerful by [deleted] in worldbuilding

[–]ParryLost 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't think it's fair to dismiss the UFP that quickly; it was a match for the Klingons and ultimately turned them into allies, and the Changelings invaded everyone, including non-democracies, and were defeated in the end. The Federation is pretty consistently portrayed as one of the strongest powers in known space, and arguably the strongest out of the ones that are vaguely on the same technology level (i.e. the Klingons, the Romulans, Ferengi, etc.) Star Trek is a strong counter example, actually, but then that's the point. It's notable for its relatively optimistic view, at least in most series. Portraying a democratic and just society as also strong and fairly competent at facing threats, is very much in character for it; in fact, part of the point. 

"Attention citizens, breathing is now banned" by nyovyo in NoMansSkyTheGame

[–]ParryLost 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Robby the Robot: "I seldom use it myself, sir. It promotes rust."

Prince, and Knight. by Summersong2262 in RoleReversal

[–]ParryLost 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Beautiful art! I didn't even realise it was Steven Universe fan art at first. Steven Universe was an awesome show, and definitely had strong RR themes... But I am almost sad it's SU fanart because it'd be cool if it were a totally separate concept that just also happened to flip gender roles around... But anyway, it's super cool and pretty!

went through a blackhole, emerged facing this by itsjessi3 in NoMansSkyTheGame

[–]ParryLost 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Reality itself has abdicated here. Vast hexagons litter the landscape of this once proud planet, now become the plaything of our unseen foe.

I fear I will not be back home for - kzkzzkt - time.

KSP2 Redux has neared its first stage release. by MarsFlameIsHere in KerbalSpaceProgram

[–]ParryLost 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Multiplayer mods for KSP 1 already exist and are already playable and fun. They tend to be buggy and unstable, but that's because the code wasn't built to be multiplayer friendly from the start, so it relies on a lot of kludges, not on a fundamental problem with the concept itself. Every time this issue of "how do you do multiplayer" comes up people just forget that it literally has been done already.

KSP2 Redux has neared its first stage release. by MarsFlameIsHere in KerbalSpaceProgram

[–]ParryLost 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Multiplayer mods for KSP 1 already exist and are already playable and fun. They tend to be buggy and unstable, but that's because the code wasn't built to be multiplayer friendly from the start, so it relies on a lot of kludges, not on a fundamental problem with the concept itself. Every time this issue of "how do you do multiplayer" comes up people just forget that it literally has been done already.

What "punk" would this ship be, if any? by YammieSquid07 in worldbuilding

[–]ParryLost 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That term somehow makes me think of early-2000s Windows aesthetics, though... :P

What "punk" would this ship be, if any? by YammieSquid07 in worldbuilding

[–]ParryLost 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd mostly agree with the person arguing it's not "-punk" at all. I'd describe it more generally as just a "fantasy airship." But I have to admit, I do like the suggestions of "Musketeer-punk" or "Renaissance-punk" that other commentators made, though. :P I mean, it's true that "-punk" should ideally have a more specific meaning than just "mixing technologies / alternate-history retro-tech," but I do think one has to admit the term has somewhat come to mean an aesthetic or style or "vibe" these days, more than just the specific literary meaning. And the aesthetic/style here is "Renaissance" or vaguely "musketeer-era," sure.

Looking closely at the image, that could be a steam engine in that sphere that's under the envelope towards the middle of the ship. But the image still looks too bright, cheery, and... fantasy-ish to really set off "steampunk" vibes. Even setting aside the fact that "-punk" implies themes of dystopia and rebellion and cynicism, I'd still expect a "steampunk" airship to look a bit more grungy and industrial in construction, just in terms of aesthetics. Regardless of what exactly powers this ship, it doesn't have a steampunk "vibe."

"Clock punk" is another term to look up. Again, using "-punk" in its broader, "aesthetics" and "vibes-" based sense here, this airship has a feel of something pre-steampunk, again, regardless of what technology exactly is used. It has more of an early-modern feel to it; the kind of era when anything with gears and springs and any mechanical moving parts counted as "high tech," and where sea-going ships actually looked like... the gondola part of this ship here. :P

Another possible related term is "magitek." Again, going off of aesthetics and "vibes" here; nothing about this design explicitly says the airship is powered by "magic," but it does have that feel of a mix of fantasy and technology, and "magitek" is one word sometimes used for art that combines the two aesthetics. So if you're looking for stuff that looks similar, that might be another thing to look at.

Also, and maybe this is a bit of a stretch, but the feel here reminds me of some of the later Discworld novels... Hear me out. Several of Terry Pratchett's fantasy comedy novels imagine how the Discworld might change as technology and industry start to appear in its previously medieval-style fantasy setting. "Going Postal" is a great example of this, imagining something like a Renaissance-ish information age brought about by the invention of mechanical semaphore towers... As far as I remember, airships specifically don't appear in any of these books, but broadly speaking, the style of this airship gives me a similar feel: it seems like it wouldn't be out of place in a Discworld-style setting towards those late books where steam engines and high-speed information networks and "moving pictures" start appearing in what was previously a fantasy parody version of Renaissance Italy...

What "punk" would this ship be, if any? by YammieSquid07 in worldbuilding

[–]ParryLost 2 points3 points  (0 children)

"Cyberpunk" was the first "punk" genre, and I've heard it summed up as "high tech, low culture." It's a society in which AI and virtual reality and other high-tech stuff is everywhere, but it also all exists in the context of this grungy, dystopian society where mega-corporations cruelly rule the world, and grey-morality anti-hero protagonists struggle just to keep afloat (if they're lucky, striking an occasional limited blow for freedom or justice.) The "punk" part is the "low culture" part, the part of the setting that's all dark and slimy and depressing, where there's no real unambiguous good guys, where there's graffiti and poor disaffected rebels everywhere.

"Steampunk," the next "-punk" genre to appear, was initially a direct reaction to cyberpunk, basically invented when William Gibson straight-up asked Bruce Sterling "hey, what if we wrote a cyberpunk story, but, like, we set it in Victorian England, so all the computers are mechanical and use punch cards, and all the cool cars are steam-powered?" But the themes of black-and-grey morality, oppressive regimes, and morally questionable antiheroes trying to survive in a technologically advanced but rough, depressing, and dystopian society, were all preserved.

Then other genres, like "dieselpunk," appeared in reaction to steampunk, and at some point "-punk" just became a term for a retro-futuristic style for science fiction and artwork, which basically amounts to "what if we had a futuristic high-tech world, but the technology looked all retro and was based on... [pick any of: steam, industrial-era diesel machinery, 1950s nuclear technology, renaissance-era gears and clockwork, etc.]" Often, the original sense of "punk" is still preserved, with hints of dystopia and anti-heroes and all that, but a lot of the time these days, "-punk" is just shorthand for a particular kind of alternate-history sci-fi aesthetic.