Well, there is a fourth category of objects: animals, like the sharks that have their swimming animation.
Though I also think it would be very difficult to implement a completely new type of creature, complete with fighting AI and animations. And it is the IMPLEMENTATION that is usually the biggest problem. I have seen too many ambitious people create beautiful ideas or models which in the end never made it into the game.
So, Heretik, I second Pieter's advice: start small and simple, and if the simple thing works let it evolve into something better.
What MIGHT work is
Step1
Take the shark model and remodel it into a kraken
Step2
Find the shark animation and make it kraken-like (slowing it down may already do the trick)
Step3
Find the shark AI and add a code that applies damage to your ship if you are close to the beast, together with some crunching sounds.
That would create the impression that the sea monster attacks your hull below the waterline, and the challenge would simply be to escape the beast.
Not the great feature that you might have in mind, but for a first step already difficult enough.
What ever you do, much success <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="me.gif" />
Though I also think it would be very difficult to implement a completely new type of creature, complete with fighting AI and animations. And it is the IMPLEMENTATION that is usually the biggest problem. I have seen too many ambitious people create beautiful ideas or models which in the end never made it into the game.
So, Heretik, I second Pieter's advice: start small and simple, and if the simple thing works let it evolve into something better.
What MIGHT work is
Step1
Take the shark model and remodel it into a kraken
Step2
Find the shark animation and make it kraken-like (slowing it down may already do the trick)
Step3
Find the shark AI and add a code that applies damage to your ship if you are close to the beast, together with some crunching sounds.
That would create the impression that the sea monster attacks your hull below the waterline, and the challenge would simply be to escape the beast.
Not the great feature that you might have in mind, but for a first step already difficult enough.
What ever you do, much success <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="me.gif" />