Author Topic: Xenium technology lost?  (Read 1286 times)

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Offline Hurin

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Xenium technology lost?
« on: August 04, 2020, 11:35:11 PM »
Quick question for some Kulthean Loremasters: I have been working on an adventure that begins in Sel-Kai, and I want it to be as close to canon as possible. As I was recently running a playtest, one of the players (who had played in Shadow World back in the day) said that he thought the Xenium technology that keeps the skyships (and Eidolon) afloat is a lost art, and that no new ships can be created. Is that true? Are any new Xenium ships being created?
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Offline craggles

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Re: Xenium technology lost?
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2020, 12:29:40 AM »
Interesting thought...

The Shadow World Players Handbook has this to say on the subject:

Quote
Xenium—Blue-silver in hue, Xenium is the only alloy listed here and deserves mention for its famous use, which is on the underside of skyships. The alloy somehow nullifies the force of gravity but the exact manner in which this is accomplished encompasses many factors and are extremely difficult to calculate, or understand.

This perhaps implies that it’s not currently in production as it’s extremely difficult to calculate, or understand

...but the Master Atlas paints a more definitive answer:

Quote
Xenium (1000 sp): Blue-silver in hue, this alloy is created from titanium, arinyark and other—more dangerous—materials, which together nullify the force of gravity. It is used primarily on the undersides of skyships. The exact manner in which this is accomplished, and how Xenium is successfully employed to balance a ship’s mass against gravity, are factors which are extremely difficult to calculate. The price given is the ‘street’ value; obviously the alchemists who created Eidolon and who make the skyships were able to make such vast quantities that the relative cost was considerably less.

The key point is that it refers to the alchemists who make the skyships - present tense

But you can make the Shadow World your own and say whatever you wanted - but cannon says that it’s still being created but the calculations needed are very complex and the alchemists won’t share those formulas. Specialist tools are also required in its creation (mentioned elsewhere in the Master Atlas) which you’d need along with the formulas if any player wanted to make their own antigravity vehicle for themselves.
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Offline Hurin

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Re: Xenium technology lost?
« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2020, 10:29:44 AM »
That's an excellent and very thorough answer that definitively settles the question -- thanks so much!

'Last of all, Húrin stood alone. Then he cast aside his shield, and wielded an axe two-handed'. --J.R.R. Tolkien

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Offline craggles

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Re: Xenium technology lost?
« Reply #3 on: August 05, 2020, 10:36:52 AM »
I could still be wrong though  :o
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Offline Hurin

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Re: Xenium technology lost?
« Reply #4 on: August 05, 2020, 11:47:58 AM »
I could still be wrong though  :o

Yes, but at least I can now cite chapter and verse in my arguments that it is canon!
'Last of all, Húrin stood alone. Then he cast aside his shield, and wielded an axe two-handed'. --J.R.R. Tolkien

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Offline Jenkyna

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Re: Xenium technology lost?
« Reply #5 on: August 06, 2020, 10:48:50 AM »
That's an excellent and very thorough answer that definitively settles the question -- thanks so much!



So much stuff in SW makes skyships seems like a present-day technology that I never got the impression that it was lost. Perhaps the player in question played in a game where it was treated as lost tech.

(click to show/hide)

The simplest counter to the player's argument is that no matter how things were in games he / she has played in prior to this, in your game it's not a lost technology.

Offline Hurin

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Re: Xenium technology lost?
« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2020, 11:06:45 AM »
Yes, maybe that's it. Either way, we are good!
'Last of all, Húrin stood alone. Then he cast aside his shield, and wielded an axe two-handed'. --J.R.R. Tolkien

'Every party needs at least one insane person.'  --Aspen of the Jade Isle

Offline Terry K. Amthor

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Re: Xenium technology lost?
« Reply #7 on: August 08, 2020, 11:49:24 AM »
Interesting thread. My input, which of course you can take or leave:

!. The formula is closely guarded by certain Alchemists

2. The alloy (as I remember) requires rare elements that can only be located and mined by a powerful few.

3. Forging it requires alchemists of considerable high-level, not to mention fashioning it to the retractable skyship plating.

So many might think that that the art is lost, but these ships can only be so old...

Terry
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Shadow World Author, Rolemaster & SpaceMaster Co-Designer, ICE co-founder.
Eidolon Studio Art Director


"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
-- Clarke's First Law.

Offline Hurin

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Re: Xenium technology lost?
« Reply #8 on: August 08, 2020, 03:01:10 PM »
It is awesome to get the answer right from the source! Thanks very much Terry!
'Last of all, Húrin stood alone. Then he cast aside his shield, and wielded an axe two-handed'. --J.R.R. Tolkien

'Every party needs at least one insane person.'  --Aspen of the Jade Isle