I dunno whay I do this sort of thing. I have obviously been watching too much Reboot and reading too much Silver Surfer: Requiem, and probably hanging out with Pyrlios too much too. But I came up with a new skillset idea, as an alternative to Aethercraft. (not sure if it should just be another commune skill, or if there should be a choice between Aethercraft and Aethersurfing.) The main problem is how to balance it with aethercraft so it is useful and used, but it doesn't render aetherships obsolete.

Aethersurfing is a form of aetherspace travel that uses a dwarf species of algorinthine commonly known as aetherboards. To survive the big nasty creatures in aetherspace, this species has two main defensive mechanisms - a flat streamlined shape to allow great speed, and a preference for living in large, psychically connected group known as pods.

In aetherspace, power is difficult to access except where it concentrates in high amounts via the phenomenon known as a vortex. However, due to the speed at which they travel, the aetherboard creatures are able to slowly draw power from the fabric of aetherspace itself.

These creatures were first trained to carry a passenger by enterprising (and probably insane) gnomes, who had discovered the creatures' power-tapping ability. As the passenger rides on top of the creature, instead of inside it like its larger cousins, the gnomes developed a magic bracelet called an aetherband, that when rubbed, covers the body in a special inch-thick translucent aethersuit to protect them from the ravages of aetherspace. The suit also connects the rider to the aetherboard, allowing the rider to communicate commands and interact empathically with the board. The braclet is rubbed again to make the suit retract. The gnomes also developed special goggles called aethershades that filter out the more confusing colours of aetherspace, allowing one to see further through aetherspace when wearing them. The sheath is essential, the shades are not.

It should be noted that aethersurfing is not at all safe, mainly die to the small size of the aetherboards. Though they do fine in slipstreams, aetherboards with unskilled riders tend to get tossed about in flux (same as waves when moving in seas), tossed and battered (health damage when moving) in shift, and severely tossed and battered in tempests. Also, the only defense against hostile aetherships and nasty aether creatures is avoiding them when it is possible, and surfing away very fast when it is not. Aetherboards can do a lot less than aethership - they cannot trade, hunt, or bombard things. So why do people aethersurf? They do it cause it is a cheaper way to travel to aetherbubbles, and to collect power for their nexii than buying an entire aethership. But mostly they do it for the sheer fun and exhilaration of conquering the dangerous waves of aetherspace.

Aetherboards, aetherbands and aethershades are available from the Surf Shop near the aetherplex.

Aethersurfing
Aetherdeck (Inept) Hang out on the aether deck.
Primesurf (Inept) Surf through ethereal aetherspace.
Podbond Bond yourself and your aetherboard to a pod.
Formation Surf in formation with other aetherboards.
Evade Give uncool monsters the slip.
Dionaform A formation that reduces damage
Ethersurf Surf through ethereal aetherspace.
Slipslide Speed through the slipstream.
Juliform A formation of great stability.
Elementsurf Surf through elemental aetherspace.
Powercosmic (Master) Surfing ain't just for fun, man.
Fluxride Ride the waves of flux with style.
Shannaform A formation of great speed
Cosmosurf Surf through cosmic aetherspace.
Sideshift Ride the waves of shift with skill.
Channels Speak to an aethership's empath.
Tunnel Teleport randomly though a vortex.
Tzariform A formation difficult to trace.
Astrosurf Surf through astral aetherspace.
Slipglide None can match your speed in the slipstream.
Powerrush Feel the power of the vortex.
Flashpoint Place flashpoints to help you navigate.
Stormchaser Surf the tempest with greater skill.
Fusion Teleport to a flashpoint.
Vestaform A formation that is undetectable.
Deeppodbond (Trans) Reform your body at your aetherboard's pod.

Details
Aetherdeck
Syntax: PORTAL ENTER AETHERDECK
You can hang out on the aetherdeck and watch the swirling colours of aetherspcae. Righteous, man!

Primesurf
Syntax: BOARD LAUNCH
BOARD LAND
BOARD LOOK
SURF
SURF THROUGH RIFT
You can launch off an atherdeck out into aetherspace. You must be wearing an aethersuit, and your board must be connected to a psychic pod or storage pod on the deck. Surf's up dudes!

