• New Horizons on Maelstrom
    Maelstrom New Horizons


    Visit our website www.piratehorizons.com to quickly find download links for the newest versions of our New Horizons mods Beyond New Horizons and Maelstrom New Horizons!

Idea's for Modding, Feedback Appreciated

M

Maran

Landlubber
Hi, first of all I'd like to say the modders here really are doing a great job, its given me many hours of enjoyment finding all the extra's which have been added <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

In order to further my C++ knowledge over the summer and autumn I'm setting myself the task of doing one mod. If you can give me your honest feedback on any of these idea's I'll hopefully be able to decide which one of these to start working on and which to leave alone, thanks. Feel free to steal any idea's that I don't use.


1, Famous Pirate / Ship Encounters -

Having a few random ships that the game keeps track of abstractly, maybe 5 for each country. They can be talked about in taverns, maybe having random rumors and such and if your very fortunate either randomly encountered on the map or you might find out there berthed at a particular beach and bag yourself a famous kill <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

Maybe you might meet that famous pirate captain in the tavern you have heard people talking about, and turn him in.

The ships of course would be top of the line, perhaps with increased stats to make them a tough fight.

Occasionally there might be a very random chance that a famous ship might sink another, giving an additional rumor and making the ship yet more famous and harder to kill.

That's the kind of thing I'm thinking of, giving some mystery and life to random encounters and something that would be on going through the game. Heck if you sink a famous ship, people might talk about your ship as it becomes famous <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />


2, A more interactive ship

Anything I can think of to make the ship more interactive some possibilities might be:

Having a ship you can walk through with various rooms like the kitchen, Cabins for your officers, the dining room, crews quarters etc. Where you can talk to the crew and get responses based on moral, ranging from an invite to drink some rum, to someone drawing their blade.

Interactive Mutinies
Making someone walk the plank <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />
Ranks for you officers and having a ceremony to promote an officer or passenger
Finding a spy or stowaway on board
Torturing that captain you've captured for ransom mwhahaha :p

Good encounters like a treasure map being found floating in the bottle, a wrecked merchant ship with hoards of treasure floating about and maybe bad encounters on harder difficulty settings

Such as food going bad, fights breaking out, disease requiring antidotes, mutinies or a thief on board. etc

3, Pistol Dueling

The traditional way to settle a dispute, ten paces and fire. A quarrel with a jealous lover, or just that thug in the street, well there's only one way to settle it <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

Maybe have a pistollier competition shooting moving targets or animals.


4, NPC Companions that will be as interactive as I can make them

I prefer NPC's in rpg's to be as interactive as possible, having their own preferences and a memory of certain events. Designing 1 or two long term companions that have their own quests, fears dislikes etc might be fun to bring along. They might even argue from time to time and you can influence their relationship with each other.

5, Life to Taverns

Random encounters and events in taverns. Duels, parties, wenching etc <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> It might be nice to spice up regular taverns, swashbuckling tournaments in underground pits.


Well do any of those sound worth working on? I'd appreciate any feedback, which if any do you think I should have a try at.

Thanks again for reading.
 
Good ideas mate but i think it's a bit hard to do <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ib012.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cry" border="0" alt="ib012.gif" />
 
Welcome abaord Maran,

The famous Pirates and ships has the most appeal and seems to be similar to other lines in the game.

Good Luck
 
Random feedback from a random mind idling at random... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="icon_wink.gif" /> -

"Walking the plank" is not really historically correct. It is a product of fiction.

Having a more interactive ship would entail creating new models of those areas. If you can do that, more power to ya! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":yes" border="0" alt="yes.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" /> I am not sure, however, that `size-wise` (running capability) it would be efficient for the game... Many people have expressed that they would like this feature to be implemented - it would be a popular project!

I like the idea of enlivening the taverns - supposedly there *is* something that does that in the game already (tavern brawl), but I've yet to see it working...

