theprof739

Here is my proposal for an improvement to the current system, these ideas were all inspired by others so I claim no particular credit. I posted this in the defeating a nation thread but, I feel here is also a reasonable place for it. 1st. a nation can set it's defense timers from the outset, but must sail into the port to do so. that way the places close to capital can be set irght away, and not be capped outside the timer, and large spread out faction will have to sail out to the periphery of their empire and manually set the timers or risk losing ports at the fringes of their empire. 2nd. a conquest timer must be bought at least 24-36 hours ahead of the intended assault time, giving nations on both sides time to prepare. During the countdown until the assault unlock, after the flag is bought the attack must destroy a number of AI patrol fleets (5 fleets for example) in the reinforcement zone of that port. This will "weaken" the defense of the port, representing the cutting off of said port from supplies, allowing the conquest to happen. 3rd. based on what admin said earlier in this thread: "Port investments will also slow down the conquest because to make flags you will have to build naval bases. No naval base - no flag. Naval base must be protected at all costs to be able to expand." Capitals, regional, capitals, and naval bases are the only ports from which a capture flag can be bought. and by building up naval bases you no only allow fruther conquest but you now have towns that are even more vital to protect, while feeding the economy. 4th. in order to capture these regional capitals and naval bases, you must first capture the surrounding towns, (say 2 on either side). this will allow allow more time for the defender to concentrate on the defense of their naval base, while also giving them a nearby port to strike out and try to recapture the neighboring ports, that is closer than where their enemy must sail from. 5th. once landmasses and different fort sizes are in place, A regional capital/Naval base has a fort that can be upgraded to a massive star fort, making assaulting it a daunting prospect. it neighbors will have smaller ports, allowing them to be taken slightly easier, but with players being able to build up a ports defenses either in the fort itself or in the number of AI patrol fleets outside it that must be destroyed first, vital areas may be built up into a nearly impregnable state, that both attack and defend should feel impressed when such a region changes hands.

Now that is an absolutely inspired Idea, give more reason to defend a port, because it can enable expansion while fueling the economy to build up more naval bases.

I can say for certain, ports and the port interface will be much changed and improved. With more to do, and each port will likely look different. See the Tortuga Promo art that Game Labs put out back in 2014, for what they had in mind: We will not be seeing 3D avatars, or if we do it won't be for a very very very long time. the resources put into making and animating 3d avatars for players (Even if they only have 8 different body models [1 per nation] and a couple head and hairstyles each) would not only take a long time, and diver resources better spend (IMO) on making the game as a whole more complete. The other thing to consider is the resources that uses while the game runs, I'm sure you may have noticed that ships other than yours in the OW don't have cannons, and their sails disappear when they are up. Added to that, there are no flags, crew members, etc on your own ship. Much of this is to reduce the load of things that needs to be rendered and tracked on the server, especially when there are 3000 people on. Having explorable towns that you view with a 3D avatar would need to feel like a town, and if you are in some port that very few players visit then it will feel abandoned without a whole bunch of animated NPC villagers walking around. If you visit during different hours you'd expect the lights to be on at night, what about going inside building, then you not only need to modeled the exterior, but the interior as well, that's a heck of a lot to add. If I had to speculate, looking at the above image, you'll have a rendered port like above, with animated people milling about, and the ships bobbing in the harbour, lights flickering, etc, but you'll see it from a static view. TRthe ship in the harbour will be clickable taking you to your own ships equipment and cargo screen, which will likely look like an animated view of the cargo hold of a ship, with a crewman of two in the back. Likewise the warehouse, shops, production, fort, etc, will be clickable buildings with a static interior view with perhaps a NPC shopkeep manning the desk, etc.

Well logged back in and lost my ship, and all the stuff I have onboard.

Yeah same here, we're all dealing with the issue, I posted about it in the other thread.

Yeah same thing here. I was in the middle of a battle and then ended up in the login queue screen, tried closing the game and reconnecting after it started taking a while. I hope I don't lose my ship to this crap. I F11ed it, just to be sure.

Hey I like how you're doing these kill lists, but maybe you should make it it's own thread. So that people can comment specifically on the newspapers that InfiniteAmount makes.

I agree with Prater's argument, though the game timeline is muddied somewhat, but the flags and factions in the game the US uses the 15 star flag which was used from 1795 to 1818, while the Verenigde Provinciën (Dutch Republic) was supplanted as the Batavian Republic (a Napoleonic client State) and then in 1806 Became the Kingdom of Holland (which was absorbed into the French Empire in 1810) and then became the United Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815 after the defeat of Napoleon. Playing US I haven't paid a huge attention to the other national flags, but they can tell us something. Firstly the existence of the United States as a faction, means that the game is post 1783. Second the Spanish flag used appears to be the modern flag of Spain, which was adopted in 1785 Third the French use the Tricolor which was set in it's present arrangement in 1794 (and was not used from 1815 to 1830) Lastly if the British flag used in this case (which I haven't seen up close) is the current "Union Jack" that would place the game in post 1801 All of this is rather shaky ground to base a timeline on to be sure, but clearly things won't line up 100% perfect, and it shouldn't, it's a game. But the fact is based on the Factions in game and their starting ports the Game definitely does start between 1783 and 1803.

