I’ve seen ideas similar to this floating around, so I’ve decided to bring it all together and offer my own suggestions on top, constituting what could be a full update package. So, here it goes:
Boreal Isles (name could be something else)
- A new section of the sea, south of the Ancient Isles. There’d be roughly the same number of islands as those that will appear in the Devil’s Roar.
- The islands here will be larger and in some instances taller than others. Some will remain small. Similar ratio to those in the current seas.
- Every large island (and maybe the small
islands too) will be surrounded by a sheet of ice that can be stood on. Striking the ice will damage your ship but will potentially break it up (depending on its thickness). - Rowboats will not take damage when they hit ice, but can break up thin ice.
- Ice that players are standing on may break if a player lands on it too hard (similar to conditions that would cause rum to shatter).
Hazards
- While on an island, your heat will steadily decrease. Once it has fully decreased, you will start taking damage over time until you regain heat. Heat can be regained by eating a hot meal, entering a cave or standing near a campfire (I’m open to other heat source ideas).
- Rocky surfaces will be slippery, making it harder to move around islands.
- Water pools will be frozen over, allowing players to walk over them. The ice can potentially break.
- Walling through areas covered in thick snow will slow your movement dramatically and will increase heat loss slightly.
- Swimming in water anywhere in the Boreal Isles will cause you to take damage over time, regardless of heat level. Hence, it may be a good idea to use a rowboat.
Icebergs
- Large quantities of Icebergs of varying sizes will float around the sea in random directions. Hitting these with a ship will badly damage it depending on the size of the iceberg (much like hitting rocks currently). Now, you may think that these will be easy to avoid, but that’s where the next idea makes things interesting.
Fog
- The entire Boreal Isles will be blanketed in thick fog, making it harder to see around your ship. You will need to rely on your map and compass to safely navigate through the fog.
- Lit lanterns (either personal or those on your ship) will make it easier to see in fog.
Blizzard
Like the thunderstorm currently in the game, this storm will randomly travel around the Boreal Isles. If players are caught in it, their heat will rapidly decrease. The storm will also snuff out any flames (including lanterns and campfires). It’d also be cool if it froze the water surrounding your ship; though I’m not sure how practical this is.
Cooking
- Players can cook meals using cooking pots found in the world or the ship’s galley. If using a cooking pot, it must be placed over a lit campfire before it can be used.
- Cooked food will heal you and also replenish your heat. Depending on the food, other effects may be applied.
Fishing
Assuming fishing isn’t yet in the game by the time this update rolls in (if it happens), this could be added. It’s self explanatory so I won’t go into detail here.
Torches
Torches, like the lantern, provide light but also provide heat. Thus, they can be used to melt ice. Torches can only be lit from an open flame, such as a campfire or a wall-mounted torch.
Voyages
- New Icebound loot types can be found on islands and as part of voyages (eg. Icebound Captain’s Chest, Icebound Villainous Skull, etc.)
- New cargo run item: Crate of Fresh Fish: This crate must be kept cold or the fish will expire. These voyages typically extend outside of the Boreal Isles.
Creatures
- Frostbitten Skeleton: As the name suggests, these skeletons are quite frozen. As such, they move very slowly but are twice as hardy as your average skeleton (but still weaker than a gold skeleton). If they hit you, your movement is temporarily slowed. To counter them, simply hold up a lit torch to melt the ice in their bodies and attack as normal. Problem is, by doing this, they regain their agility! If you choose not to thaw them, they will only respond to sword swings (as these will shatter ice). Bullets won’t affect them as well as the sword (much like Plant Skeletons currently).
Cursed Cannonballs
- Freezeball: If this cannonball hits your ship, all players affected are slowed as though a frostbitten skeleton has hit them (similar slowing effect to limping, but also applies to sword swinging, loading cannons and other interactions).
If I think of anything more that makes sense, I’ll add it. Thoughts?
