Is it time for an Airship revamp?

[Random0]

As most of us are aware, Free Company airships are currently capped at rank 50 and 61 components. This forces us to make some sacrifices when configuring our ships for optimal stats - a vessel with high Surveillance and Retrieval may end up with abysmal Speed and Range for example. More often than not, the ships that are the result of these component restrictions end up being… less than aesthetically pleasing.


Then of course we have both the Redbills and the Bangnaa taunting us with their currently impossible-to-configure Odyssey/Tatanora hybrid craft - both good looking and fantastic all-rounder stats (Surveillance 124, Retrieval 110, Speed 110, Range 124, Favor 120, Components 94).


With how dated the Exploratory Voyage content has become, perhaps it’s time for a raising of the cap on rank/components along with a revamp/extension of the current rewards tables to make the content relevant again. With possible airship configurations in line with the Redbill and Bangnaa craft, we could start seeing ships return with greater quantities of tier V/VI materia, rare crafting materials, or even items currently only available in the Diadem like minions, voyage spoils tokens, aetherial gear, or damaged lockboxes - all of which could provide a new infusion of hard to get goods into the markets.


Maybe even some new maps that require these higher level airships to unlock and explore, such as the Yafem saltmoor, the many islands in the Northern Empty, the mountains of Xelphatol, or even another forgotten Allagan facility like Azys Lla that we haven’t even heard of yet.


SE’s already proven they can copypasta the Exploratory Voyage format for new content (ie Submarines), so let’s see some of that come back to the Airships our companies invested so much time and material into.


Also, when do we get to build Excelsior-type ships?

[aesteval]

I wonder if the intent is for submersibles to be the "refresh" to the content.

And having to pick stats and sacrifice others is part of the content design. They don't want us getting everything without having to figure out what to give up at the same time.

[DrWho2010]

Airship ventures was the feature of 3.0 since it went to the skies. 4.0 is more of the underwater type theme hence the submarines. i don't think fc airships will be getting much more love at all.