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The following is from an Engineer's perspective. Whilst I acknowledge your point, I beg to differ.

NB: The following only applies to flying docks (as mentioned above) and not settlements.

Whilst I acknowledge your point, I beg to differ; I once had an idea much like that.

Said docks would be large balloons (spherical), around the middle of which were large wooden/metal platforms, attached to which were the various piers - jutting out into the open sky - onto which the airships would dock. Said balloon was then tethered to the settlement, so that it wouldn't float away. 'twas much like this:



However, the more I thought about it, the more I though: "You know, this idea is pretty silly".

My reasoning went as follows:

1) The dock itself, being a giant balloon, is essentially just an airship itself - albeit one much larger (and presumably with a large carrying capacity) than any of the airships that would dock with it. Which led to a few problems:

a) If you can make airdocks that big, why not use it as an airship, you'd be able to carry more. Or at least airships that big. But then what would they dock with, even bigger docks? And then would you know make airships that big as well? [and so on]

b) Given it's like another airship, it'd be a bit like nautical vessels docking with a floating port. Which is not only completely unlike real ports, but also pretty silly to contemplate:


Slight exaggeration to get point across

This also leads on to problem 2 (see below).

c) Would not you want to give an airship shelter? Or at the very least, somewhere to repair? If the airship would not survive a storm, the flying dock would likely not survive it either. And what if the dock was in need of dire repair?

2) Another major problem with an airship docking with a flying dock, is what then? Suppose it was carrying cargo (or passengers, even), how would said cargo be transported to land? Asides from a cable car or lift of sorts running down the tether (which would be impractical, especially given large cargoes); the only sensible conclusion is another airship.
But then where would it dock, if not a land based dock? If we're having this extra step in getting things to the ground, why not have the first airship do so?



If we were to compare this to floating boat docks, there'd have to be boats taking that cargo to land, no? And they'd need something to dock with.
Even supposing you've got a 'floating trading port', as an aerial part of a city, you've still for the problem of getting things to and from said port.

3) I then compared it to nautical docks; which extend out from land into the water (being the boat's natural element) and there cargo and passengers can be loaded/unloaded easily (as is the case in every port). And if need be repaired, can be brought into docks (as coverings over a water channel) or (if need be) dry dock.



So if nautical docks are like this, should not aerial docks be the same? And if you look at real airship docks, they are much like this:



This is the most feasible dock for an airship, the airship remains in the air (and as such is completely none the worse off for docking close to land) and can very easily be loaded/unloaded/repaired/refuelled etc.. Much like a real nautical dock is a pier extending from land into water; so would an aerial dock be a 'pier' extending from land into the air.
Real airship docks do not have airships landing with a crunch on land (or water, for that matter) - they are merely held very close to it, still completely in the air. Whilst some may have wheels, airships do not land properly - and indeed may collapse under their own weight if they did so, so built are they to be lifted constantly.

In summary, just like nautical docks don't float (for all intents and purposes); if the boat flies, the dock needn't as well. It should just stay put, where it's needed.
Ultimately: If what's carried on the airship needs to go to land, that's where the airship needs to go too. Same applies to loading, as well as repair (ease of getting supplies to the airship) and refuelling.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to crush your ideas - I can see where you're coming from, and respect the conclusion you've drawn - but this is something I've put (perhaps too much) thought into, and felt like saying. However, the whole floating dock idea is way more interesting, just not practical (in my view).

Side note: Floating settlements are absolutely fine with the above in mind, as one can merely substitute 'land' with 'the settlement'.

Thank you very much for your compliments. Sometimes I think too much and can't stop myself. Frankly, I must thank you for giving me the opportunity to do all that, 'twas kinda fun (to me, at least).
I must say, though, flying ports is rather more shiny than the more practical alternative (as is the way with most things).

All manner of airships are welcome in the Anachronism, I just picked zeppelins as they were easier to draw.
I've got a few designs for all sorts of ships; some with gondolas below a balloon; some with the main part above (looks like a submarine); some ships suspended below balloons (or even two balloons); others more integrated, small ships; and some with no balloons at all. I like to doodle.

An excellent question. For passengers there are two options.

The first, which also applies for cargo, is that the airship 'lands' [as seen in the upper part of Fig. 5, and people disembark by simply stepping off (much like that would with a plane).
The second is shown in the lower part of Fig. 5, where the airship connects with a tower, and passengers get out onto the pier of sorts (the line under H.M.S. Cruise), and then take a lift down to the ground. Often employed when the airship is making a quick stop. This can be done with cargo, but is impractical if cargo is large or heavy.

Due to the aerial nature of the Anachronism, it's docking procedures are somewhat different (which I will elaborate on later, hopefully soon).

*strokes chin* I'm a bit perturbed by the apparent unfeasibility of the item, but it seems decent enough.

Similar devices already exist in backpack form (in this setting); and I also conceived a device with twin tesla coils which alters the density of air around you, giving you buoyancy. The more power, the more you lift.

I like the idea of disembarking on land if it's a smaller ship. It'll be easier to save energy and overall ground space. I'd think it would take about the same amount of time to load and lift than to lift people and take off. Smaller ships can move about easier, and would likely be pleasure crafts, and guarding them, in the case of loading a really specialized item, would be easier on the ground. Plus I like the idea of imaging a huge procession marching up to the airship in some sort of ceremony and boarding. =P

For bigger ships, I'd say keeping them in the air to load and using a lift might work. Perhaps for large items, there can be a direct lift from the cargo of the large ship to the ground via a pulley/gear driven system. A huge ship landing would displace a lot of ground space, and well... there would be more heat and possibly (exhaust?) fumes mixing with the air the people are breathing.

A variance would be nice.

while we're on transportation... anyone have thoughts on what kind of vehicles or transportation systems there might be on the ground or used in on the Anachronism? Bikes? Motorbikes? Is there rentals, or would most people be able to buy/own one? Hmm...

Steam-powered vehicles are common in steam punk, motorcycles and Especially Monowheels are often seen.
While ground travel may be fun, Flight is might.

I assumed as much when I created the steampunk version of my alter-ego, Kitirena, which is why in her character profile there's a not-so-subtle nod to The Island of Dr. Moreau in her background. As far as her "magical" abilities go, when I put that in, I was thinking more along the lines of AD&D's "Masquerade of the Red Death" Ravenloft setting or the Gaslight supplement for Call of Cthulhu, where "magick" could be explained in terms of unusual mathematics (a la Lovecraft) and/or unexplained "psychic" abilities as opposed to throwing around fireballs and lightning bolts like Gandalf the Grey or a certain Mr. Potter.

I presume that someone mostly human despite feline ears, tail, and unusual mannerisms (in keeping with the "Dr. Moreau" theme to her backstory) would be acceptable in the setting of the story/graphic novel?



If I understand you correctly, this sounds a bit like the air cabs that travel around Alexandria in Final Fantasy XI--driven by propellers and traveling around the city on rails, with fixed stops at terminals in each major district, which would be in keeping with the steampunk setting. (Of course, the rails in FF9's airships could readily be dispensed with, with the air cabs being a parallel to the hansom cabs of Victorian-era London where a skilled and licensed pilot flies his (or her) cab through predetermined air lanes to a given destination--or so I presume.)