Way to go Cyberops, this is everything a game player could want.
I love Pirates! but I do find that it is lacking some of the funner things; such as taking over and owning settlements, 1 ship attacking instead of your entire fleet (that one bothers me quite a bit), having relationships with many women (you can only romance one person? Common, if my guy is superstud [being a duke with tons of money] he shouldn't have to wait 4 months before he can 'greet' the wife).
I hope you can finish this ambitious project since this would put to shame almost any other mod or expansion ever made by the community.
Some things I would like to see:
- More, and different types of ships. What we have now is good, but more would be even better.
- A larger list of ship names. I don't know how many Santa Maria's I have seen during the same game.
- More settlements for Pirates, and especially natives. Pirates should have smaller more remote locations (away from prying eyes and local authorties) and natives should be a one of the larger factions in the game. While the value of the boats remains the same they should have a larger presence (at least in mexico). Maybe they could have some more lands settlements and have quite large (though technolically backwards) army. This would make for some variety and a chance to be a conquistador.
- Make settlements, in general, have larger armies. This would make it more rewarding to capture (and possibly own) a settlement.
- Have a choice in either owning, pilliging or giving a settlement away.
For example: You could keep a settlement, which you would then have to proctect from natives, pirates, and the factions which you have less then amicable relations. With the settlement you own you could possible get discounts on the goods being sold, cheaper repair, and possibly a small amount of money by taxes (though that would be hard to implement).
If pillage the settlement, you get loads of money and goods (or just money).
If you give it away to a faction (say the english) then they would love you and it would be easier to get the next promotion.
- Which leads me to the next idea, make it harder to be promoted. When playing through pirates I found it was way to easy to be promoted. I became a duke before my character was 25 and a major or higher with everyother faction (even the spanish whom I had decimated).
- Maybe a few more specialtists just to add some flavour. Like:
Ships mop- Crew moral lasts longer (they no longer have to mop the deck).
Parrot- Increases moral. (every piracte captain has to have a parrot right? It would also shut up that damned barkeep)
Body Slave- He cleans up and takes care of your needs and wishes (slows down aging effects).
Courtesan- For those long sea trips (Either slows down aging effects or increases crew moral -their captain is in a good mood and dosen't bark as many orders).
Chemist- He knows how to make black powder and better yet how to improve it (increases cannon damage)
Diplomat (or some other name)- improves relations with nations you are fighting against.
Deck master- Increases cannon fire rate, but decreases the length of crew moral (no one wants to be around him and no one wants to slacking either)
Musicion- Plays music and sings to the crew (grew moral lasts longer)
- A couple more ship upgrades, such as:
Lookout tower- Able to aim and shoot guns farther.
Spirralled cannon chamber- Increases range and/or damage of the cannon.
Extra holding bays- Increase the number of cannons able to be used.
Reinforced bow- Less damage received by storms.
Extra ropes and rope ladders- Decreases the amount of casualties sustained during naval battle (the men that go over board are able to climb back on).
- Another thing that should be changed is the amount of damage storms do. The damage should be at least doubled so that when a ship does go in it, the captain is taking a chance that it could be seriously crippled or destroyed.
- Increase the number of ships built by nations. After playing 10 years with the spanish I had completely (or at least to the point where seeing a english, french, dutch ship was an event) wiped out the carribean (except for the spanish). Maybe you could implement a way that when a nation starts running low on ships they do a 'forced build' where they start mass producing (with a hit to the population) ships in order to combat what ever nation is destorying it. This would make taking settlements more important, as well as, holding on to the ones you have as well.
Thats all I can think of that could make Pirates! even better. Can't wait and see what this expanision will provide.
P.S. I nice website, very easy to use and navigate. Also I hope you guys do make your pirate game as, besides this one, there is not much out there for us sea dogs.