My new questions and suggestions

[alan_smithee]

I've had a few new thoughts to bounce around, but first I want to ask about that blacksmith graphical interface, I think NK wrote it. I never got it to work before, it gave me a C+ runtime error, and even now it still doesn't work. And I take it no one else had this problem. Could he rewrite it with B12 in mind? I noticed I had to replace some new build files this last time I tried it.

And now these ideas that have been coming to me...

1. I cannot find the code for gambling. Is it a regular dialog file? There's none labelled gambler or gambling or gamble, and searching my files for the text in that conversation yields nothing. I'd like to modify it to be able to put ships and other items at stake.

2. Similarly, weren't privateers, holding letters of marque, required to hand a captured ship over to their liege? The ruling power then chose whether or not to award the pirate with that ship. So why don't our governors need some kind of actual proof that we've sunk these assigned pirates? They seem awfully trusting. And anyway having to capture a ship intact adds more difficulty than simply sinking a guy, and you'd get more money for bringing the offending ship home and ceremoniously presenting it to your sponsor than bombing it to the depths.

Also, having that `code-structure` model, we could then give captured ships to other people... as an assignment from the pirate governor, or as a gift to your lady fair, or etcetera. Or even, set up some kind of ship `scrap-yard` somewhere, and donate your old junk to them in exchange or some product, like grub.

3. Similiar to 2, seeing as how captured Oxbay's stores can't deal with you, I found myself wishing I could smuggle in some goods for them... blockade `running-style` missions. You'd certainly get more money for ships and goods and even weapons when they're in dire need (wasn't someone going to include "weapons as a commodity" for B11.99? And whatever happened to slaves?). I'm still toying with the idea of a `Zorro-style` revolutionary quest, who you can either try and turn in to the authorities or help by providing him weapons and other materials. I'd rather give some revolutionary group my captured swords and guns than just sell them off.

4. Building on 3, can a more dynamic system of background noise be built, where not only do relations between nations change, but more concrete events happen as catalysts -- one nation capturing another's fort, for example. That way blockade running would be more often required.

That's all I can remember for now. Back to the game.

 

[CatalinaThePirate]

<b>alan_smithee, </b>heh, things settling down in grad school now, hm? <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" />

I think that graphical interface might have been Kieron's work. He's away at school now I think, and might not have much time to pop in here or work on modding.

<b>1.)</b> Hmmm, take a look at PROGRAMDIALOGSHabitue_dialog.c - that's the dice game code.

<b>2.)</b> The game checks to see that you've actually sunk or captured that ship, and the governor won't talk to you about it until you have completed your task. But I like the idea of the larger award for an intact ship (like a bonus)... You DO, however, get to keep the ship, and that's a bonus in and of itself. Perhaps the dialog could be changed - If you sell the ship before you see him, he'll only think that you've sunk it, and give you just the base award. If you still have the ship in your possession when you see him, he can award you the gold, plus the ship, plus perhaps a boost to your rep or something like that.

OR maybe there might be some way for you to ADD to the wealth of the town when you bring in the ship intact... That way, you could help build up your colony.

On "building up the economy" of the colony, I had a thought - if you spend money at the shop or shipyard or do business with any of the street merchants, or even do business with the loanshark, you should be able to effect the growth of the economy of that particular town - which in turn should effect your status with that colony. If that's happening NOW, it's not that noticeable. If it's NOT happening, it should be! <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" />

<b>3.)</b> Smuggling or running blockade missions would indeed be great - that could actually slip right into the main quest without too much trouble, I'd think... Silehard could send you in with supplies... Only thing is, that's rather going against the grain of the whole "conspiracy and greed" thing with him - he presumably doesn't care much about the colony - he just wants his ships back to save his own skin, and he wants the idols found &tc... You're asked to do these missions "off the books" - so no one who might report him to the crown will find out what's going on...

BUT that doesn't say we can't make a side quest AFTER the main quest, using Brin as the concerned governor - and maybe the Spanish attacking Greenford or something like that. The other colonies are limited because they only have one location - unless it's one gov helping an ally - against a common enemy... There are a lot of possibilities! It's a great idea!

And now that we can open up the islands a bit with new landings (did we establish that, or do we still have to deal with the same landings?) we should be able to set up a revolutionary group type mod... Heck... Sounds like fun (NO I'm not going to volunteer, LOL!)! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="me.gif" />

<b>4.)</b> Yes, I could see it being built off of the "rumors" system...

Some good thoughts, keep it up! <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" />