Mooring ships at the jetty

[CouchcaptainCharles]

Pieter had the idea of placing the ship of some questcharacter directly beside the pier/jetty in Redmond. Basically that is no problem: You can put someone's ship into a port (land)location by means of the command

SetCharacterShipLocation(CharacterFromID("Barbossa"), "Redmond_Port");

That one will anchor Barbossa's Red Pearl at Redmond.

The ships are placed on locators of the "Ship_other" type (NOT those of the "Ship" type!). So if we move some of those locators beside the jetty with Inez' Tool we can moor ships there:
[attachment=1287:jettyships.JPG]

There is only one problem: I have found no possibility to place a certain ship exactly on one specific locator. It seems that the game simply goes through the locatorfile for each ship and grabs the next free locator. The sequence is like this:

1. The playership, so that is always on the locator "ship_1"

2. The playercompanions or escorts -IF there are any- take the next locators

3. Any ships that have been placed by the SetCharacterShipLocation command

4. The coastraiders&traders

Do you see what problems this may cause? In the example above the player has only one escort -which is on "ship_2"- so the questship can take the next "ship_3" locator. If the player has a full three companions(on "ship_2, 3 & 4") the questship ends up on "ship_5" -far away from the jetty.

So currently I see no way to place a certain ship on a certain position. However, I have made a locatorfile for Redmond where the playership anchors some distance away from the pier, which leaves all four jetty positions for any playercompanions or questships. That ensures that your questship will always moor at the jetty, even if you can't determine exactly where.

If you wan't to try this unzip the attached file into resource\models\locations\Town_Redmond\port
[attachment=1288:RedPort_l.zip]

 

[Pieter Boelen]

This whole thing was meant for the HMS Interceptor. So perhaps we could make this an easy fix: We just set the player ship to the HMS Interceptor and that way we can be certain it ends up at the first locator. Right? However, we might not always want to have the player ship at that locator, so perhaps we can make a quest Redmond port location where the player ship (HMS Interceptor) is always near the jetty. So the events could then play out as follows:
- Player enters 3D sailing mode near Redmond
- Clip of Jack entering Port Royal plays
- Player is at the pier of Redmond port (quest location). His ship is now HMS Interceptor, but the "go to sea" icon is locked. Murtogg and Mulroy are guarding the ship and the player can go to talk to them.

Could that work?

 

[Thomas the Terror]

I think that is good enough, btw I LOVE THAT PICTURE, IT just looks plain cool, to see the ships actually along the jetty. Nicely done CCC!

 

[Pieter Boelen]

I agree; it looks REALLY cool to see those ships alongside. I wonder if we should do that for some ports by default, most notably Redmond and Isla Muelle. I only see a problem with ships of different widths: If a ship is too wide, the ship might show through the jetty, while if the ship isn't wide enough, it won't be close enough to the jetty. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":?" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" />

 

[Petros]

I'd love to have that by default as well.
Four spots for the player and 3 companion ships at every port would be really nice!

<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="me.gif" /> CCC

 

[Pieter Boelen]

I think some ports won't allow alongside docking. Especially not for multiple ships. An example would be Greenford with only one pier. But it would be awesome to have this for the bigger ports, most notably Redmond and Isla Muelle. Problem though: What to do with the player's little boat? That one will still be generated, right? Wouldn't it be odd to see the player's ship moored alongside the jetty with a little boat right next to it?

It looks like the function void LocLoadShips(ref Location) in PROGRAM\Locations\locations_loader.c puts all the ships on the locators in the ports. I don't quite understand how it works, but perhaps we can do some modifying here to:
1) Put the Interceptor always at the same reload locator (so that she can be guarded by Murtogg and Mulroy)
2) Not load the player's boat when his ship is loaded close to the jetty in big ports

 

[Pieter Boelen]

I just tried your modified locators file in the game and it is ABSOLUTELY AWESOME! Now Redmond actually looks like a busy port with all those ships being moored alongside the jetty. It is especially cool to see all those "forests" of masts you would see in a real port of the era. And the stern flags on many of the ships also look very cool. I SO want this for all other ports as well. It adds a tremendous amount of atmosphere to the game! Nicely done! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/w00t.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="w00t.gif" />

 

[morgan terror]

maybe there should simply be less locators for the ships in ports with smaller docks. that way, at least one of the player's ships would be lying in port.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

What I understood from CCC is that the PLAYER ship will always be there.

 

[Short Jack Gold]

<!--quoteo(post=220842:date=Nov 10 2007, 10:01 AM:name=Pieter Boelen)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pieter Boelen @ Nov 10 2007, 10:01 AM) [snapback]220842[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->What I understood from CCC is that the PLAYER ship will always be there.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
As I've seen it so far - looking in from the sea at Redmond it goes:

players ship - another ship - JETTY - another ship - another ship - ANOTHER JETTY

And boy! does it look good. Especially when standing up on the steps leading to the town and looking back over the port.

 

[morgan terror]

seems good enough to me. maybe there should be an inacessable piece added to the small docks where the others ships are moored against? it would be blocked by a chain bewteen two posts or something like that, excusing the fact that the player still wouldn't be able to walk there if the chain wasn't there.

