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Random beginning scenarios mod

alan_smithee

Corsair
Storm Modder
Finally got to play Sid Meyer's Pirates and though it's cartoony and foolishly simple (unlimited ammo, fighting so basic it offended me), I got hooked for a few hours. And it reminded me of an idea I had once for a PotC mod. So I am entertaining the idea of coding a few new starting scenarios for our game, either selected randomly or at the player's choice, but either way they would be a different place to start from than on a ship full of goods with a hearty inventory and clothes on your back.

I'm gonna throw out the idea for feedback before trying to start it, since I've been away from coding a long time and have gotten rusty as hell. I also need a fuller idea of what I would put in it, so give me some ideas of what you'd like to see.

1) Starting in a military prison, basically in rags and with nothing but your fists to fight your way out. I'll try and give a few options for the actual breaking out of your cell (maybe borrowing heavily from MGS series games' prison scenes), but once you're out you would have to fight off the guards, get your first weapons from them, then jump on a boat to escape. Then you would join the main quest thread.

2) Starting in a pirate prison, same as above only you'd be in one of those tiny cells in a half-underwater cave.

3) Starting as a pressed member of a ship's crew, either of a major power or pirates; you might at least start with some clothes and a cutlass. You'd have to lead a mutiny, fighting off the majority of the crew, but at least then you'd have your starting ship and some hands for it.

Other scenarios I am considering... maybe starting as disposessed royalty, or a former farmer or merchant, something to fight to regain throughout the game. I'd like to also use the mod to give your character a bit of backstory - you come into the Carribbean as an unknown, and really nothing throughout the game fleshes out your origin. We only find out you and Danielle had some sort of past, and I always just take that to mean they sat beside each other in Pirate School back in the day. Maybe she has something to do with your unfortunate position at the beginning of the game...

Also, whichever scenario the player goes through may also affect the rest of the game a tiny bit, as influencing renown maybe - Upon first meeting you, say, some people might go, "Oh yes, I've heard of you - and your daring escape." Just for fun.
 
Sounds like great fun to me!!! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/william.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":will" border="0" alt="william.gif" />
 
Sounds great! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":onya" border="0" alt="me.gif" />

I am all for anything that adds some sense of role-playing! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":yes" border="0" alt="yes.gif" />

Go for it, by all means! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/william.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":will" border="0" alt="william.gif" />
 
Marvelous ideas, Alan, looking forward to see how they all build up! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":onya" border="0" alt="me.gif" />
 
Sounds great!
You may want to send a line CCC's way about this--with Stormy Start I figure he's probably interested in this sort of thing too (if he hasn't yet replied then). Plus the sneaky/prison part.
He has the makings of a sneakmod, which IIRC he's quite keen to make a prime project in the fall (and I too; I have some lightlevel and AI code to do there too), so I think for that we should definitely all team up...

We need a new startscreen to choose character and era. We could then also choose background (or at least a rough idea of your background, hints as to what opening would run).

But I agree a /very/ important thing is to have this be a part of the game long after the first three minutes.
 
More starting scenarios would certainly add some variations to the game, and I always find the initial "down and out" part of a game more interesting than the later "rich and strong" stages.

More possible scenarios:
Indentured worker (i.e. temporary contract slave) on a plantation. To get away you have to incite rebellion among your fellow slaves and steal the planters ship and possessions.

Buccaneer of the early type, i.e. an outcast living in the wilderness of the Spanish islands, poaching cattle and waging a guerilla war against the Dons
 
<!--QuoteBegin-CouchcaptainCharles+Aug 10 2005, 09:35 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CouchcaptainCharles @ Aug 10 2005, 09:35 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->More starting scenarios would certainly add some variations to the game, and I always find the initial "down and out" part of a game more interesting than the later "rich and strong" stages.<div align="right">[snapback]127811[/snapback]</div><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Hear, hear! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":yes" border="0" alt="yes.gif" />

I have found that to be the most interesting time in all game I have played, heheh! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile2.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":))" border="0" alt="smile2.gif" />


Another starting idea - you are a regular passenger to the New World, when the ship is attacked by pirates! You are captured, to be sold as a slave or whatever, and then get a chance to either escape (with a few, measly random items) or fight for control of the ship! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />
 
Yeah I find usually the first few minutes of a new game make or break it for me... If I get off on the right foot, and basically die fifty times in a row, well, there's just not much I can do - it's the curse of the hand of fate.