Podbond
Syntax: BOARD BOND
BOARD SENSE
BOARD HEAL
PODT
You can bond yourself and your board to the psychic pod on the deck you are standing on. You can only bond your board to the common psychic pod on the aetherplex aetherdeck or the psychic pod of your city or commune. When your board is bonded to a pod, you will be able to heal it whilst surfing. You can also speak on the aetherwave channel connected to your board's pod. Note that if you are connected to your commune or city pod, landing at your commune's aetherdeck will cause your board to channel all its energy into your nexus.

Formation
-same as Armadas, not sure of syntax and exact mechanisms-

Evade
Syntax: BOARD EVADE
Loses any surfers or ships following you (not including surfers in your formation). Causes any creatures chasing you to slow down in confusion for a time.

Dionaform
Syntax: FORMATION DIONAMUS
Power: 3 (any)
Requires 2 or more formation members.
Any damage dealt to you whilst in this formation will be reduced. The more surfers in the formation, the more the reduction.

Ethersurf
Allows you to survive surfing through ethereal aetherspace.

Slipslide
Syntax: SURF <1-3>
Whilst in slipstream environment you can travel up to three rooms in a direction at one.

Juliform
Syntax: FORMATION JUILIANA
Power: 3 (any)
Requires 2 or more formation members.
The chance of being tossed or battered whilst in this formation will be reduced. The more surfers in the formation, the more the reduction.

Elementsurf
Allows you to survive surfing through elemental aetherspace.

Powercosmic
Syntax: BOARD POWER
As you surf, your board's power slowly increases. This is more efficient when slipsliding, fluxriding or slipgliding, and even more efficent when surfing through tempests.

Fluxride
Syntax: SURF <1-3>
Whilst in flux environment you can travel up to three rooms in a direction at one. You are also less likely to be tossed whilst surfing in flux.

Shannaform
Syntax: FORMATION SHANTH
Power: 3 (any)
Requires 2 or more formation members.
Your traveling speed whilst in this formation will be increased. The more surfers in the formation, the more the increase.

Cosmosurf
Allows you to survive surfing through cosmic aetherspace.

Sideshift
Reduces your chance to be tossed or battered whilst in shift environment.

Channels
-same as Channels in Empathy-

Tunnel
-same as Tunnel in Commander-

Tzariform
Syntax: FORMATION TZARAZIKO
Power: 5 (any)
Requires 2 or more formation members.
Perodically throws off following ships and surfers, and slows chasing creatures. Also causes ships and creatures to miss those in your formation. The more surfers in the formation, the greater chance this will occur.

Astrosurf
Allows you to survive surfing through astral aetherspace.

Slipglide
Syntax: SURF <1-6>
Whilst in slipstream environment you can travel up to six rooms in a direction at one.

Powerrush
Tunneling has a chance to greatly increase your board's reserves.

Flashpoint
-same as Flashpoint in Commander-

Stormchaser
Reduces your chance to be tossed or battered whilst in tempest environment.

Fusion
-same as Fusion in Commander-

Vestaform
Syntax: FORMATION VESTARA
Power: 10 (any)
Requires 3 or more formation members.
Makes your formation immune to dectection for a time. The more surfers in the formation, the longer this will last for.

Deeppodbond
Syntax: BOARD DEEPBOND
Power: 10 (any)
Whilst at your board's pod, you may deepbond to it. The next time you die in aetherspace, you will reform at the pod.


What you see
ex- portal enter aetherdeck
You teleport to the aetherdeck of the Serenwilde.
The aetherdeck of the Serenwilde.
The swirling colours of aetherspace are held back by a large forcefield. The psychic pod of the Serenwilde is here, emitting a green glow. A small storage pod for visitors is here.
A sign indicating that you should use the PORTAL command is here. Fred, the Seren surfer is here.
You see no obvious exits.
ex- rub aetherband
You rub an aetherband, and your body is quickly covered in a protective aethersuit.
ex- wear shades
You slip into a cool pair of aethershades.
ex-
Fred flashes you the secret thumbs up sign of the surfer dudes.
ex- board launch
Detaching your aetherboard from a small storage pod for visitors, you place the feet of your aetheric sheath firmly into its sockets. Your aetherboard rises into the air, and shoots out thorough the forcefield into aetherspace.
(Celest's Dolphins) You say: "Righteous! Surf's up!"
On a lame aetherboard.
You see no obvious exits.
ex- look
On a lame aetherboard.
Your aetherboard looks lame. Maybe you should make it look as cool as those swirling colours above your head!
You see no obvious exits.
ex- board look


