Distance based ROE proposal

[Fargo]

I thought about this mainly with defensive tagging and screening issues (small ships wasting larger ships time) in mind. This idea is to open battle instances when ships get into cannon range, because thats when a real battle would have started. This might save a lot of sailing time in the battle instance and bring screening fleets into more danger. BR limit is a resonable restriction to solve screening issues, but it is an restriction and will be annoying in some situations. This could be a natural solution that would remove devensive tagging tactics in addition.

 

The basic problem:

• People starting battles for the only purpose to escape it again, as fast as possible, or after a certain time.
• Battle instances are opening, without any combat taking place.

What is causing this within the actual ROE system:

• Ships can start battles at far distances.
• Ships can prevent escaping over far distances. 
• No additional restrictions to leave the battle instance for the attacker.
• No mechanics to force the attacker into combat.

 

Proposal: ROE dependant on distance:

Open world:

• After starting the tag timer, the attacker needs to close distance, represented by a smaller circle.
• Circle size represents effective cannon range.
• As soon as an enemy contacts the circle, the battle starts.
• No specific enemy needs to be selected. 
• When the timer runs out, nothing happens. 
• When attack started and enemy is within the circle, battle starts immediately.
• Larger circle to pull allies, as usual.

Battle instance:

• Opponents always spawn at the same distance within cannon range (~500m), and loaded.
• Allies spawn depending on ow position.
• Area control as general mechanic, area size larger than spawning distance.
• Removed tag mechanic, or damage to sails doesnt prevent enemies from escaping (reasoning: our cannons are much more accurate than rl cannons).
• Maybe additional escape mechanics, e.g. your bow needs to point away from the enemy, or a short timer after area control is left.

Pros:

• Less pure sailing time in the battle instances, especially for pursuits.
• Better immersion/realism when colliding with an enemy, instead of crossing each other while waiting for the timer.
• Defensive tagging not possible.
• Open world sailing and positioning more important, enemies cant sail through eachother.
• No enemies spawning / escaping right next to each other.
• Bow chasers less essential, more use for stern chasers.
• Screening atleast more risky and difficult.
• No restrictions/prohibitions.

Requirements:

• Speed boni and sailing profiles need to work in the OW (atleast studding sails/extra staysails wasnt last time i checked). 

Regarding screening the thought is that ships need to stay so close to the enemies, that these can actually damage their hulls. The attacker is forced into combat, if he doesnt want the enemy to escape. In addition the closest ship would find itself spawning in front of a few loaded SOLs. 

 

Optional: The battle instance appearing in the open world could work similar:

• Instance appears as swords with circle. (~half the size of the actual large circle)
• For ~1min each ship colliding with the circle joins the battle.
• Ships spawn depending on open world position with a distance penalty (ca. 200m). Perfect would be a penalty increasing with time, but thats optional.

The thought is that the OW position remains important, while players gain more freedom to choose if and what battle they want to join.

Edited February 24, 2017 by Fargo

[Cabral]

 You forgot to put the Cons.

Edited February 20, 2017 by Cabral

[Fargo]

Please tell me. I think distance based ROE would be very plausible... if it works and it can be realized. This is the question.

[Fargo]

No thoughts!?

[fox2run]

Longer ROE joining timers also. We need more battles and more action.

Cons to your idea is that frugates gets huge advantage versus line ships and that boarding is going to even worse than now. 

Ships in line please.

[Fargo]

2 hours ago, fox2run said:

Longer ROE joining timers also. We need more battles and more action.

Cons to your idea is that frugates gets huge advantage versus line ships and that boarding is going to even worse than now. 

Ships in line please.

Timers should be set in a reasonable way and can be adjusted.

Why should boarding be eased? The frigate cant spawn right next to you anymore, and to keep you in battle he needs to stay within your cannon range. In general if boarding becomes the common tactic, then something is wrong with boarding mechanics, ROE has not much to do with this.

If your point is that defensive tagging wont help you anymore.. no chance.

[fox2run]

If a line ship can fire from distance chance is that its getting raked by frigate is small