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Changing the "Ransom Prisoner" options

C

CouchcaptainCharles

COO (Chief Oddity Officer)
Storm Modder
Pirate Legend
After long and hard reflection <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bookish.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":mm" border="0" alt="bookish.gif" /> I had an idea which I thought worthy of the Nobelprize for Modding <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" /> : it would add a nice twist and challenge if you could cash in a ransom for a prisoner only if you sailed to his homeisland <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/keith.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":keith" border="0" alt="keith.gif" /> . So I spent quite some time tracking down the code for ransoming and finally found this in passengers.c :

<!--c1--><div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain'><!--ec1-->    if(prisonFlag==true)

    {

 SetShowMode(ISHOW_MODE_CAPTIVE);

 if(true) // NK - if(GetRemovable(chPsgn)) //if( GetRemovable(chPsgn) && CheckAttribute(chPsgn,"nation") && chPsgn.nation==curLocNation )

 {

     SetCharacterRemovable(&chPsgn, true);

     SetSelectable("RELEASE_CAPTIVE",true);

 }<!--c2--></div><!--ec2-->

Which looks like in the original(?) game you could release prisoners only at home. So my grand project had already been done ages ago... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mybad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":facepalm" border="0" alt="mybad.gif" />

(Which prooves once again that it is quite likely that different people develop the same idea independent of each other. Just an aside to those who always like to accuse their fellowmodders of "ideatheft" just because they develop an idea that somone else may have already had. Good ideas are usually obvious, so that there is no need to steal them! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" /> )

Back to the ransom code. Evidence found at the scene of the crime points to a certain "NK" as prime suspect <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" /> So, Nathan, confess: was there any technical reason for disabling that nationcheck, or would it be safe for me to reinstate that?

Another question: I would like to add the option to set your prisoner free WITHOUT ransom. The reward for your generosity would be reputation and an improved relationship to the prisoner's nation. But so far have i no knowledge about adding interfaceoptions. Can someone tell me on the fly how to do that?
 
Ye will surely do quite nicely 'round here, CCC! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />
 
Interesting thought, CCC! It would most certainly be a challenge if we have to release all the pirates we catch back to QC, if we're "at war" with them! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_eek.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":shock:" border="0" alt="icon_eek.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/w00t.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":woot" border="0" alt="w00t.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="xD:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />
 
Actually, `Stone-D`'s the fellow who wrote that, and I'm just the stinker who disabled it. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />
No technical reason, just gameplay.
As Cat says: odds are you're hostile with the nation of the captain you've captured (why else capture him?) and so you'd have to sail all the way over to his island and sneak in the "back door" just to release the poor slob.
But I agree as it stands now it's `odds-on` worse even than before, you can ransom them at sea and all...
Perhaps a better check would just be to require you to be on land first, or even in a governor's house (as in Pirates!--let the Diplomatic Corps handle it).

And I indeed agree that it's rather natural for good ideas to keep popping up--`self-selection`, as it were; bad ideas don't often get suggested.
 
As many times as I ended up playing the final sequence of the main quest while writing up my Danielle/Clement fix, I found it TRULY annoying when Silehard would escape before I got back to turn him in at Redmond... What triggers that (or prevents it), or is it entirely random?
 
I;d not 'ave it happen to me yet,I'd be guess'n ye get a trivial sum for a reward if he escapes? <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />
 
<!--`QuoteBegin-NathanKell`+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NathanKell)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Actually, `Stone-D`'s the fellow who wrote that, and I'm just the stinker who disabled it.  :cheeky  
No technical reason, just gameplay.
As Cat says: odds are you're hostile with the nation of the captain you've captured (why else capture him?) and so you'd have to sail all the way over to his island and sneak in the "back door" just to release the poor slob.
[/quote]
That makes sense. I bet many players would be annoyed if they had to sneak through jungles to cash in ransom. But for masochistic types like me it would be just the right challenge.

What do you think, would it be acceptable for public use to let ransom negotions take place in churches only, them being neutral,sacred ground, and the church just the organization to promote such "humanitarian <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" /> " negotiations across enemy lines?
 
<img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="xD:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> You ARE a masochist, CCC! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="xD:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />

However think about it like this: You're presumably "at war" with the people you've captured - and even if you're a privateer, you still have to answer to the military, so the military should handle the ransoms of the people with whose countries your country is at war.

Getting the church involved might answer a need if you were a mercenary and didn't care WHO you attack... Say your country has an uneasy peace with another, you capture one of their ships in your role as a pirate (as opposed to a privateer with a letter of marque), you don't want your country's military to know you've been attacking `non-combatant` ships - so you go though the church.