Encountering famous pirates would be cool... I have on my list of things to do, a skin of Sir Francis Drake... Heh... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />

I'd love to see more interaction with your fellow officers - It's a little difficult to script, but I suppose you can take a whack at it.

Remember that you are bound by the confines of the animation of the models, which is LOCKED - so we can't really alter it...

If you are at all conversant with code and modeling, it would be worth your while to try to figure out how to import new CHARACTER models into the game. I am not talking new skins for existing models, but new character models... There are a lot of people who would love to have new character models and who would LOVE YOU IMMENSELY if you were to figure it out... But so far no one has been able to crack that secret...

We have "wenching" (so to speak) in the brothel at QC...

Just random thoughts... HTH! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />
 
Aye,I'd be like'n de idea of famous pirates.even though I'd be play'n de game most O' time as a pirate,I'd 'ave no problem wid take'n em on as long as der be substantial profit tew be had. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dev.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":d:" border="0" alt="dev.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />
 
<!--`QuoteBegin-skull`+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(skull)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->.even though I'd be play'n de game most O' time as a pirate,[/quote]

LOL! Why ain't I <b>even</b> surprised by that skull?

Maran, if you decide to do the pirates mod, I might be interested in painting a few ships for it, should you want them. Sounds like a fun addition to the game.
 
I'd have to say, the two best ideas there are the other pirates (once the code for this concept is worked out, it should be easy to have say, 5 or ten famous captains from each faction, rather than just pirates, which would certainly give a lot more personality and texture to the game after the main quest is finished)
and making the ship feel more 'alive'. (if nothing else, you could at least find a way to fix the crew's gigantism!)
 
Thanks all, i'll work on the famous ship crews and pirates first then.

Not to say it won't take me some time but its not as complicated as you might at first suspect. Each ship can have 4 variables or a small array which accounts for, Name – Ship Type – Fame Level – Captain.

When a player docks a very, very small random check is made to see if A, a famous captain is at the tavern, B, the ship is around the island somewhere or C, it has been sunk by another famous ship.

As with other rumours, the famous rumours can have a 25 – 50 value like trade information, but using the ship name variable rather than set text. 25 - 50 so you only hear about it rarely, though few npc’s could be placed around that always talk to you about them.

Same on random encounters there’s very small chance you will meet one of these ships.

I've just gotta find the code that someone has used to place ships randomly around the island and ask the guy if its okay to copy it in part.


On the modelling, Isn't it just a matter of making a GM file and putting it in one of the following directors


resource/models/characters
resource/models/heads
resouce/models/LowCharacters


Then referencing it by name in

the .model variable?


Question is what graphics program can open the GM files? <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> Thats the kicker

I found some info here:

<a href="http://filext.com/detaillist.php?extdetail=gm" target="_blank">http://filext.com/detaillist.php?extdetail=gm</a>

It says its an Autologic Bitmap and gave a link here:

<a href="http://www.xnview.com/" target="_blank">http://www.xnview.com/</a>

Might be a format converter. I know nothing about modelling tho <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

If this doesn't help tell me and i'll investigate a bit, i only spent a short time looking into this on google.

What I'd do if I had a decent package is open an existing model first then mess about with it only slightly to change as little as possible. Maybe even just copy and rename one, then do a test npc… hmm. That's a quick test I can try later.

If you can't open try and convert a gm file to another format using one of these converters, I’m sure there’s more about.

Also the extra model might need to be accounted for in the code somewhere when the game is run, if so I'll have a look around.
 
The animation files are also located in the resource directory, maybe there not fixed. Fingers crossed eh <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

Though the link

<a href="http://filext.com/detaillist.php?extdetail=ani" target="_blank">http://filext.com/detaillist.php?extdetail=ani</a>

That covers them lists 3 possible formats.
 
<b>Maran, </b>to get the tools you need for modding PotC, check out the sticky topic "Tools of the Trade". There are links there to essential utilities such as a gm viewer, Maya and 3DMax plugins, and tx converters &tc...

