Marcus Hawk
Landlubber
Despite the dozens of available Pirate games I have yet to find one that meets the expectations I have for a pirate game. I want a Pirate RPG, and it seems all the components and concepts already exist and are successful, they are just not in one game. Because of this, I want to make a hypothetical game by taking pieces of many games, then hear the feedback of the community.
Some may object, but I want to use AC4 as a base. In my opinion, the world was amazing and most of the mechanics were great. Lets face it, the climbing mechanics associated with AC are perfect for a Pirate setting. I want a RPG set in the wonderful world created in AC4, but with buildings you can actually enter and meaningful npcs. AC4's plot needs to be burned because not only are you restricted(the opposite of how playing as a Pirate should feel), you are also caught up in the whole Templar-Assassin BS.
I want to take the base of AC4, minus the plot, and combine it with Skyrim, Mass Effect, and Pirates!. I know that sounds crazy but hear me out.
I will start by making a case for combining it with Skyrim. The beautiful open-world of AC4, but with cities that act as more than just a backdrop. Rather than just running on a roof in a fishing village you can go inside the house and speak with the npcs. You could get a massive amount of side quests like Skyrim, all the while taking your character exactly where you want. In Skyrim you could become an assassin, a mage, a thief, a bard, a warrior, etc. In a Pirate world you could choose to be a Privateer, a Pirate, a Governor, a Trader, an Admiral, or even all of them.
My case for Mass Effect is the personal aspect. The members of your crew could be similar to on the Normandy, where you have a personal relationship with all of them and try to earn their loyalty. Rather than traveling alone, when at shore you could ask a few to accompany you, also like in ME. Also, your fame could be positive or negative depending on the types of quests you take and decisions you make, similar to paragon or renegade points in ME.
Pirates! is an obvious choice for my mix. Sure it is strategy, but what would a Pirate game be without some trade route planning, or fleet commanding, or whatever your chosen career demands. These mechanics often suck when taken out of an actual strategy game(AC4 is a prime example), but they can be done correctly. Rather than sending a ship away and then waiting 5 min, you should be able design loops based on supply and demand for trading or trade traffic for piracy, and then allow them to run automated(with occasional intervention for an event, like a ship being captured). You should also need to account for your crew's needs like in Pirates!. It add so much realism when you have to find a port because your supplies are running low.
The end result is an open world RPG set in the age of sails. You can pursue whatever career you want and your actions define how loyal your crew is. You can interact with many NPCs and accept many quests from them. As a final thought... NO 3rd person, how are you supposed to feel immersed in a game from 100ft above the ship. This is another area where AC4 nailed it.
p.s. If there is a game similar to this that I do not know about.... sorry... and please point me to it immediately!
Some may object, but I want to use AC4 as a base. In my opinion, the world was amazing and most of the mechanics were great. Lets face it, the climbing mechanics associated with AC are perfect for a Pirate setting. I want a RPG set in the wonderful world created in AC4, but with buildings you can actually enter and meaningful npcs. AC4's plot needs to be burned because not only are you restricted(the opposite of how playing as a Pirate should feel), you are also caught up in the whole Templar-Assassin BS.
I want to take the base of AC4, minus the plot, and combine it with Skyrim, Mass Effect, and Pirates!. I know that sounds crazy but hear me out.
I will start by making a case for combining it with Skyrim. The beautiful open-world of AC4, but with cities that act as more than just a backdrop. Rather than just running on a roof in a fishing village you can go inside the house and speak with the npcs. You could get a massive amount of side quests like Skyrim, all the while taking your character exactly where you want. In Skyrim you could become an assassin, a mage, a thief, a bard, a warrior, etc. In a Pirate world you could choose to be a Privateer, a Pirate, a Governor, a Trader, an Admiral, or even all of them.
My case for Mass Effect is the personal aspect. The members of your crew could be similar to on the Normandy, where you have a personal relationship with all of them and try to earn their loyalty. Rather than traveling alone, when at shore you could ask a few to accompany you, also like in ME. Also, your fame could be positive or negative depending on the types of quests you take and decisions you make, similar to paragon or renegade points in ME.
Pirates! is an obvious choice for my mix. Sure it is strategy, but what would a Pirate game be without some trade route planning, or fleet commanding, or whatever your chosen career demands. These mechanics often suck when taken out of an actual strategy game(AC4 is a prime example), but they can be done correctly. Rather than sending a ship away and then waiting 5 min, you should be able design loops based on supply and demand for trading or trade traffic for piracy, and then allow them to run automated(with occasional intervention for an event, like a ship being captured). You should also need to account for your crew's needs like in Pirates!. It add so much realism when you have to find a port because your supplies are running low.
The end result is an open world RPG set in the age of sails. You can pursue whatever career you want and your actions define how loyal your crew is. You can interact with many NPCs and accept many quests from them. As a final thought... NO 3rd person, how are you supposed to feel immersed in a game from 100ft above the ship. This is another area where AC4 nailed it.
p.s. If there is a game similar to this that I do not know about.... sorry... and please point me to it immediately!
