Jeffrey's, Orazio's and MK's Developers Notes
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I want to make sure that everyone is up to date on what we are doing with the game. First off I don’t think a lot of people read everything in the read me’s or in the ongoing discussions other places. This is no big surprise as some of our threads are now VERY cluttered with over 700 posts on a single page.
First off, how many realize that as of the latest update that you can enter Tortuga flying a pirate flag? That’s right! As the headquarters for the historical “Brethren of the Coast”, Tortuga allows any and all flying the black.
If you are a pirate already you can enter there freely without worrying about being fired upon or harassed by guards. Also, if you are Spaniard and need to get access, simply fly your Jolly Roger and sail right in.
Secondly, if you haven’t noticed it, the oceans are finely fixed to work in the beautiful way we always intended with DX9. The waves are more beautiful than ever and there is seafoam as well. Jeffrey continues to work on even more modern algorithms to import waves that will be en par with anything Unity or DX11 now offer. In addition, WE FINALLY HAVE WAVES IN HARBOR SCENES!!! I have wanted that forever! Finally! YEAY!!!
Also, if you haven’t noticed, shadows are better than ever along side the old COL file method.
Next up is that I want to warn you that all of these new lewd propositions that you may encounter with local women walking about or in their homes may be quite unwanted. For one, there is the possibility that someone you may not want may take a liking to you. LOL
Also beware, because there is a chance every now and then that you may find your health degraded after an encounter from here on out. Sailors know it as “THE CLAP”. LOL So in past, these encounters could help your health, give experience, and slightly degrade reputation – but now as they say in the old cartoons – “Eh, something new has been added”.
For sometime Jeffrey has been unraveling the mysteries behind ship AI. This has been an important undertaking because for the upcoming DLCs of famous pirate battles (which are well on their way) we need convoys to behave in a certain way.
As I let you know in a previous update, Jeffrey’s fixes of the engine have allowed us to expand stable encounters FAR beyond original capability. For our first test of the new expanded formations, I asked Jeffrey to focus on the GOLD (Treasure) FLEET in the game. The new specs have the fleet showing up with between 9 to 22 ships and I have specified which ships they would be. Not only has Jeffrey been able to do this, but he has also been able to give me something else I wanted which is a HUGE!!!! addition to our game-play. That is double columns of ships rather than the same old single file. This means that it will be a little harder to catch those stragglers from now on, because there will be other ships close by. Take a look!!!
Not only that, but any convoy over seven ships will go into double line. So expect to see larger punitive expeditions as well. One other thing I should mention is that you will now have the ability to put your own ships into double line as well. This will be in the mod options. You can use this to your tactical benefit. If you have a couple of weakly crewed prizes to the rear, you want to stay in single line so that when you encounter trouble you can give them the command to take in sail or sail away while your stronger forward ships take on the threat. However, if you are already strong, go to double column and you will no longer have to wait so long for help to catch up to you when you take on enemy ships and squadrons. NOTE: PLEASE do not ask Jeffrey to make this a command in the game on the fly. This is not doable at the present – as good of an idea as it may be. With this great breakthrough, I am certain more tactical goodness is in the works.
Oh by the way, just to tempt you a little with a bit of a spoiler on the DLCs, after discussing it with Orazio and Jeffrey, we have decided that rather than use existing locations in the game that we are going to build some new ones for certain scenarios. So for instance, Blackbeard’s encounter with Maynard in Ocracoke inlet – will be an actual modeled scene which will look like the place itself. When the battle is won (regardless of side taken), as discussed before, you will be asked, “Would you like to continue the game into the open world with the ships and booty you’ve taken?” If YES, then you will be transported to the main new game map to a location as close geographically speaking to where the battle was you just fought – so north of Saint Augustine on our new map.
MK
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ORAZIO!!! Man that cabin is exactly what I wanted man! Thanks Mate!!! THAT IS AWESOME! I LOVE IT!
I just wanted to add a couple more things to what I talked about above. First I wanted to say that the double line capability that Jeffrey has added to this game is simply awesome applied to your own squadron during gameplay.
OMG! if you choose this option in you mod options you will never have the problems with losing a ship in another port when you have a squadron larger than four ships. The issues with your trailing ships ending up in Santo Domingo from La Vega or in Fort de France from La Francois as well as a couple of other problem spots are over. All of your ships will be right there with you now.
In addition, this is so GREAT when you are facing off with enemies because you have more help right there with you instead of having to wait so long. Here are some pics of how your own ships look with the new formation. This completely changes battle dynamics and just makes fleet battle so much more realistic and FUN now! Keep in mind my forward ship in these examples is REALLY fast so is leaving the others rather quickly.
I am also beginning a long term project of slowly adding clothes and breastplates to many more RPCs. Alonso Ramirez is the first one which you can already play with in the game and begins with several different outfits to start with.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/49225014@N05/38858242125/in/dateposted-public/
Also I will be releasing a new hi-res female character and outrageous highwayman character to the game very soon.
Last my new favorite ship is right now is the English Scout Frigate. Man is she ever fast. My thanks again to Sir Anthony Deane/YoHoHo for giving us with his permission to import his fine English models into our game! They are SO awesome! This particular one has captured my heart and after comparing her to some paintings of Dunkirk raiders I have decided that with some modifications and reskins to make another new unique ship variant out of her that will be the big sister to the Flemish Privateer and the Zabra. Think of this ship with Spanish colors and decoration – which will be called “Dunkirker” or Dunkirk Raider. Coming soon!
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I haven’t been very active lately, but I’m working on something.
I begun modeling a cabin for the yachts, inspired by the Utrecht Statenjacht replica; I was also converting one of the Mount&Blade ships MK gave me some time ago.
(Direct link, better resolution: http://i.cubeupload.com/SjvgHE.jpg)However, as I was working on these two, another idea started growing in my mind.
I remember a thread in which MK showed the work-in-progress of a ship that was never finished, the Zeven Provincien. When I first looked at the picture, I thought “that’s a great model, I wonder if I’ll ever be able to make something like that” (at the time I had little to no experience in 3D modeling). So for quite some time I’ve had this idea to build that ship, but never dared as it’s a difficult model and I was sure I couldn’t even get close to that WIP I saw.
So eventually I’ve started it, and this has been the only focus of my work now. It’s challenging (that stern is giving me nightmares), I was especially scared about all those statues and decorations, but after the first few I’ve created I’m getting more confident and I’m sure I’ll finish the model and it will be great!
(Direct link, better resolution: http://i.cubeupload.com/Dpg0qz.jpg)
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by modernknight1