I like the plantation idea, and I was hoping to work some kind of plantation or farm into the game... could use some existing outside models and maybe enlarge the character path.
 
<img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/w00t.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":woot" border="0" alt="w00t.gif" /> Poaching cattle! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":?" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" /> Now where is that cow? <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mybad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":facepalm" border="0" alt="mybad.gif" /> Oh that's right, we had that barbecue (boucan?) at the Douwesen Waterfall Spa and Grill... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/whistling.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":wp" border="0" alt="whistling.gif" />
 
You know, some "crises at home" would be a nice touch... you end up floating around aimlessly for so long, if you had a home base somewhere and some emergencies could be randomly generated - kidnapped wife, poached cattle, attack on your island and so on, I think it would add more of a "center" to the game.
 
I think these are all great ideas. I absolutely love stormy start. These new varitiations would add so much more.

Good Luck!

<img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/buds.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":drunk" border="0" alt="buds.gif" />
 
Sounds great, mate. Really enjoy the Stormy Start. More random events would be great. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":onya" border="0" alt="me.gif" />

Cheers, matey. <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-alan_smithee+Aug 25 2005, 01:17 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(alan_smithee @ Aug 25 2005, 01:17 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->You know, some "crises at home" would be a nice touch... you end up floating around aimlessly for so long, if you had a home base somewhere and some emergencies could be randomly generated - kidnapped wife, poached cattle, attack on your island and so on, I think it would add more of a "center" to the game.
<div align="right">[snapback]129010[/snapback]</div><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":onya" border="0" alt="me.gif" />
kidnapped wife ... a la Port Royal
kidnapped Gov. daughter ... a la SMP
kidnapped distiller ... a la PA Modding Community <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/w00t.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":woot" border="0" alt="w00t.gif" />

That would be nice, and I'm thinking not so hard for the modders to do!
 
<!--QuoteBegin-CatalinaThePirate+Aug 22 2005, 05:43 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CatalinaThePirate @ Aug 22 2005, 05:43 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin--><img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/w00t.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":woot" border="0" alt="w00t.gif" /> Poaching cattle!  <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":?" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" />  Now where is that cow?  <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mybad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":facepalm" border="0" alt="mybad.gif" />  Oh that's right, we had that barbecue (boucan?) at the Douwesen Waterfall Spa and Grill...  <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/whistling.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":wp" border="0" alt="whistling.gif" />
<div align="right">[snapback]128681[/snapback]</div><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Holy cow ! Another extinct species (the spotted Carribbean cow) <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/no.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":no" border="0" alt="no.gif" />

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->QUOTE(alan_smithee @ Aug 25 2005, 01:17 AM)
You know, some "crises at home" would be a nice touch... you end up floating around aimlessly for so long, if you had a home base somewhere and some emergencies could be randomly generated - kidnapped wife, poached cattle, attack on your island and so on, I think it would add more of a "center" to the game.

.................................................
kidnapped wife ... a la Port Royal
kidnapped Gov. daughter ... a la SMP
kidnapped distiller ... a la PA Modding Community 

That would be nice, and I'm thinking not so hard for the modders to do!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Building Kit will include Indian/Buccaneer attacks on the buildings you erect <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/duel_pa.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":ixi" border="0" alt="duel_pa.gif" /> , and I'll write it so that you can easily add your own events and dialogs for the inhabitants <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/type_1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":nk" border="0" alt="type_1.gif" /> . The only limit is our imagination (and the darned lack of TIME <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dunno.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":shrug" border="0" alt="dunno.gif" /> )
 
How about this: You start in, example, Oxbay when France has just attacked there. Then you can run to across the jungle to the Greenford, and ask if someone could transport you to Redmond to inform Governor. And maybe some pirates attacks the ship and the captain dies and after that you promote yourself as a captain.(Sorry bad english) Then you sail to Redmond and inform Governor and then the main quest thing starts. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bounce.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":b:" border="0" alt="bounce.gif" />
 
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