The one thing I will say is that a ship would have to be in really shabby condition to be noticable beyond 100-150 meters distance. No in service active combat vessels would be left in such a condition. I like the idea, and support some grime and wear to these ships, I just don't wanna see this: much less this:

The lynx is very fast and agile, when used correctly it can run circles around a cutter. Sure it have less cannons, which is why many people will use the privateer, But even the basic lynx can be a terror. With it's low freeboard it can be very hard to hit, so a lynx can tuck itself under the guns of bigger ships.

I'd also suggest that all peacefires have a 48 hour period before they go into effect so there is enough time to inform people that one is taking place.

Try not to be frustrated, the early ranks can be a bit of a grind. Try out the small battles as they can be a blast in a small ship. even if you don't join a clan make a few friends in chat and with 2-4 people any mission will be easy. Also if you find you are fighting a mission that's too hard, don't be afraid to run away, sometimes retreat is the best option.

Great fight guys, despite being outgunned you mustered and fought. Came darned close to sinking me by the end too. (nice rake on my bow Grim.) Though we may be foes, the French are an honorable foe and a worthy opponent. I have no doubt we haven't seen the last of you. o7

Except the 2 ports we took were during the prime time of the Spanish players, we took ports that had timers set on them.

yeah but TF offered to take the ports on Cuba and set no timer, so that the Spanish could retake them without effort and set their own timers. They were rejected and rather rudely at that. and while yes it is impossible to enforce a peace with the non-clan members of a faction, those disorganized players who aren't part of a clan wouldn't stand a chance against a concerted Spanish response especially as Cuba is home turf for Spain, they can get to any port on the north fast by TPing to Havana.

Viceroy is a good word

Some feedback would be helpful; are the map images clear enough for people? It's difficult to get a good picture of the whole map (or at least the inhabited parts of it) with my current resolution, so I'm considering taking say 4 more zoomed in pictures and stitching them together for more clarity. I like the idea of a timelapse, I might try that once there are enough images for it. I'll ask again that if there is a Dev or person with an official count of the total number of ports and the number each faction starts with, it would be greatly appreciated. also if this continues getting pinned might be nice, if that's not presumptuous of me to ask. I think this project would be nice to see as the time goes one, and if we had more details demographics of the server population (i.e. 27% of PvP1 playing Britain, 22% Pirate, 17% US, 9% French, etc) to see how well the factions are doing over time relative to their player count.

It's comforting how many expressions are still the same after 230 years. As they say the more things change they more they stay the same.

Charles, my good sir, you know how ready the journalist is with his pen. Certainly the informed reader will be aware that the historic enmity Great Britain and France would, owing to the demands of national pride, prevent either from taking a subordinate position to the other.

Very lovely, we need more 74s in Naval action, they were the SOL of choice at the time.

February 1st 2016 Ports: 77 Spanish 52 British 50 Neutral 35 American 34 Pirate 33 Free Ports 32 French 23 Dutch 20 Danish 7 Swedish Sweden has seen a sevenfold increase in territory. The Danes and the Americans growing by a factor of five. The Dutch growth being just shy of four times their modest beginnings. The pirates have nearly tripled in size. Great Britain's port control has risen by 57%. The French are enjoying a 23% increase in territory, despite the loss of their Haitian holdings. The Spanish empire is feeling the pressure of it's neighbors in the Caribbean losing 26% of it's possessions.

I am sorry for misinterpreting your Rhetoric, the difficulty of reading text. I just want things to be all in good fun, the internet can become toxic at times and it would be a shame if Naval action was tainted by a toxic community. Carry on, you Spanish Devil!

While I completely agree, I do not have the confidence that I will always have time to do weekly updates. I'd rather commit to once a month, with the possibility of mid-month updates, than overcommit and not deliver. Either way things go, check back tomorrow for the February 1st update!

Gentleman, these posts are meant to be a fun bit of yellow journalism. The argument about port timers is in another thread and there is no sense in retreading that water here. Likewise I would hate to see what is supposed to be fun and humorous post locked up in squabbling about "who did what to whom and when." The simple matter is that the Spanish and the US are neighbors and currently unfriendly in their relations, as Spanish ports not only double the number of the next highest player faction but also lay upon the path south into the wider Caribbean conflict with the US was likely.

To chart the expansion and decline of the major powers of the Caribbean, I have decided to publish a map once per month. 19th January 2016 (faction starting positions) There are 361 Ports visible on the map and they are divided as follows, (the numbers are by my count and I am human and capable of messing up, so if you have a more accurate number, please let me know.) Factions: 137 Neutral 104 Spanish 33 Free Ports 33 British 26 French 12 Pirate 7 American 6 Dutch 4 Danish 1 Swedish 1st February 2016 Factions: 77 Spanish (26% decline) 52 British (57.5% increase) 50 Neutral 35 American (400% increase) 34 Pirate (183% increase) 33 Free Ports 32 French (23% increase) 23 Dutch (183% increase) 20 Danish (400% increase) 7 Swedish (700% increase) 16th February 2016 Factions: 71 British (36.5% increase from last update, 215% total) 70 American (200% increase from last update, 1000% total) 44 Pirate (29% increase from last update, 267% total) 40 Spanish (48% decrease from last update, 61.5% decrease overall) 34 French ( 6% increase from last update, 31% total) 33 Dutch (43% increase from last update, 450% total) 33 Free Ports 20 Danish (0% Increase from last update, 400% total) 10 Swedish (43% increase from last update, 1000% total) 6 Neutral