Horse vs Airship

[BRC]

So this is a little last minute, since I just had this idea and the game's being run in the morning. But for my western campaign, I'm going to have the PC's (On horseback), chased by an airship. Considering all they have is pistols and nonlethal magic, they're not going to be able to shoot it down (Probably), but they can make the shooters keep their heads down until they can reach cover, at which point the Airship will land and it's occupants will get out (They're trying to catch the PC's alive). Any advice for running such an encounter besides having the PC's riding hell-for-leather and shooting to keep the sharpshooter's heads down?

[Marnath]

depending on how maneuverable it is, they could run underneath the airship and only a few shooters could get them.

[Coidzor]

What sort of relative speeds are we talking here? not really going to be much the PCs can do to hit the people chasing them, it sounds like, due to cover and distance penalties...

Can't really think of a way to make the ship people trying to drop nets on the PCs very interesting either, since at best it'd be a reflex save to avoid the net and keep going.

[Nanoblack]

Well sharp-shooters don't exactly spell non-lethal, so maybe have them use net guns? As for advice on the players part... use of terrain is always encouraged. If the thing is as big as I am picturing, it won't be able to handle turns like a horse so maneuverability can give them an edge. Also targeting whatever is keeping this thing in the air could spell trouble for the captain of the airship.

[BRC]

What sort of relative speeds are we talking here? not really going to be much the PCs can do to hit the people chasing them, it sounds like, due to cover and distance penalties...

Can't really think of a way to make the ship people trying to drop nets on the PCs very interesting either, since at best it'd be a reflex save to avoid the net and keep going.

The Airship is going to be activating a temporary speed boost it has (essentially working the engine into Overdrive). It's also flying fairly low so it's marksmen can get a good shot in. So the PC's can certainly hit the shooters, or at least make them keep their heads down. I'll probably have the PC's make ride checks each round to outpace it, jump obstacles, or run serpentine to make them easier to hit. Call it moving slightly faster than their horses.

People onboard the airship arn't using nets (They might try a little). They're going to be shooting. They're not very nice people, and an ally the PC's are with has been giving them lots of trouble, so the guy/guys (Gunslinging Ettin with a higher-than-average int score) in charge is/are not playing nice. They want them alive, which is why they aren't just chucking dynamite at the PC's, but they don't need them in very good shape. They're hoping to put a couple holes in them to convince them to surrender,or shoot their horses out from underneath them. Either way works, though I guess they could start with Bolos and Nets.

One of the PC's is a Beguiler with a cunning streak a mile wide, so he'll probably come up with some nifty way to confuse the airshippers.

terrain is a good idea. Maybe have some stands of tree's the PC's can try to use to lose the Airship crew.

Edit: My play (Lawl, yeah right, like that's going to happen) is to end with the PC's sheltering in an old farmhouse, forcing the Airship to land and send in people to try to capture them so I can have a nice climactic battle/realization that it was all a hilarious misunderstanding.