Detailed Ideas and SuggestionsEverything here is merely examples of ideas users have for the implementation of this system.
Of course, it is the core idea that matters most, and if the devs pick the main idea up, I'm not expecting them to follow any of these ideas or suggestions.
They are here to help imaginations and inspiration to run wild.
Feel free to suggest your own!
System
Rivers could appear in Towns, which small boats would be able to sail on. This would probably be better for newbies who are not confident enough yet to take on the open ocean.
Boats could have a separate 'game', like Towns. It would have 'rooms', much like Jigsaw, Cards and Slots, but these would correspond with boats docked and would have a capacity limit depending on the boat's size. People could dock their boat with a password for entry, if they only want their friends to join them, or leave it open to invite people on their sailing adventure.
On the boat itself, the passengers would only be able to see the deck. The ship's owner would be able to switch between two views - the deck, and the sea, where they can chart their course and plan their actions against other ships. Players are allowed to leave at any time. If the boat's owner leaves, all the other players are automatically kicked and return to port.
A few large, public ferries would be available for those who want to sail to other parts of the Gaia world but cannot afford their own boat yet. They would have to pay a small fee for a ticket for each ride.
The first port would probably be at Isle de Gambino. (There's already a boat there on the map, if you look!) New ports would probably become available as the map opened up to Gaians.
Perhaps, following the example of the Battle System, boats could be outfitted with weapons to attack each other. This would give pirates the opportunity to do what they do best. Destroying another ship would reward pirates with gold, while the owner of the destroyed ship would have a broken vessel and have to pay for repairs. Offensive and defensive upgrades would be available for all ships, with a set number of upgrades for each ship, so many ships would be able to defend against these pirates. The main way to cheat at this would, evidently, be closing the game before your ship is sunk. Damage would not go away by leaving and returning, but it might be the best way to save the ship from getting destroyed completely, which would be more costly than normal repairs. If someone uses this to run from an attack, the attacker would still get gold. Public ships would be immune to attacks.
Having a boat could also open up new fishing places on the world map, such as the open ocean. Other players could join the fishing, but could not make a room for fishing unless they own a boat. Any boat will do for this fishing, even if it's just a driftwood raft.
Captain Jessie Hawk
Pie
Captain Jessie Hawk
Pie
Mm, a great idea, but it would be difficult. Certainly possible, but difficult, even compared to the rest of this. A person owning multiple ships wouldn't be a problem at all, and would be best, in fact. There's so many collectors on Gaia who would want to own all of the best ships. And besides that, selling off Driftwood Rafts would be a pain for many.
The problem, really, is how to handle sailing with all of them at once. A menu before sailing to choose which boats you want to use, I imagine... but would there be a limit on how many could sail in one fleet? How would one handle designating others to control the other ships (since I imagine the owner would have control over the flagship, and let others steer the rest)? And should we do something to prevent the possibility of a newbie fleet of Driftwood Rafts?
"Well, as ye 'ave customize yer 'ome, well if the Ships be like yer home. They coul' make a Customize yer Ship section so tha' no' only can ye make the Cabin be the Captains quarters look like 'is cozy 'ome bu' ye can also "Chose yer Flagship." Meanin' tha' be the 'ead o' yer fleet, I' could be a grea' way for those o' us in Guilds as Pirates who wish to promote our own to captain so tha' we can become stronger pirates if we 'ave more ships eh?"
... that's brilliant! And it fits in perfectly with the idea Azura Bladewright suggested about boats being an alternative to housing as well. This idea is definitely going on the front page.
And Driftwood Rafts have no room for improvement or customization, so that would prevent entire fleets of them. As amusing as it would be to see a fleet of rafts.
"In fac' ye coul' take the feet an' if ye visi' i' like ye woul' in Towns with a 'ome. Ye coul' then 'ave on the side screen "Exit Home" "View Journal"
"View Profile" Then because i' is a flee' ye can 'ave "View Guild" So tha' way only those who are a a registered Captain o' a guild are allowed to own a guild, tha' way Fleets be no' easy to come by an' there won' be two many fleets."
Pie
Captain Jessie Hawk
Pie
Absolutely genius. And since ships would already be a large gold sink, the possibilities of fleets would make it an even more effective gold sink. This would have so many opportunities, for all the pirates on Gaia as well as so many of the other Gaians...
I wonder if Gambino will have his own navy? (Actually, that would be a good way to keep the seas moderated and make things a little more challenging for pirates...)
"I' coul' also brin' the Admin into 'avin' new sea based story lines to."
Oh yes, and as I mentioned earlier, it would lend itself naturally to expanding the world of Gaia, which would mean new lands, new characters, new item and event possibilities...
RequiemBelle
I just had an idea!
You know that piratey-looking ship anchored just off of the Isle of Gambino?
Do you think they could make that the store?
Wouldn't that be neat, we could have a pirate NPC!
Of course, then they'd need a ninja NPC to balance things out.
maybe they could be business partners!
I believe I'm getting ahead of myself. Still and all... it would be interesting.
Drawn by RequiemBelle
Gwydion Draonacu
Gunships would be abit risque, unless the gold amount was proportional to the size/class of ship...no use hiring a gunship for 1000g or so for a Raft.
Ships could be updated and improved with different additions and parts, as per the Shop area...lighter sails, steadier prows, lighter hull, all of that sort of thing. Perhaps a bronzed ramming head...oooh. I just gave myself goosebumps.
*ahem*
As such, new improvements could also be given out every month, as per letters, or just generalized equipment...if Gaia wants more donations, I'd say that it would only be fair for those who donate to recieve the "elite" items...or at least get some sort of discount.
Different classes of ships would have to be used...the "Pleasure cruisers" would be more along the lines of Gaian Towns, while those who wish to sink others would have something akin to the incoming Battle system. With the Gaian admins, obviously they'd just use the same technology to keep it all the same...just change the names. Cheezy, yet effective.
My only concern would be the space upon which these ships, small or massive they might be, would travel. So many users on one Ocean, no matter how big, would be quite straining on a server. If they find a way to intergrate everything together AND deal with the overload to their systems, hey, good on them. Hell, I'd open a bottle of my own Cherry Mead just for that.
Items
Driftwood Raft
Price - 200 Gold
Design - A small driftwood raft with a tattered flag.
Capacity - Owner, 1 Passenger
Speed - Very Slow
Defense - Very Poor
Upgrades - 0
Description - You're planning to go to sea in that?
Standard Fishing Boat
Price - 1000 gold, Standard Fishing Rod, 100 Wood Planks (use an axe on tree)
Description - A boat for 4 friends to hangout and fish......and sleep.
Suggested by red333
Pirate Ship
Price - 10,000 Gold, 10 Black Ink, 1 White Ink, 200 Wood Chips, Dead Sexy Stone Skull Pin
Description - An old fashion Pirate boat.
Suggested by red333
Crane Boat
Price - 1,000 Cranes (see
Trash into Treasure), 100 Wood Chips (from trees using a knife)
Description - A special boat with the beauty and grace of a crane.
Suggested by Elfsneef
Donator Yacht
Price - MC
Description- A fancy boat for a fancy Gaian.
Suggested by red333
Modifications and Upgrades
Change Sail Color
Price - 100 Ink Bottles
Suggested by red333
Change Boat Color
Price - 400 Ink Bottles
Suggested by red333
's are always appreciated.