 

[Petros]

<!--quoteo(post=220602:date=Nov 8 2007, 02:34 PM:name=CouchcaptainCharles)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CouchcaptainCharles @ Nov 8 2007, 02:34 PM) [snapback]220602[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->...
1. The playership, so that is always on the locator "ship_1"

...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

This is great! Oh Please do this form IM as well!

One question, is this normal?
<img src="http://www.pix8.net/pro/pic/7888greeb/1076887.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" />
My ship is the light Caravel and I have a schooner assigned to an officer.

The schooner got the Pier, along with another two schooners and a Xebec, while I got this spot away from the pier.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

That is normal, yes. I also observed that in my game. I suppose CCC did that because there is always still the small player's boat and if the player ship would be moored alongside, the boat would be superfluous.

 

[Cylon13]

I like where this thing is actually going: REALISM! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/danse1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="danse1.gif" />

And Petros ..I never told that your ship (light caravel) looks beautiful with those sails,
pity that ship is crap in combat <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mybad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="mybad.gif" /> ..for pirates anyways meh. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/whistling.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="whistling.gif" />

 

[Petros]

<!--quoteo(post=220906:date=Nov 10 2007, 03:12 PM:name=Cylon13)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cylon13 @ Nov 10 2007, 03:12 PM) [snapback]220906[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I like where this thing is actually going: REALISM! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/danse1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="danse1.gif" />

And Petros ..I never told that your ship (light caravel) looks beautiful with those sails,
pity that ship is crap in combat <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mybad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="mybad.gif" /> ..for pirates anyways meh. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/whistling.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="whistling.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, for pirates use it is bad as it is a poor in sailing, as are all caravels.

But I use it early on in my games now. It is a challenge to navigate, <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sailr.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="sailr.gif" /> but merchant contracts are good.

I try to get a good cannoneer early, and when pirates successfully chase me down (I don't really run), my 13 gun broadside of chain leaves them just sitting ducks for my boarding party. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/duel_pa.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":ixi" border="0" alt="duel_pa.gif" />

Once I get tired of trading, I switch to either a Ketch or schooner I've captured (pirate versions) sell off the caravel, sign articles, and then go off as a privateer. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/keith.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="keith.gif" />

 

[Cylon13]

Cool! ..anyways one thing leads me to go CRAZY <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wacko.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":wacko:" border="0" alt="wacko.gif" /> You'r playing pirate (sig) and you are not pirate? (in game).
<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wacko.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":wacko:" border="0" alt="wacko.gif" />

 

[morgan terror]

that's about the tactic i follow with slower ships. works well with flutes and galleons too. i really like the look of those ships alongside each other.

 

[Petros]

<!--quoteo(post=220602:date=Nov 8 2007, 02:34 PM:name=CouchcaptainCharles)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CouchcaptainCharles @ Nov 8 2007, 02:34 PM) [snapback]220602[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->..., I have made a locatorfile for Redmond where the playership anchors some distance away from the pier, which leaves all four jetty positions for any playercompanions or questships. That ensures that your questship will always moor at the jetty, even if you can't determine exactly where.
...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Ignore my previous question. I should have read more carefully. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mybad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="mybad.gif" />

This is so neat! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/william.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":will" border="0" alt="william.gif" />
I'm changing it in mine so that all my ships will line up.
I'll just be careful to never have 4 ships during a quest with escort, which I do anyway.

Even small ports can now have at least one locator for players ship!
Thanks again CCC <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="me.gif" />

You could <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/poet.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":hmm" border="0" alt="poet.gif" /> write a book titled: "Having Fun With Locators"

 

[Cylon13]

<!--quoteo(post=220926:date=Nov 11 2007, 12:52 AM:name=Petros)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Petros @ Nov 11 2007, 12:52 AM) [snapback]220926[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->You could <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/poet.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":hmm" border="0" alt="poet.gif" /> write a book titled: "Having Fun With Locators"<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Hmm... AH! let me see ..it's book witch contains answers for questions like:

"You'r having problems with your current location while getting hit with nasty bunch of cannonballs?" <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/piratesing.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="piratesing.gif" />
"You don't know where you are on map while looking at up side down map?" <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mybad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="mybad.gif" />
"You need to sail to some island but you have a compass what doesn't point north? But we aren't going north?" <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/no.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="no.gif" />
"Your ship is missing some ropes = problem unable to sail?" <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/modding.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="modding.gif" />
"Your crew likes to play ghost game by walking trought each other?" <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/piratesing.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="piratesing.gif" />
"You'r trying to teach crew where to walk on ship and where not to walk?" <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/whippa.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="whippa.gif" />
"You just found a funny little Tartane in middle of nowhere COMPLETLY EMPTY and its name is Error? ..WTF?" <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/8q.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="8q.gif" />
"You got fed up and you just want to have some fun?" <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dev.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":d:" border="0" alt="dev.gif" />

Well if so then my answer is YES! write that book! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/danse1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="danse1.gif" />

 

[Kazeite]

Oh yeah. This is truly fantastic. I bow before your mad coding skillz <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="me.gif" />

I'm curious though, how it would look like with four 100-guns <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> Obviously clipping would be an issue - I can see that on the first screen this lineship barely fits its parking place. Well, I think that obvious solution would be to space the locator farther apart. Yes, the smaller ships are going to look kinda weird, so far away from the docks, but hey, it's enormous improvement anyway! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/w00t.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="w00t.gif" />