--------insert aetherspace map here-----


ex- board power
Your aetherboard's power reserves are 14% full.
ex- surf n


----------much surfing later-----------


ex- board power
Your aetherboard's power reserves are 47% full.
ex- board land
You direct your aetherboard down thorough the forcefield, landing on the aetherdeck of New Celest. You attach your board to the psychic pod of New Celest.
(Celest's Dolphins) You say: "Later dudes!"
The aetherdeck of New Celest.
The swirling colours of aetherspace are held back by a large forcefield. The psychic pod of New Celest is here, emitting a white glow. A small storage pod is here for visitors.
A sign indicating that you should use the PORTAL command is here.
You see no obvious exits.
ex-
The psychic pod of New Celest pulses, as it channels all the power from an aetherboard into the Pool of Stars.
ex-



And yes, I am far too excited about Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

Oooh Aethersurfing, I like it!

I saw this and thought about the end scene in one of my favourite movies, Dark Star, where they are surfing in space on the debris from their ship destroyed by a intelligent and solipsist bomb

You should be able to gain power by doing clever surfing moves and riding the aetherwaves the longest.

You do....

Just surfing through aetherspace and getting power seems too easy, what I mean is getting power for doing special moves like reacting to a series of waves, the longer you stay on top of the wave the more power you draw. So you find a good wave, get on it but the direction of the wave changes and you have to react to it. With the best/longest series of waves being in tempest areas etc. It would be like a moving node which you surf around on getting power.

Edit: nevermind, your skillset is pretty well thought out, ignore me

and let me know when surfboards are available I'll set up a surfshop on the rock in astral

I'd be more likely to use this then an aethership.

As a longtime Silver Surfer fan myself, I like this idea a lot.

However, some issues:
Would enough people actually develop this skillset to be worth devoting resources to coding it?
Would it fit it with other aethercraft skills? Would it be a specialization?



TO ME, MY BOARD!

ugh, all i can think of is the disney sci-fi version of treasure planet.

But what if it was adjusted to act as a support to Aetherships? You could launch from an Aethership and reboard it. They could maybe allow you to enter an Enemy Aethership. (Think smallraiding partys as a form of attack) small damage could be done to ships.

I saw it, thought it was neat, read a bit further, and started to twitch. It just... it doesn't seem to fit, you know what I mean?

Maybe it's just me.

It's not.

I don't think surfers should be able to damage ships (at least not without the ships being able to respond which is most likely a bad thing!). However, I do like boarding parties. Maybe they can board if the enemy aethership is over 75% damaged? Maybe a way to commandeer captured ships if you kill the pilot (or the pilot's chair is empty)?

I think it should be a specialization, but even if it weren't, I would choose this over the other aethercraft skills. I love it.

And I -do- think it fits. Lusternia has slowly been moving towards the sci-fi/fantasy genre rather than the high fantasy genre, which I -highly- approve of. Ever since I saw those gears on the main page, I thought this was how the game should be. Actually, the recent updates to the game, including constructs, is what pulled be back from Imperian. I -love- the blend of science fiction with fantasy genre more than any other, and I think aethersurfing fits that genre perfectly.

What if instead of surfing in Aetherspace there was another plane or "space" that could be surfed. Perhaps a new area of the Ethereal plane that could use a "coordinate map" and surfing could have some significance.

Just a thought.

oooh just got an awesome image.

Two ships fight, second ship floats around and can't move.

Out come the Boarding party, which surfs out to the new ship and tows the dead ship to a salvage yard.

So you can surf and tow ships, or you can just surf along to your nearest aether bubble, while trying to avoid (but not being able to kill) aether beasts.

I would like this if it was something other than a surf board.

Goblin Glider?

I could see it as the pods that have been suggested before. But I like the idea of something fast and zippy the best.

Well, there's still the risk of this being a good skill that nobody wants.

But here are other ideas where you could use the "surfing skills". Or maybe even without a skillset:

"Wilderness" space in the HIGH atmosphere, beyond "normal flying" above the clouds. You try to collect things while dodging crazy creatures of the upper atmosphere and trying to collect things. Perhaps it can be in the form of a wild nodes where you try to collect power or something else.

"Ocean War"--traditional "powered" surfing. Again, same concept.

"Dreamstream" surf the imagination stream.

All interesting ideas, but I don't like the coordinate type system that you mentioned before. That has the potential to be slow and boring...a surfing skillset and system of -any- type should be fast and beautiful.

Aetherspace is a coordinate system. ???

Sorry, just the way you worded it seemed more like a game of chess than -surfing-.