As the original topic has been moved ton Fan Art category (sigh), here's the full text version.
Click Here to see the webcomic version of this suggestion.
Barrel Disguise
Original idea:
Have you heard of Fortnite's Bush Disguise? It's an item that you can use to hide, wherever you are, to disguise yourself in the wild. In SOT, we don't need a bush to hide in: we have barrels!
A barrel could be a nice option to give players a way to hide. In this mode, your name wouldn't be visible anymore, and you would be able to use it to escape some pirates hunting you, or infiltrate on a ship. It's both a defensive and offensive added value. But how would it work?
Suggested features:
- Ability to hide in a barrel designed for this specific use
- The barrel is a transportable element found in the environment (like explosive barrel)
- Look slightly different from a classic barrel (holes for viewing, for example)
- Position 1 allow to view through holes and move at standard walk speed
- Position 2 allow to take your head out and look around (like an emote) while static
- Switch between positions by right-clicking inside the barrel
- Get out of the barrel by using main action or being "cancelled" by other players/mobs
Possible design alternatives
Disguising
I see three possible way to think of it:
101. It could be an item you don't own, but you find and take with you, just like you do with chests. However, you can also jump in.
102. It could be an item you have in your inventory (you can carry two instruments, ten cannonballs, and a lot of things so why not...) and can use when you need.
103. It could be any ressource barrel of the game, so a non-movable element, but you can hide inside when it's empty.
Being desguised
In my opinion, there is a limit to what you can do to keep it balanced:
201. You would be able to move but slowly, like when you walk, and can only see through two holes for your eyes (almost like when your looking through a spyglass, without the zoom of course).
202. You wouldn't be able to move while being desguised, but can see all around you in 3rd person view, like when you use an emote.
Attacking when disguised
A big question is: would we want it to help beeing mischievous?
301. If yes then you could be able to shoot with the flintlock (if equiped, giving it a new purpose) from your position. Of course, it hints your presence and can lead the pirates to you.
302. If not, then you would simply be a spectator and would have to jump out from your disguise to be able to attack.
Being hunted
We also have to worry about non-disguised players:
401. If the barrel is a wearable item, they can see it looks a little different than other barrels (holes for the eyes on a side, for example). They can also simply notice that barrel wasn't here last time, if you know the place well, or that the barrel moves.
402. If the barrel is a static element of the map, he would be able to find out there's a player inside just like when he check a barrel for supplies.
Being discovered
When an enemy, player or NPC, finds you, what could happen would be:
501. The enemy slash or shoot the barrel to cancel the disguise, so you immediately jump out and can't get back inside while you're tagged in combat.
502. The enemy slash or shoot the barrel, so you take damages but don't jump out of the barrel unless you decide it (for example if you want to endure it when taking a random hit)
Scenarios
Escaping
You are on an island, and an enemy ship is coming. You don't think you'll have the time to get back on your ship and escape, so you just put your barrel disguise, and wait where you are until they move. Of course, they know you're hiding because of your ship/mermaid, but if you're smart you will be able to escape before they find you first.
Infiltrating
You successfully jumped on an enemy ship, but your alone and think a direct attack would fail. Also, you want to steal their chests, but you have to go down to the second deck to tkae them. Fortunately, you can hide in a barrel and do quick moves to get down without being noticed. Or maybe... because these pirates may notice something is weird with these barrels...
Taking a break
You're in the middle of a fort, and those skeletons don't leave you a second to breathe. So you run, turn behind a rock, and while they don't see you, you can hide in a barrel. When they arrive, they've lost your track... but you don't move, because they are still looking for you. Maybe one of them will even try to slash/shoot your barrel. But if you're lucky, they will give up and search you somewhere else, so you can jump out and restore your health before going back.
Fun and social value
Screenshots
In Sea of Thieves, the main goal is to share it, so why don't also think of a social/fun value? Well, we can think in a first time of all the screenshots players will take being disguised together, like a nice pile of barrels. It would be even more fun if you're able to jump on each other to make a tower. Other players way want to join, and maybe find a way to jump on the top to make an even highter tower.
Boo!
I'd love to hide and frighten my friends while saying them "I'm not on the ship right now, can you check if we have some bananas please?", and then silently remove my disguise and wait for them to turn around thinking I may be an enemy!
Hide and Seek
And when we want to take a break from all these fights, we could also play Hide and Seek together. Your friends run through the island, while your isolated in the ship, and when they are ready you have to find them in a limited time.
Rolling down the hill (as mentioned by MythicalFable, thanks!)
When you hide in a barrel, your friends could come, take the barrel you are in and throw it down the hill. You will be rolling inside with it, knocking everyone on the way to the bushes. When you get out, you vomit and continue your journey.**
Feedback
Like the idea?
Please upvote and/or comment to give it a bit of visibility
Check my SOT Webcomic Suggestions:
• Barrel Disguise
• Open-World Dungeons
An example of hiding in barrel feature as seen in Zelda: Breath of the Wild
