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Enhancing the game

O

Oldtimer

Master Mariner
Hi all,

even taking into account that there are newer pirate games than POTC with even more coming, I think that POTC still has a large potential for development. Not the least because there are enthusiasts here with experience of succesfull modding of this game.

So forgive me if I ramble on a bit:

- first the , IMO, big weakness of POTC. You guessed it, the main quest. It has to follow the film to some degree and is frankly so unrealistic that it becomes a chore. And yes, I believe that realism ADDS pleasure to games. The most of the time I go through this quest I regret that I can`t kill Danielle. I WANT TO KILL THAT BITCH!!!

- so, IMO, the game needs campaigns set in the political and economical realities of the time. And believe you me that the RL world then was so interesting that there is no problem to make very varied and captivating missions and quests for national campaigns. The problem is in the time needed to code and debug.

- yes, national campaigns where for example waning Spain tries to keep what`s left and sabotage the efforts of others. The Dutch, no longer a GP, try to profiteer from the conflicts between giants and therefore endeavour to keep some territory in the region. The competing GP:s France and England are sliding into an all out conflict for the control of the Americas.
And in the Danish West Indies, we have a haven for spies, smugglers, slave traders, secret agents, diplomats, renegades and traitors of all kinds and carnations(yes, no Portugal in the West Indies). And then there is the pirate community, what if they were united and gained a territorial base? This was tried a few decades later on Madagascar, but failed.

- you, the player, have the opportunity to join one side, change sides, remain an independent adventurer. or plainly become a full blooded pirate in an openended environment.
I know this sounds like some earlier or coming games, nevertheless it is a way to exploit work already put into POTC to the fullest, using existing knowledge and make the game endlessly replayable.

- even more realistic ships and sailing properties correct for rigging types. Correct weapon characteristics. No carronades, but in with swivel guns. No fantasy superswords or potions, but maybe rifled firearms, repeating firearms? They were available at this time, if you had the money...

- and if you die, you die... Back to square one, matey...

- you can become permanently crippled which can give both bonuses in experience and flexibility of mind as you adjust your way of life to your new body and maluses in, say, melee and mental preparedness to accept risks.

- and please no female captains or officers, just because there weren`t any, to have a practical impact anyway. Political correctness be damned! There are many historically correct and thrilling roles for ladies, no need to falsify the truth.

Well, sounds like new multimillion development effort... Sigh... Just dreaming...

Regards, Oldtimer
 
We share a common dream then <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":yes" border="0" alt="yes.gif" /> Excellent ideas there, for sure, and PotC in fact offers the possibility to make them come true. Some are already in the advanced planning stage <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="icon_wink.gif" /> The only problem is time and manpower, or rather the lack of both.. Sigh..

As for "- and if you die, you die... Back to square one, matey...
" : you can have at least that already, if you reduce your survivalchance in Buildsettings.h
 
<!--quoteo(post=137867:date=Jan 19 2006, 04:39 PM:name=CouchcaptainCharles)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CouchcaptainCharles @ Jan 19 2006, 04:39 PM) [snapback]137867[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->We share a common dream then <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":yes" border="0" alt="yes.gif" /> Excellent ideas there, for sure, and PotC in fact offers the possibility to make them come true. Some are already in the advanced planning stage <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="icon_wink.gif" /> The only problem is time and manpower, or rather the lack of both.. Sigh..

As for "- and if you die, you die... Back to square one, matey...
" : you can have at least that already, if you reduce your survivalchance in Buildsettings.h<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Hi Couchcaptain,

glad you like my ideas. It`s always nice to meet a kindred soul.

I sure hope that you talented modders will find time to implement this kind of ideas in the future.
And IMO, take your time. A good game is good not because of graphics and visual effects, but because of gameplay ideas. That`s why some people still play original Pirates, Monkey Island and Uncharted Waters. Your brain should be the key to success, not your reflexes and trigger finger coordination.

Regards, Oldtimer
 
You can turn off the female captains by opening up PROGRAM\Models\initModels.c and removing the AssignModelType lines that refer to captains or officers for all female models. Then you won't encounter female officers and captains anymore.
 
