Keep us coming back

[Timothy Drake]

Just a few suggestions from a mmorpg veteran.

 

Keep in mind the psychology of the gamer. What makes us come back? 

 

1. Customization. What causes a gamer to become attached to the game? Normally one becomes attached when there is something tangible to become attached to. This could be numerous of things but player possessions (collections/treasure/pets), housing, claimed land, production, a customisable avatar come to mind here. Many recent games experimented with this and it works! Of course game-play comes first; without awesome combat, exploring etc, you can forget about the rest but stuff that makes you stand out in the crowd (without getting unrealistic) does come second. 

 

2. Good and balanced mix of solo and team-play. So many people, so many different tastes. One only needs to look to classic mmo games who are still going strong today. It's only because they offer it all. I got in to Archeage and liked it a lot but because it's really only fun when playing with an active guild, I left. That.. and I forgot to pay the rent.

 

3. Economy. Just look at EVE online and copy / paste. There's no shame in doing so. Same goes for the different secs (1.0 pve / <0.5 pvp). Furthermore I'd focus on free enterprise as it would be very 17th century to do so. 

 

4. Role playing. Naval Action begs for good RP elements true to the era of naval warfare. Please don't put pink bunny hats in-game! Instead I think pp would really appreciate 17th century military costumes, ranks, titles, you name it. I'd most certainly enjoy sitting my avatar down at the port's café to show off my self inflicted tattoos and brag about the battles I never fought. And how about putting in some historical characters along with each nation. Maybe combined with some sort of (mission) story line.

 

5. Emergence. One thing I hate in a lot of new games is that the game mostly plays itself. Back in the day, you had to work really hard to get something valuable. Now it's just: "kill four of those unimportant swampcritters and get this epic great-sword of the heavens". I do hope Naval Action will reward players who put extra effort in it. Emergence for me means rewards don't come easy, just like in real life. 

 

6. First person action? I don't know where the devs ultimately want to bring this game but so far I haven't seen a game which combined vehicle action with first person action very well (Star Citizen is on his way though). But take a look at a game like 'War if the Roses'. Is a combination unthinkable? That would be a game I wouldn't stop playing. A real pirates' life does come with a sword and a pistol. 

 

I realize I'm just shooting away here because I haven't seen a list of goals set by the devs or something and I'm only 2 days in but there ya go.

 

Good luck for the devs and may we sea-dogs all gracefully die in battle !!! 

Edited February 19, 2015 by Timothy Drake

[Vander_Mitch]

 

 

4. Role playing. Naval Action begs for good RP elements true to the era of naval warfare. Please don't put pink bunny hats in-game! Instead I think pp would really appreciate 17th century military costumes, ranks, titles, you name it. I'd most certainly enjoy sitting my avatar down at the port's café to show off my self inflicted tattoos and brag about the battles I never fought. And how about putting in some historical characters along with each nation. Maybe combined with some sort of (mission) story line.

 

Cet article la est le plus important pour MOI (This article is the most important for ME)

[Mass]

Many ways to use economy and i will be a frequent player of this game

[Theuerdank]

17ct hats would be not good, because main ships will be 18ct, it seems most second half. Even 'my' small Avatar has a fashion about 1730, would be for late 18ct totally outdated . If i play such a game like this coming NA i dont want to see par example the Victory with 17ct sledge hat officers and fashion. Its not only the colour of the hats. Nothing against some 100 years old floating coffins, but 100 years old clothings, please not.

I would also not like games showing early 20ct. spiked helmets of the german army and 60 years newer Nato helmets for same battles. Curiously ww2 games are the only games most devs have at least small serious thoughts about something fitting. And there are many discussions weather a weapon, equipment part or uniform was invented one month earlier or later^^.

For all other historical games 100 years seems to be nothing... all the same . Full plate armor with pot helmets of 1330? Why not? All is knights equipment....

Its first time perhaps funny, second time only curious, and afterwards only crap. Ok, most times if any games getting in development only trashy funny like some hollywood teenager yahoo adventuremovies, folks everytime saying 'its only a game', but for me all games must not be only realised in superficial tastes. Perhaps at least one game goes another way... Again, devs make a game with ships most second half 18ct, also there will be many older ones, the fashion should be period and not chaotic randomed arbitrary like many most games..... thats my taste

[Timothy Drake]

I agree Theuerdank. I didn't know the exact period the devs had in mind was the 18th century so now I do. To me it seems worth taking a wider period so there will be a greater variety of ship choices like 1500 - 1850 or so but I guess sticking to a more narrow timeperiod would also make sense. For the Dutch the 17th century is considered the golden age so I might be biassed towards that period

[Theuerdank]

@Timothy, if the ships would be all 17ct 'golden age' then a kind of 30 years war fashion or a bit later would be great. But clear, such clothings mixed with napoleonic uniforms sounds only false. But absolutely, why not older ship types with some newer? A 'thing' can be hundred years old and still useful, sure in reality it would be 'updated' also in design, that happened to some ships, even to the Victory. I think its everytime at least a small problem, if there are historical templates. Some mix between different centuries will be soon fantasy without sorcerers, but still fantasy. Its not important if a knight fights against a Virginian Rebel or a thirty years war mercenary against a Grenadier of Friedrich II of Prussia, both is only wrong. Ok, can be funny, not for me. Anyway perhaps devs decide all fashion between 1600 and 1820 is possible, therefore i won't kill my computer but would be a bit vapid.

Edited February 20, 2015 by Theuerdank