Hi. I am a long time voyager, but let my ideas get straight to the point...
Often I find myself wanting to change ships mid session. For sometimes my allies leave me, or new friends like to join! However, with all of our hard earned emissary status levels, and wood... bombs... cannonballs... and yes, the bananas... All of it seems to go to waste once switching servers! However, I provide a solution!
{Alternative to selecting ships from the main menu, allow players to instead purchase ships from the shipwrights themselves!}
[Theoretically Speaking...]
Once the player decides to transfer ships (whether it be for increased player size, or transference of supplies), they may buy a Sloop, Brig, or Galleon from the shipwright that replaces their old ship. This will ONLY transfer supplies from one ship to another, as there is a big interference if Reaper's could just transfer ships easily... For each new ship, it will cost a pretty gold-piece if ye own them!
[Quality o' life...]
This ship idea will also free some room for other aspects. Purchasing a ship may introduce the idea of setting your customized ship presets. Making so one pirate does not take a fortune of time looking for what they already wanted on their ship!
Another thing this may include is ship names! Ever noticed that blank plate above the captain's quarters of the revered galleon? Now that space can be filled in with a ship name of your liking!
[Pirate Balancing IDEAS...]
Of course some questions could be raised. Where do emissary statuses go? How much will it cost for a new ship? How do players looking-for-crew join? So, below is a Q/A for raised concerns.
Q: How does entering a new session work?
A: As each pirate joins a session (up to 4 per crew), they immediately spawn in the tavern. Depending on how many pirates are in one crew, that will determine what type of ship they can buy. For example, if 3 players are in the group currently, then those pirates have an option to vote on a Brigantine, or a Galleon. They will not have access to a sloop unless one of their crewmates leave.
Alternate example: If 2 players have already voted upon a sloop, no further players can join unless that ship is officially scuttled after vote by the crew (freeing up the option to buy a new ship).
After a ship is voted on in the shop, the players can select their own shipsets and ship name to be voted upon by the crew! Or, they can mix and match ship items like they want.
Q: How much will a new ship cost?
A: The first ship decided upon by the newly made crew is free and final. Any mistakes will allow players to either find a new session to start over or buy a new ship after scuttling the sad mistake ship... All NEW ships will cost 50,000 gold, as the tool balancing from each ship already balances skillsets...
Q: Where do emissary statuses go?
A: Buying a new ship requires the scuttling of your previous one. So fill up your cargo crates! Say your goodbyes! And play your sad tunes... The reason for this is to not allow previous-session Grade V reapers to regain a hunting ship in a group cycle.
Q: How does the vote-scuttle system work?
A: Players will only receive the option to vote for a new ship at an outpost if they scuttle a ship. Given they can reach the nearest outpost! If the ship sinks due to the environment or other players, they receive the option to buy a new ship or return to the newly spawned same-type ship. They will not be given the option to purchase a different ship if their pre-existing ship is on the map, or respawned after the initial sinking (to keep players from over-filling respective ships - i.e. sloop with 3-4 people.) So be careful catching that mermaid!
Q: What is the point of purchasing a new ship?
A: Buying a new and different ship allows players to increase or decrease player size according to what ship they proceed if some-pirate has decided to join with their free time, or walk the plank! Also, this shares the opportunity to allow players to transfer supplies via cargo crate onto a new ship, to prevent having to waste time gathering supplies from the outpost again... And again... And again...
[A Pirates Closing Regards...]
I have thought long and hard about how this system should be implemented, as I like to stay true to the "fair-fight" system. I believe this system will very much solve the inconvenience of a joining player or a disconnected one.
And who knows! Maybe this idea being on the same topic might bring about the revival of the Man-O'-War!
Take care voyagers!
-dethb4dishonore
