Solo Ship Idea with Concept Art (updated: Crows Nest and Flag)

I like it, and it fits right in with the style of the other ships. I have one major question though, and that is: How do you repair it? My other bit of feedback is to maybe give it a small cannon with limited arc on the front, given the threat of the skeleton ships. A crow's nest wouldn't hurt, as spotting enemy ships is just as important for avoiding them as it is for attacking them. It would also give a place for storing gunpowder kegs, which is a vital inclusion for a ship this small, as one keg would probably damage it to the max. For this reason, I also suggest making it only have enough holes for the one player to bail out faster than it will fill although not by much. One other question, is how does it hold a rowboat (they are supposed to be allowed to all, no matter the playstyle. On a solo ship, efficiency is key and a rowboat allows that)?

Also, I really like that anchor mechanism (I really like making and seeing that kind of thing, especially in this style).

@mysticdragon297

That makes more sense to have it leak from the top deck, almost as if it was a larger rowboat with ship characteristics (almost no deck, just the hull as the floor) or by having it sit that low in the water. The downgraded cannon would be similar to the normal cannon, with less firing arc (not as much turning), just so it can still do damage to other ships. I would almost say placing it at the back would be good, to ward off chasing ships, but the smaller vessels weave around so much it barely matters. The other option is to have it as rail-mounted cannons, although those are anti-sail so it would defeat the purpose. The crow's nest on a sloop (and even the galleon in rough seas) rock around plenty, but it is more for looking out when you are stationary (like stopping to approach and island). If the ship is set low in the water, that should cut down on rocking tremendously (although the waves may roll over the deck occasionally). The kegs in the crow's nest would do less damage, but still some. I still am curious about the rowboat. Perhaps adding a bar over the rudder which the rowboat is tied to?

@mysticdragon297 so you want a ship, that's even slower than the sloop? Voyages gonna take forever...
When you run from another ship and you are just a few seconds not directly in the wind they catch up in no time...

Sorry, but I think the sloop is just perfect for sailing solo

@mysticdragon297

You should consider asking enf0rcer to add this to his Community Ideas Master List. It certainly would fit right in and deserves some more people to see it.

@schwammlgott

Voyages taking time is better than being unable to do them at all.

Two things: The ship automatically catches the wind. It also is the fastest into the wind, even beating a sloop.

If you prefer the sloop nothing is stopping you from using it if this is added (nothing stops me from soloing my galleon all the time).

@ultmateragnarok how are you unable to do them at all?

@ultmateragnarok sagte in Solo Ship Idea with Concept Art:

@schwammlgott

Voyages taking time is better than being unable to do them at all.

Two things: The ship automatically catches the wind. It also is the fastest into the wind, even beating a sloop.

If you prefer the sloop nothing is stopping you from using it if this is added (nothing stops me from soloing my galleon all the time).

And...you're not able to go all the time directly into the wind...sometimes there is an island, a rock etc...in this short moment I will catch up and sink you

@mysticdragon297

I'd definitely love to see a solo ship. A pirate skiff would be amazing. It would still need a lower deck, though, but not much. Enough to fit loot and consumables as well as vanity chests. It'd need a crowsnest and should definitely still operate like any other ship, it's just super fast to turn and raise the sail or raise the anchor and such (and they would be right there next to the wheel, of course). I do still like the idea of the sail automatically catching the wind a bit, but the player should still be expected to adjust sails or you risk new players who generally run solo suddenly dealing with a learning curve if they join a crew. I would also suggest a fully 360 degree (or at least, like, 270) on the aft of the ship, raised up, with one barrel next to it. You need some means of defense and the sloop is certainly cumbersome when you need to repair and fight off sea monsters, skellies, or hostile pirates at the same time. Being on the aft, as well, could make for quite a deterrent of all but the most dedicated thieves. The solo player certainly should have disadvantages, but they need the ability to be a threat and engage in all content. The sloop is definitely not adequate IMO, and a solo skiff would be amazeballs.

I'd play solo more often but I feel at such a disadvantage because of the difficulty of balancing multiple roles when the time comes. A more streamlined ship for solo oriented play would be wonderful.

@schwammlgott

Some people complain that the sloop is more meant for two rather than one, so they can't do voyages on it as it is too big. That is the entire reason for a solo vessel in the first place, to be small enough to comfortably sailed by one person (I don't know why people complain about it, but I solo a galleon so I don't really seem to be entitled to an opinion apparently)

@mysticdragon297 said in Solo Ship Idea with Concept Art:

@schwammlgott
so i'm wondering, as the first to bring up the topic, how much faster would you like the ship to go compared to others?
if, say, you believe that the sloop is perfect for sailing solo, would it be more exceptional if the ship went just as fast as the sloop.
i suggested this before a while ago, but it was met with mostly negative feedback; that the extra maneuverability of the ship was enough to justify speed slower than the sloop.

Fastest against the wind, even faster turning/sail manipulation compared to sloop, but slowest with the wind. Seems a fine means of balance IMO.

@ultmateragnarok sagte in Solo Ship Idea with Concept Art:

@schwammlgott

Some people complain that the sloop is more meant for two rather than one, so they can't do voyages on it as it is too big. That is the entire reason for a solo vessel in the first place, to be small enough to comfortably sailed by one person (I don't know why people complain about it, but I solo a galleon so I don't really seem to be entitled to an opinion apparently)

Too big for one? It gets boring when not soloing because there's nothing to do then...
When we are two we only use the brig

@schwammlgott

Yes, but some have different playstyles. There are some who say the galleon is too big, but I commonly solo it. You can find an incredibly broad range of opinions here.

I suggest making the speed similar to the sloop downwind, simply for saving time, a bit slower, but not too much.

But mostly I would suggest adding some kind of rowing option, giving you the speed you need to get away, at the cost of not being able to control the ship. It would help you get that extra speed needed to get away from the bigger ships, at the cost of temporary blindness.

It's honestly the only ship other than the rowboat that would be able to row, since the other ships are too big.

@MysticDragon297 What if you tried adding a well in the center of the boat so that if it is leaking the player has a little more time to keep up. As it is the deck would instantly be covered with water as soon as you take a shot and then how is the player supposed to know when the water will be 'too high'. Also considering realism since the ship is the lightest the random turning due to the wind will have an even greater effect so you really will constantly have to be at the helm thus leaving to repair could throw your ship into a more perilous situation than you are already in. This idea might not work if you cant find a way to counteract this. Just had an idea as I posted this. What if it doesnt have to deal with holes like a regular boat and has a health sort of system. The lower the health gets it starts to look more and more rugged like the rowboat and eventually it just falls apart. Then repairing could either become impossible because you would never have to worry about sinking due to too much water (also gives a pro in storm) or you could literally look anywhere at the boat with wood and repair like so. hmmmmmmm much thought briann hurts now. Might add more l8r.

Note: I've noticed some of the things I have said became irrelevant in the more recent posts and im jut gonna leave it because i saw it and ideas started sprouting so i just wrote them down

@mysticdragon297

On the topic of speed, I believe it is good as it is. A non-combat ship should be either very maneuverable or very quick, but a solo ship needs maneuverability to be manageable by one person. Excessive speed would be difficult to manage for one person.

For encounters, maybe making only smaller skeleton ships spawn on it (brigantines and smaller), megalodons could spawn (but less likely), and the kraken wouldn't spawn on it at all.

As for the cannon, maybe placing a singular cannon on the front or back with little to no firing arc (perhaps not being able to turn at all?), to give it at least some capability to damage other ships. A non-combat ship would draw in far too many people if it had no self defence mechanisms.