<img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":?" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" /> Complicate matters enough for ya, CCC? <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />
 
Well... I asked for it, didn't I <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" />
 
Never ask a Libra woman her opinion, she'll give you both of them! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="xD:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />
 
Perhaps you could also turn your prisoners in at a prison of the prisoners enemy to save you aving to get urself blown to pieces if ur at war with the prisoners country and trying to dock at their port
 
All the more reason to add Forts as playable locations (e.g. visitable before ransacking a town) to all the islands, I think.

Weighing in on the main issue, I do think it's far too easy to just ransom my captive anytime I want... though I prefer being able to do that to hearing that the bugger jumped overboard! Man the harpoons!
 
Heh, I know exactly what you mean, Alan...

I like the idea of going to the military or the church to turn in a captive or ransom him... And I guess the ones that escape are just part of "real life" on the high seas... Although, I'd like to see how Silehard plans to swim in to ANY shore from waaaaay out in the ocean where he usually jumps ship! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_eek.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":shock:" border="0" alt="icon_eek.gif" />
 
On the theme of places to redeem your captured captains; what about turning in your ransomed prisoner to the "ambassadors" on QC and in the Smugglers' Hideout on Conceicao, (am I remembering this correctly, there isn't an ambassador on Douwesan with those pirates? <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":?" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" /> )

Just as the "ambassador" can arrange your amnesty with a nation that you've attacked, he can also broker your captive's ransom. On that note, what about turning the captive in to a loanshark?

The mind boggles! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_eek.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":shock:" border="0" alt="icon_eek.gif" /> You have a captive and you can either turn him in to, (a) a governor who will grant a bounty and prestige, (B) a church official, who will accept a small percentage from the ransom for handling the transaction, for the greater glory of God, © an ambassador or a loanshark who will act as a `prize-agent` and will charge a large percentage of the ransom.

I think I have been playing this game for a year and about 3 months and it is still occupying my time and energy, amazing!

Hey Smithee! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" /> Long time no talk! A glass of wine with you, sir! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/beer2.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":beer" border="0" alt="beer2.gif" />

Lady Cat, I know Governor Silehard never made your Governor's synchronized swimming team, but he certainly is a bouyant soul! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/william.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":will" border="0" alt="william.gif" />
 
<!--`QuoteBegin-SirChristopherMings`+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SirChristopherMings)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Lady Cat, I know Governor Silehard never made your Governor's synchronized swimming team, but he certainly is a bouyant soul!  :will[/quote]Aye... But there be sharks in dem dere waters! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="xD:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />
 
<!--`QuoteBegin-CatalinaThePirate`+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CatalinaThePirate)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--`QuoteBegin-SirChristopherMings`+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SirChristopherMings)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Lady Cat, I know Governor Silehard never made your Governor's synchronized swimming team, but he certainly is a bouyant soul!  :will[/quote]Aye... But there be sharks in dem dere waters! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="xD:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />[/quote]

But would even a shark want to eat Slimehard? <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dev.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":d:" border="0" alt="dev.gif" />
 
<!--`QuoteBegin-CatalinaThePirate`+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CatalinaThePirate)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Never ask a Libra woman her opinion, she'll give you both of them!  :rolleyes:  xD:[/quote]

LOL

It's a sign of brains if you have several opinions on one issue. That way you always have a backup opinion at hand if one opinion doesn't fit to the changed situation (i.e. the audience) anymore <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" /> (reminds me of a certain presidential candidate <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" /> )

Still I prefer someone with several conflicting opinions IN his brain to someone who has inSTEAD of his brain only stereotypes and catchphrases (reminds me of another presidential candidate <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mybad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":facepalm" border="0" alt="mybad.gif" /> )
 
<!--`QuoteBegin-SirChristopherMings`+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SirChristopherMings)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
The mind boggles!  ...
I think I have been playing this game for a year and about 3 months and it is still occupying my time and energy, amazing!
[/quote]

Yes, this game, in spite of -or maybe just BECAUSE of- it's deficiencies IS mindboggling and amazing. Probably because it has so many unexploited possibilities. Almost every week I find something in the code that could be turned into a new feature. Sometimes I am tempted to ask for early retirement and spent the remaining decades of my life modding PotC <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/diomed.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":dio" border="0" alt="diomed.gif" />
 
<!--`QuoteBegin-Sirus_Darke`+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sirus_Darke)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--`QuoteBegin-CatalinaThePirate`+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CatalinaThePirate)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--`QuoteBegin-SirChristopherMings`+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SirChristopherMings)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Lady Cat, I know Governor Silehard never made your Governor's synchronized swimming team, but he certainly is a bouyant soul!  :will[/quote]Aye... But there be sharks in dem dere waters! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="xD:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />[/quote]

But would even a shark want to eat Slimehard? <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dev.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":d:" border="0" alt="dev.gif" />[/quote]

Maybe human sharks would... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/w00t.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":woot" border="0" alt="w00t.gif" />
 
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