Maybe I've ben reading too much Patrick o'Brian, but...

[Cap'n Kennit]

I can't help but feel we ought to be able to hire a surgeon who's level of skill would be a modifier in regaining some of the crew 'killed' in engagements, ie some of the crew that are lost are not dead, but hurt and those who are hurt are returned to the roster at the same time a srepairs are calculated, this could also occasionally give us back officers who are killed in boarding.

any thoughts on how this could be done?

 

[Jason]

That is an interesting idea, but i don't think I would want to give up one of my three fighting officers. So that means we would need to change the parameters to add a fourth non boarding officer. I am afraid that might be pretty complicated.

 

[CatalinaThePirate]

That's a good idea, Cap'n Kennit, and I don't think you could *ever* read "too much" Patrick O'Brian <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> !

A surgeon COULD be added, perhaps, as a ABILITY, like quick repairs or rush. You could call on it perhaps ONCE per boarding...

ATM I have no clue how to do this but perhaps someone will come along who does... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" /> If I have half a moment today I'll try to look into it myself. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />

 

[Kieron]

that wouldn't be difficult at all. just need to add something to the repairing routine that checks for surgeons and adds to the number of crew. personally i would have no problems repacing my officers with surgeons. all my officers do in a fight is die...

however, there need to be some limitations. one surgeon should only be able to cure one crew member every one day or so (depending on skill). and injured crew should be uncurable (i.e. actually dead) if they are not cured in a few days... so the surgeon might be useful on small ships, but on big ships they would hardly make a difference.

 

[CatalinaThePirate]

I think it's better as an ability than as an actual character in the game.

 

[Cap'n Kennit]

I was thinking that it would be an ability, but fixed, so only a few characters had it and they would describe themselves as surgeons in the hiring dialogue, and then could replace a few men one day after a sea battle, and have a random chance (based on their repair skill), of fixing up one officer after a boarding

 

[alan_smithee]

In addition to working on that nameless mass of crew, would a surgeon be able to restore a fallen officer, the same way your character needn't die when dead but can be rescued and start over?

As I understand, pirates wouldn't have had a surgeon so much as a cook who did surgical duties on the side. So this character or ability could `double-up` and, for instance, help your food last longer without halving the rationing. Of course, the bread might end up tasting a bit like sawdust or gunpowder in the doing...

And this would have to be an expensive feature, or require a lot of quest work to acquire. You shouldn't be able to talk this fellow into paying YOU to hire him, as I often do, which results in a negative monthly salary. Harhar.

 

[RobC]

Hmm... Perhaps you should come work for my company in the recruiting department? Sounds promising... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />

I think if a pirate captain is wealthy enough he should be able to hire such an officer as well. I know pirates really chose their captains from the crew and all, but since that's not in the game let's not mind that.

If you want it to require extensive quest work, you've got more coming your way, writing extensive quests and actually programming them... question is do you want to do that (if so, then by all means, please do!)

 

[CatalinaThePirate]

Pirates would have a *captive* surgeon, I think...

When I said "ability", I mean not like "critical shot" abilities, but one like "RUSH" where you have to enable it from your icons... An ability to only use once per boarding (and I'd say not per ship but per <i>encounter</i>), after it is over, to (hopefully) pull perhaps only one officer back from a "`near-death`" experience. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />

 

[jmv575]

Not bad thinking. I simply replaced the "Rys Bloom" character with a modifed Searcher skin, changed some of his abilities around, and named him Stephen Maturin. Of course, I never equip him as an officer, but when I feel like being ol' lucky Jack, its good to know he's there. (some one should make instruments and music as items).

Since Stephen was an excellent fencer (better than Macdonald) and even better shot (better than Dillon and apparently Canning) I give him high melee and the all the gun abilities. In theory he is helping the crew from dying, so I give him high defense skills. Also, since he is a spy, I figure luck and leadership have to be pretty good too. I never equip him at sea, just while on shore.