<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/keith.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":keith" border="0" alt="keith.gif" />
Aye, ahoy! I think ive found the best pub around here.
I just noticed, that almost all the things the modder team do is try to increase realism.
By the way, i do totally agree with you, lads.
i think te wide array of ships, even BATTLESHIPS, and manowars, not to mention the ship of the line, in the shipyards to purchase, is ... eh... out of this world.
however, i think, it could be a step toward realism,
to make a buildable site, witch can BUILD unique ships, with editable stats. let YOU choose, what kind of ship u want to build
and the building time, should be almost realistic. (not years, but months)
and YOU need to transfer very mutch building goods there. I think it could be good.
and, you just can start this, when youve got a minimum level 10 carpenter in your party <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile2.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":))" border="0" alt="smile2.gif" />
What do you think? I search for people, who like this idea, because im lack of that mutch knowledge.
i did wrote the whole idea down in alpha brainstorming in beta build forum
So, keep up the ideas!

Dan the Lunatic Wolf, Captain of the 'Black Wolf' pirate corvette. (yea, too mutch wolves...)

"Dránnkk or sóber, i ki'n outsail any stinkin' englishman!!! (-hic...-)" <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/whistling.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":wp" border="0" alt="whistling.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />
 
?
But wait a sec
Okay, not military, or merchantman, but, pirates HAD lots of famous female captains, and officers! Calico Jack had at least 2 very famous, and feared warrior female officer, and there was a very big list of female captains. Okay, not the Danielle type... They were REALLY strong women. They needed to prove themself against all men, and imagine, how many times they needed to defend themeself form unwanted eh... attention of men. But they were good lads (eh, ladies...), and hard drinkers, about what i heard of them
Most of them ruthless, and good fighter.

and pirates had, what merchants, or military not: freedom: And many pirate gangs gave shelter for every type of men, or woman, in change for hard labour.
so, there were sometimes onboard whores, and many times hard working female crewmembers too. If a girl strong enough, she can be as good sailor as a men.

I do agree, that the Danielle type "sexy, man-like-but-well-designed-adventurer-outfit" wearer hot-babes, and innocent looking, big boobied town girls with swords are not... rasie the realism of this game. But theres some girls with simple clothes in the modpack, and even some of them had dusty face, wolf-like untrusty movement, who are really imaginable as the pirate ladies was. (the captains is another story: some of them did wear very noble clothes. But not skirts... I do really like the lady in red model, but only for a captain. Bloody Mary (the pirate not the queen) did wear some outfit like that. )ANd i really like the beatrice modell, with a bored-look in her eyes. dusty little seadog, real troublemaker. can play well as an officer.
 
<!--quoteo(post=137859:date=Jan 19 2006, 10:08 AM:name=Oldtimer)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Oldtimer @ Jan 19 2006, 10:08 AM) [snapback]137859[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
- and please no female captains or officers, just because there weren`t any, to have a practical impact anyway. Political correctness be damned! There are many historically correct and thrilling roles for ladies, no need to falsify the truth.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Anne Bonny (1720s), Mary Read (1720s), Mary Harley (1726), Mary Crickett(1729), Christian Davies (early 18th century), Anne Mills (1740s), Grace O'Malley (16th century)... Not all pirates I grant you (only the first 4 and possibly O'Malley), but women as sailors and soldiers in this early 18th century period was not unheard of.
Generally of course they didn't outwardly portray themselves as women (or perform a feminine gender role, if you like), indeed even Bonny and Read were said to dress as men when they encountered another vessel (accounts suggest they dressed as women at other times).
Women on ships..rare? Certainly. But not entirely a modern fiction. One would only need to limit the number of female officers (or perhaps make them companions at arms instead without an officer's specialism...well Bonny tended to be a powder monkey in battle so I read).

As for what I'd add to the game given the opportunity it'd be hangings. The colonial and royal authorities were a might keener to stage public executions as a deterrent to mutinous sailors tempted to go on the account than just have them killed at sea or butchered by the guards. Borrow from Pirates! the escape from prison idea maybe, before they send you to the gibbet.

Actually it'd be nice to be able to entirely remove the fictious islands in favour of the newly added ones. Can't see that happening however... Never understood why they couldn't use proper islands in the first place...hell the film did (mostly).
 
Yes, the thousand female officers, who sits in the bar, are really non realistic.
But there were SOME! At least, on pirate ships, nowhere else.
SO: i suggest, that, it would be good, to ban all female models, except the barmaids from the bars, and only in the many rising pirate towns in the potc world let them sit in the bar, and cry for work.
Because, most pirates (who had an island, or a village) did had a family, and therefore, sometimes there was some woman crewmembers. (who lost her husband, or dad, and dont wanted to be a whore) Not to mention some ladies, who simply killed their husband, and took over the merchantship, and became pirate. ( shame on me, i forgot the name of the lady, but she was a human giant, really fat, rumors had that sometimes she eat that mutch, that the ship must go back to the port to get more goods.... ) But forget the humor, she was a really ruthless one. I do agree, that i dont have all the details (did forgot'em <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile2.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":))" border="0" alt="smile2.gif" /> ) but the only period in the history for woman sailors (just pirates, i know) was in that era.

