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For toy zeppelins, see Zippelin.
Zeppelin model

A zeppelin in World of Warcraft.

All Aboard for Undercity TCG

A zeppelin the Trading Card Game.

Zeppelins are flying contraptions created by the goblins, using a lighter-than-air design, with their machines employing bags filled with gas to make them buoyant in the air, compared to heavier-than-air designs, which employ wing surfaces and movement to produce lift, either using a fixed wing, or a spinning rotor.

A goblin zeppelin consists of a gondola of varying size suspended beneath one or more bags of lightweight gas that serve to keep the craft aloft. In keeping with the goblin fixation upon profit, these large crafts tend to be packed with cargo or paying passengers.

History[]

Second War[]

WC2BnE-logo This section concerns content related to Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness or its expansion Beyond the Dark Portal.
Main article: Goblin Zeppelin (Warcraft II)
Zepp

Zeppelins were ingenious inventions that allowed small teams of goblins to soar above the countryside and spy on enemy positions. The zeppelins were cumbersome, awkward and maintained no armament. Their airborne capabilities, extensive line of sight, and ability to spot underwater units, however, made them an integral part of the Horde's spy network.[1]

These goblins were members of the Steamwheedle Cartel.[2] During the Second War zeppelins crews were only a single pilot, but sometimes they also consisted of a pilot and an engine tender.[3]

Third War[]

WC3RoC-logo This section concerns content related to Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos or its expansion The Frozen Throne.
Main article: Goblin Zeppelin (Warcraft III)
BTNGoblinZeppelin

After the defeat of the Horde during the Second War, the goblins realized their mistake and left the Horde. They are now a neutral force, making money off every side. Zeppelins could be hired at special laboratories found all over Azeroth.

In the late days of the Third War, the Scourge started employing special Sky Barges to transport its troops.

World of Warcraft[]

WoW Icon update This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.

In the times following the defeat of the Burning Legion at Mount Hyjal, goblin zeppelins are employed once again by the Horde for the passage of the Great Sea between the continents. Although some of the goblins remain a neutral force, the Horde alone has the privilege of using zeppelins. Modern zeppelins have eight member crews including a sky-captain, a chief officer, a navigator, three crewmen, and two Horde guards. The goblins also worked on creating the Horde gunships, employing a similar technology as the zeppelins.

Lorewise, neutral goblin zeppelins do exist and they allow the transport of soldiers, but heavy weaponry, such as cannons, are forbidden to maintain neutrality.[4] Playful adventurers can also buy Darkmoon Zeppelins and Paper Zeppelins.

Zeppelin routes[]

CataBoatZepRouteMap

Cataclysm boat and zeppelin route map.

In World of Warcraft, you won't see free-flying zeppelins without a specific course. They now follow established routes with a zeppelin tower at each end point. Some cargo zeppelins can be seen crashed in places.

Kalimdor ↔ Eastern Kingdoms
Kalimdor
Eastern Kingdoms
Kalimdor ↔ Northrend
Eastern Kingdoms ↔ Northrend

Other zeppelins[]

Eastern Kingdoms[]

Kalimdor[]

Outland[]

Northrend[]

Pandaria[]

Draenor (alternate)[]

Broken Isles[]

Mentioned only[]

In the RPG[]

Icon-RPG This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.
Zeppelin2

Zeppelin.

Goblin Zeppelin by Twincruiser

Zeppelin schematics in Magic & Mayhem.