For convenience (since some seemed to have trouble finding what they needed - some links are/were broken), I uploaded some of these to the PA ftp but I do not know if Keith has set them up yet in our downloads section. If you have ftp capabilities, I think you can just pop into the ftp and snag them - they are (were?) in a directory labeled for tools...

Again, tho... While the collective community of PotC modders has been able to import new SHIP models into the game, importing new character models have been a source of mystery... Something to do with the `hard-coded` animation files, I think. It's not a simple thing to figure out, because I believe there have been people working on this for a LONG TIME without any success... If you crack this mystery, that would surely be a feather in your cap! (I know `next-to`-nothing about C++ code, I'm just a hack trying to learn)

Great that you're willing to dive into this!!! I hope you have a good time with it! Despite all my grumblings, I've been having a good time with my quest - it's taught me a lot, from texturing to coding... But the little headbanging smiley at the end of my sig is not called "Modding" for nothing!!!
<img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />
 
Id like to learn to mod potc someday lol. I dont have much experiense...i did mod a few skins in a few ohter games..much simpler <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mellow.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":|" border="0" alt="mellow.gif" />
 
Heck, if I can learn, you can learn... ANYONE can learn, with the right info... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":yes" border="0" alt="yes.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />
 
and the right programs lol <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ib012.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cry" border="0" alt="ib012.gif" />

ohter wise il keep trying to get my twisted ideas of ships into yer minds! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":yes" border="0" alt="yes.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bounce.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":b:" border="0" alt="bounce.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />

<i>(Iggly, I combined your posts - when you get a thought immediately after you post something you can use the "edit" button in the upper right to add to your existing post! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":yes" border="0" alt="yes.gif" /> HTH, Cat... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />)</i>
 
WELL... Not that I'm telling you to do this, it's just a suggestion, but there are filesharing networks out there and you can possibly find the programs you need... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/diomed.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":dio" border="0" alt="diomed.gif" />
 
They are a great ideas captain and will make the game more intresting . Here more ideas :
- Think of the possibility of haveing our own island/hideout were we can do many things .
- To have the option of sailing between islands in 3rd sailing mode with incountering other ships in day and night ( like in the world map ) .
- If possible have the ships in the world map has it nation logo as in the original game without the mod , like the red cross for the english and so on , so in the world map we can recognize them while sailing .
- It would be great if we can have a customize shipyard were we can customize our ship in certain manner like to by a galleon that totally dedicated to cargo or as war ship and so on .
I have many other ideas but I think it would require a lot of work and thinking so good luck Maran in whatever you will do
 
Would it be possible to make this thread a sticky so anyone can post ideas for mods into a single thread in this forum?

I like all of your ideas Maran, and along with those ideas I've heard people ask how Khael Roa can be brought back into the game, after the main quest has been completed, as well.

One other idea I've heard a couple of times is about making an item, a bandolier, that would enable a character to carry a string of pistols like the guy in this picture.

getimg.php


This guy may be overdoing it a bit, but that's the general idea. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dev.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":d:" border="0" alt="dev.gif" />
 
No such thing as overdoin' it Sir Chris,ye can never 'ave tew much rum ur weapons tew be sure, Har! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />
 
I'd LOVE to see a bandolier on a character! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":yes" border="0" alt="yes.gif" />

Problem with the bandolier is that I don't think there are enough locators on the character models to implement one. There might not be any, matter of fact. And until we can import new character models (not skins, 3D models) into the game, this will unfortunately be a dream not realized... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_twisted.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":twisted:" border="0" alt="icon_twisted.gif" />

Grumblepunk worked up a CatalinaThePirate model for me that was <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_eek.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":shock:" border="0" alt="icon_eek.gif" /> awesome, and had a sling on the back for another sword, and a bandolier on the front for an extra pistol... I also asked him for boot knives, but our project got caught up short by the info that we just could not import new character models, so that was that... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ib012.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cry" border="0" alt="ib012.gif" />:

Sure would like to see that changed, tho... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top