So, ban them from the traditional bars, but let'em be in the pirate towns, only in less numbers, and perfectly choosed models. Example: a lady in red with a tricorner hat please dont want to be crewmember, or gunner... Just for first mate only. And use only realistic clothing. example: the beatrice model has a realistic outfit compare her middle-class pirate type, perfect for boatswain, or low-class first mate. And the tricorner hat lady has an outfit, perfect for a lost-all-but-charisma noble lady, who became a smuggler, or pirate captain, thats why wear mans clothes, (not for disguise, but there were some who did also) to show charisma, and power tho the crew. It may sound weird, but there was women like this, and not very rare. Okay, most of the time, BEFORE they went to be captain they was around some strong and fearful man, but hey, this can be you....

So, if we talk about realism (whitch i really prefer) do not forget the pirate history also. But any other way, I totally agree, lads!
 
You can change a lot of these settings in initModels.c. You can set all models to their appropriate officer type. You can also set their nationalities and the chance of them appearing. If you want any help with changing this please, say so. I won't do it msyelf though. It's easy enough for anyone to do once you know how to. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":yes" border="0" alt="yes.gif" />
 
Hey! I have an idea! Maybe someone can create a mod where you find unemployed women in taverns or towns, and have the option to educate them, <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" /> getting a high reputaion increase (or even a decrease for some places) . I'tll cost some money, but after you educate them you can hire them as officers and get several bonus skill and ability points to customise them as you need. Whaddaya think?
 
<!--quoteo(post=146614:date=Apr 25 2006, 08:33 PM:name=Vanderdecken)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Vanderdecken @ Apr 25 2006, 08:33 PM) [snapback]146614[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
Hey! I have an idea! Maybe someone can create a mod where you find unemployed women in taverns or towns, and have the option to educate them, <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" /> getting a high reputaion increase (or even a decrease for some places) . I'tll cost some money, but after you educate them you can hire them as officers and get several bonus skill and ability points to customise them as you need. Whaddaya think?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

wierd idea... this is a pirate game, not a school game, and in the age of sail women officers were very uncommon. it be more realistic if one MUST have education to educate a younger lad.
 
Daft idea anyway. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/whistling.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":wp" border="0" alt="whistling.gif" /> haha. oh well. On to something else, then.
Speaking of pirate history.... we see the characters from the POTC movie walking 'round some places in the game (minus the amalgamations ie the mixed up ones example: I encountered depp with barbossas hat).. sorta like cameo apearances, if you will. Just wondering how it sounds if someone added stuff like "cameos" of characters like the aforementioned famous pirates. Plus their ships. There's lots of clamouring for realistic/historical stuff, so maybe we can take all the famous pirates in that specific time period and insert them into the new build IF its not too much trouble for the modders who are gonna be actually working on it. Like, even make there be more than one main quest, to effectively lengthen the game. Also, there's that intresting, supernatural side of the sea that has some potential for exploration too. Like adding sea monsters say for example, the Kraken, sea serpents. and ghost ships. Anyway, I suppose that might be a little too much.. if worse comes to worse I'd just like to see those gunpowder laced matches that black beard stuck into his hair on sale in the stores. (maybe only the pirate store.)
 
Looking through here, I have to say to some extent this is a game and the female officers and characters should stay, as there are other issues that are much more unbelieveable. That being said, it is indeed kind of silly that you can buy the very large ships, I think the largest you could probably buy practically would be a crovette or a frigate. It would also be unpractical to be able to build any larger ship, as the navy would never allow a pirate or privateer captain to buy one. If it can be done, perhaps we could make it so anything larger than a frigate (not including merchant ships, as I think some are larger) should be capture only, meaning that one can only attain them by raiding enemy ships. Though if this cannot be done in such a fashion, then it should be left s is.
 
I think that should be possible. We only need to figure out how... <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />
 
simple, just set that ship option in build settings... i think you pieter, know how to get it. its that one that effects the availability of 1st rates, and the stock number is 8, and it means a 1 in 7 chance of getting a 1st rate ship in the stores. just increase the number from 8 to what ever number and i think that would effect the other ships as well.
 
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