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Jack Feathersword

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Posts posted by Jack Feathersword

    Crew, Progression and AI Fleets.

    in Current Feature Improvement Suggestions

    Posted · Edited by Jack Feathersword

    Crew, Progression and AI Fleets.

    With all the AI fleet topics around I am not sure where to put this; so here goes.

     

    I think the Current issues with AI fleets, can be linked back to rewards, XP and progression. The system is really geared towards getting as much XP as possible. This combined to the fact that the bigger ships only sail in large groups, means that to have any success as a captain you need to do as much damage to the biggest fleets as you can without sinking.  Thus player fleets and or groups of players with their own fleets.

     

    The current progression of XP based ranks within a given navy has the only purpose of providing you with set number of crew. This crew is only used for sailing your personal ship. Additional  crew that are not used and serve zero purpose. Modules (hammocks) can increase the crew number past what your rank provides. The current system allows players of a certain rank to hire additional ships with crew and guns provisioned up to a certain size and number. This system is very unrestricted and currently as no downside.

     

    Combining these elements together makes for a game of grinding the largest fleets you can to get the most XP you can relegating  PVP, "fair" fights and fun to a distant second.

     

    Is there a better way to make progression and AI more diverse and more fun? I think there is and this is how:


    Crew should be the most valuable commodity in the game, this should be the one deciding factor of what can be done and how much it should cost. If the crew was a commodity it could be bought, sold or given as a reward.   This crew would then be used to crew your own ship, AI ships in a fleet and when crafting is implemented it can be labour for that too.  How this crew is used should be up to the captain and the costs involved could change based on the tasks and rewards.

     

    Naval progression could still provide a certain number of crew up front, this would however be balanced against the requirement for handing over a set % of the loot to the Naval command.  This means while offering less potential rewards it allows a steady income and without the higher costs of having to pay for the whole crew yourself.  Naval command would require certain mission/assignments to be completed to maintain or provide the crew and or a upkeep allowance to the captain.

     

    Merchants would be able to use their crew for a fleet of trade ships or as AI escorts if they wanted, they would be required to fund the ships and the crew themselves. This would allow for merchants and traders to become quite wealthy but at a much higher risk and cost.

     

    Privateers would also be able to fund their own crews and ships to plunder rival shipping. This would provide higher rewards than working directly for the naval command as anything captured or looted would their own minus a fee for the letter marque. 

     

    I feel these changes enable more play styles and gameplay rather than restrict it. It offers a mechanism to balance out the game without hard rules sets or artificial systems. It would allow a progression system that caters for both hard-core gamers and casuals as progression is not restricted to just one system. It allows for risk vs reward game modes with the PVE and PVP elements to encourage game play.

     

    Whether the crew are pay once, PAYG (pay as you go and only paid upfront when taken out to sea), leased or take a % of loot/rewards is a different question and maybe all options could be on the table to allow  for some flexibility.

     

    As example if each crew member was to cost 1000 gold each upfront; this would mean to have an AI cutter would be 40,000 gold for the crew plus another 2000-3000 gold for the ship.  A Bellona would be 650,000 gold and another 300,000 gold for the ship.  The ships would have durability and could be configurable. Another possible element would be to make the crew perishable. Losses would need to be re-hired (costs would need to be balanced).

     

    All ships would use a common crew pool, this means that someone can use their 1000 crew for an AI Victory but it would leave very little crew for themselves, it would also be very expensive.  Naval crew allocations would either provide additional crew or could provide wages for a certain number of crew.

     

    Let me know you thoughts.

     

    Jack Feathersword.  

    • Like 6

    Modules suggestion

    in Current Feature Improvement Suggestions

    Posted

    I think that the modules should be re-worked when player created ships arrive. Right now, modules are immortal and that will not generate demand for player crafted items. When Player created ships arrive i would like to see the upgrades be qualities of the ship build and materials. 

     

    things like the rigging, sails, planking, mast and structure should determine the ship qualities, not magic immortal items that magic 15% reload bonuses at all times.

    • Like 1

    The Economy (and other things)

    in Current Feature Improvement Suggestions

    Posted · Edited by Jack Feathersword

    I personally think that aside from navies, gold should be the key deciding factor that guides actions. Want more crew? pay for them, want to get someone to move your stuff for you? pay for it, want a different ship? build it or pay for it.

     

    I hate fake systems that try to control what players can and cant do.

    • Like 5

    A Public Open World map

    in Maps - Development forum

    Posted

    As my day job I develop mapping software and related data applications, so I quickly created an OpenWorld mapping application.

     

    http://arcg.is/1F3BtOD

     

    I am looking to add more content.  Ports, PVP areas, NPC areas, trade lanes etc..  I won't add any content unless someone offers or gives permission.

     

    Post your content here in the following format and I will add:

    • A location (lat,long or pic of location on a map),
    • Type of content (port, PVP area, trade lane etc), 
    • X, Z - OW map location, hit F11 to view the position
    • Comments

    All content is welcome, it will be up to others to verify or correct...

     

    ps. given time I will convert one of the classic West Indies maps to the base map.

     

    Quartermaster

    I am getting a user/pass prompt.

     

    Can we see the app?  Id settle for a map like the one "WIND" posted above with a 360o compass over way or route plotter

     

    Thanks 

    What are the best trading games you played?

    in Tavern

    Posted

    One other thing i love about Gw2 is the ability to break down goods and loot that i don't want to sell or use myself. This is something that really gets to me in Elder scrolls online.

     

    Something like being able to breakdown loot into planking, sail part etc might be a good system.

    • Like 1

    What are the best trading games you played?

    in Tavern

    Posted · Edited by Jack Feathersword

    Guild wars 2

    Hmm  can you elaborate why?

     

     

    I have played a lot of GW2 and i have traded the whole time.

     

    Some of the things i like about it.

     

    1) casual players can use it without too much drama or stress from anywhere to sell the proceeds and loot quickly. 

    2) It is quite big allowing for people to set up shop and play/corner small parts of the market.

    3) It has a good mix of consumables and gear to make sure that items keep rolling over.

    4) The stats and qualities are easy to find and understand.

    5) The API means that although the stats within the game are lacking anyone who wants to can access the raw data  to make their own tools.

     

    Things that it lacks.

    1) charts of the recent prices for buy/sell orders

    2) a good way to track your income/current money/future money.

    3) a way to save favorite searches and items.

    4) contracts or recurring buy orders.

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