A goblin zeppelin is a form of transportation that consists of a wooden gondola attached to a large balloon, into which hot air is pumped by a phlogiston boiler. They are swift, able to make long journeys, and pass above rough terrain.[5]

The pilot of the zeppelin can control the direction through the use of ropes which are connected to both the steering wheel in the gondola, as well as fins on the balloon's back. Altitude is maintained or adjusted by the degree of inflation of the balloon, as well as with ballast. Moving in a direction or changing speed requires thrust, given by one or more rotors.[5]

The zeppelin is an example of one of the most stable technological devices to be found on Azeroth (a trait uncommon of goblin inventions), and malfunctions tend to be non-threatening. Naturally, it is possible for the zeppelin to drift off course or develop a leak, but only rarely will the phlogiston boiler have difficulty, and even rarer still will it explode.[5]

Since the Second War, zeppelins have become a widespread method of transportation, due to development by the goblins.[6] After the Second War, the goblins rescinded their alliance with the Horde and began selling their goods and services to the highest bidder. Throughout the course of the Third War, the zeppelins were employed by both the Horde and Alliance. Their speed had increased substantially and the zeppelins were now able to travel over long distances and rough terrain, as well as carry vast numbers of troops.[6]

Zeppelins come in different designs and sizes, and different zeppelins have different crew sizes. Zeppelins are manned by at least a pilot.[5] Some are manned by a pilot, navigator, and engineer.[7]

Wildhammer dwarves do not like goblins, for they see them as materialistic and technology-driven. Wildhammers take pride in zeppelin hunting.[8]

Zeppelins moved at 40 miles per hour in the Warcraft RPG,[6] but it was changed to 15 miles per hour in the World of Warcraft RPG.[5] Zeppelins can cover about five hundred miles in a twelve-hour day of travel, allowing the crew time to rest and make any necessary repairs. An Explorer's Guild trip from Sunwell Grove to Booty Bay was made in just under 80 days.[7]

Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans[]

Warcraft Adventures - Gazlowe zeppelin

Gazlowe's zeppelin.

WarcraftAdventures-Logo This section concerns content related to the canceled game Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans and is therefore non-canon.

In the canceled Warcraft Adventures, a zeppelin built and piloted by Gazlowe helped Thrall travel around the Eastern Kingdoms. The zeppelin had several components, including a samophlange, and flew during over ten missions during the Second War.

Notes and trivia[]

  • The zeppelin that dropped the mana bomb on Theramore Isle is consistently called a "sky galleon" throughout its appearance in Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War. This is either an alternate name for zeppelins or a name for the type introduced in Wrath of the Lich King. The ship was also armed with cannons, something not seen in World of Warcraft.
  • The crashed zeppelins seen in Azeroth and Outland appear to be of a different, more compact design compared to the functioning zeppelins seen elsewhere, bearing a close resemblance to the Warcraft III Zeppelin with a different paint job. This may be due to the main model being updated, while the destroyed model stayed the same, much like the various iterations of steam tanks.
  • Due to recent accidents, the goblin cartels have prohibited anyone from bringing snakes on a zeppelin.[9]
  • The air envelopes of some zeppelins are repaired with the finest silk.[10] Their texture also indicates that the air envelopes may be made out of kodo skin.
  • Zeppelins seems to be resilient vehicles despite their fragile appearance. The Thundercaller is known to have crashed at least eighteen times until it caught fire just one too many times and was finally retired.[11]
  • It is forbidden to smoke or cast fire spells aboard a zeppelin.[11]
  • Zeppelins have a picture of a pineapple on their sails.
  • Zeppelins feature in the Blizzard World map in Overwatch, as part of the "Zepplin Canoeing" attraction.

Gallery[]

Patch changes[]

  • Wrath-Logo-Small Patch 3.0.2 (2008-10-14): The crews have returned.
  • Bc icon Hotfix (2007-12-06): The vendors on the Boats and Zeppelins throughout Azeroth have run out stock and shut up shop, they are no longer able to service you with their wares.
  • Bc icon Patch 2.3.0 (2007-11-13): Crews and guards have been added to the zeppelins. Machine vendors were also added on each zeppelin, one for trade goods/reagents and repairing, the other for food and drink.
  • WoW Icon update Patch 1.7.0 (2005-09-13): Some of the zeppelin paths have been modified.

See also[]

References[]

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