Open Seas detecting ships and in-battle enemy ship identity suggestion.

[Siegfried]

I think that all ships must be named with their generic class name. For example in all menus for purchase ships the Trincomalee should be "Leda class english late frigate" or "Leda class frigate" only, Victory class english first rate, etc.

 

In Open Sea at great distance, only "Big Sail" or "Small Sail" is sighted.  Bigger ships can be sighted at more far distance. Depending the weather and light too.

 

Then the type of ship appears, Frigate, Ship of the Line, Brig...

 

The nation and specific class (Leda class frigate, Victory class first rate...) should be seen after while the ship is closing in Open Sea. 

 

In Open Sea, the name of ship writing in the stern should be seen (in the info window) only if you are in the stern area (150º maybe) of ship at spyglass distance. The ship can hide his player and ship name if don't show their stern if he is not customized ship. Nation can't be hidden if false flag tactics don't will be implemented.

 

In Open Sea, the name and data of player appear in info window when you are more near or when you are able of see the ship's name (maybe 150º in stern area).

 

If the player is sailing a paint customized ship, then the identification of player should be the most far.

 

Some info of nation and player can be show over the ship that you had hail in Open Sea. Flags should be show in Open Sea too.

 

 

In battle instance:

 

In stern only show the ship name. In info window*, both the ship and player name is shown only if the ship is customized or you had identified that stuff in Open World.

 

Player name only in info window* when you look at the ship directly like now, but remove all letters floating over the ship. 

 

Quick identification of ships, you can remember the different banners on top masts or ship's customization at first of the battle.

 

*Another thinking about show name of ship and players on info window. Maybe is better don't show names in battle info windows, only when pressing TAB for players joining in instance info.

This way the battles can be more immersive if you must be sure before open fire. Look at the nation flag or banners if the stern flag is hidden behind the sails of smoke. This is a tactical advantage for lone player between various enemies and add confussion and danger of friendly fire. All a lot of fun I think.

[thomas aagaard]

Sure your suggestions is more immersive.

 

But they are also less userfriendly, makes finding a fun battle harder, makes it easier to gank new players... 

[Siegfried]

I don't thought about ganking, but now that you said that, can you expand how ganking can be more easy?

 

When the gankers can hide their name maybe. But if you see a enemy frigate, no matters if is ganker or not, she is a enemy frigate. Or you can recognize the ganker in battle for their customization or flags

 

Anyway the ganking problem can be addressed in other way, not limiting other good features for 4 gankers.

 

And the encounters are the same, only change the distance and info that you obtain at first glance.