Omni-Class Items (Special Crew Tools)

[The Sky Wolf]

'Ello! My suggestion is a single new item slot that will allow every player (no matter the class) to bring 1 extra tool with them that isn't specifically for Pilot, Engineer, or Gunner.

This suggestion was inspired by the fact that the Spyglass doesn't necessarily fit in with the rest of the other items in the Pilot class. It's the only visible handheld item as well as the only item that doesn't effect the ship directly. Not to mention its awfully hard to use while steering, which makes it not that useful for pilots. It's just taking up a slot because the crew is supposed to do the spotting anyway.

Therefore I believe it should be made into an [Omni-Class] item that should be placed in an omni-class item slot. An item slot made for a variety of fun, useful, and specialized tools such as:

Spyglass (For sure)
Fog Goggles? (Sounds fun)
Night-vision Goggles? (Awesome!)
...Flare gun? (Muse said no)
...Pistol? (You're funny)
...A Pet Parrot? (That's an item?)
...Playing Card Deck? (Why?)
...Because. (You're supposed to be making a list)
...That's right.. uhh.. A Sword? (You're dumb)
...Handheld Compass? (Sounds pretty cool)

...This thing? (Sure...?)
...A Bottle of Rum? (I like that)
...Grenades to Throw at Ships? (Not bad)
...Longcat? (Is too long!)
...A Spanner? (We already have that!)
...or......... (What?)

...This? (Perfect!)

Discuss.

[ramjamslam]

Yea, I agree that the spy glass doesn't really fit in the pilot tools (except for those few pilots who swear by them).  But we need to fill it full of awesome steampunk things, maybe (including extrapolation of the stuff you didn't give a use for):

• just maybe the map.  yep, make the map optional. but if you're not into that...
• a sextant that beefs up the map giving it distances between different structures, and maybe even ships (yes, I know this isn't original thought)
• make the compass an option here.  yep, so I'm not really giving us more things just making the existing stuff optional
• the parrot that squarks when danger approaches (yea, the parrot drums )
• playing card deck could give you better chance, but for what?? favorable respawns, random item drop of dyes, something to play when hiding in the canyons
• Rum gives your character a speed boost because 'run' and 'rum'.  OK, don't be a hater
• some sort of steam powered radio signal detector.  detects enemy captain and crew chat usage, and may encourage more silent ambushes in the canyons
• dynabuff long range multi meter.  steampunk multi meter made of gold.  gives off signal showing the direction a component was buffed using a buff hammer (stealth buff detection tool aids in determining enemy location)
• a steam powered laser pointer that you can shine in the eyes of enemy pilots and gunners because lol
• some sort of steampunk taunt you can use when an enemy ship exploded

all these things, and much more nonsense I could come up with.  Please, someone thing of some relevant tools!!

[Richard LeMoon]

From useful to silly:

Handheld signal light - Marks your ship to friendly ships while active.

War drum - Very slightly boosts efficiency of crew members (class specific boosts). More drums playing adds more boost. Gunners reload faster. Pilot tools work better, or do less damage. Engineers repair/buff faster and fall off the ship less (we can wish, right?). Imagine a full crew drumming on a Spire while the solo gunner fires a Lumberjack.

Camera and tripod - Lets you take group photos from 3rd person. Your viewpoint is marked with a cool steampunk camera so everyone knows where to look.

Stool - For sits. Used for... group photos and... um...stuff? Enables 3rd person free camera as well.

Jetpack- 1 second vertical burst for getting around ships faster (totally not for 'oops' moments of falling off the ship. We pros never do that). Lacking an actual flying mechanic at this time, selection of tool and clicking sets you at the ship spawn point after a shorter-than-falling-off-the-ship pause and loud 'WOOSH!' sound.
 
Duck calls - for making duck sounds and calling the ducks, of course.

[shadowsteel]

I believe this idea was mentioned awhile ago in different thread (yes, by me).

https://gunsoficarus.com/community/forum/index.php/topic,1864.msg32918.html#msg32918

It has some good ideas to compliment the ones made in this thread.

And it seems Richard thinks this is Pit material?

[The Sky Wolf]

Loved all of your comments, (Salutes all around!) and I'm also glad somebody else made a similar thread - So I know it's not just me. Here are some more suggestions from people I know.


Torch/Headlamp (Makes clouds more translucent while you're inside them?)
Belt/Bandolier (All ammos have capacity increased)
Altimeter (Measure altitude)
Fuel Gauge (Measure fuel, not sure about that)
Anemometer (Measure wind speed)
Wind Vane (Measures wind direction)
Thermometer (Measure temperature)
Pocket Watch (Measure time)
Musical Instrument (To inspire the crew)
Joke Gun 'BANG' (To scare the powder monkeys)
Penknife/Minitool (Because it's cute)
Fireworks (GLOWY!)
Hip Flask (To carry alcohol)
Beer Stein (To carry lots of alcohol)
Radio/Walkie-Talkie (Give directions to your teammate)
Balloon Hand Pump (More of an engineer's tool.)
Cigarette Box (To hold dem cigarettes)
Dog (To bark when enemies are near)
Cat (To meow when enemies are near)

[Squidslinger Gilder]

The spyglass is very easy to use on the helm. You can trigger it and steer at the same time.

Lot of these suggestions would work better for Adventure mode where they could go all out with various kits and gizmos.

[Crafeksterty]

What Gilder said.  Working with limitations is part of the game competetively. Adding more space to be more free slowly turns the game to become a more single character oriented thing.

But if you look at the loadouts now, the engineer and the pilot slot tools are omni-class tools for the gunner, while the ammo and the engineer equipment are omni for Pilot and etc etc for engineers.

Things like the spyglass is going to get a nerf in terms of use. The range finder is soon here and when it has arrived, the spyglass and the rangefinder will be in a healthy conflict.

[Richard LeMoon]

Tea tray - for serving tea to the captain.

[Thomas]

While I personally feel that the spyglass isn't a good piloting tool, it's a great tool for engineers and gunners. However, having it be a piloting tool allows the other classes to bring it without limiting their own loadouts. It also makes that pilot tool slot useful for them, since it's the one tool of the pilot's (currently) they can use without being on the helm.

So while an omni-slot would be fine and dandy, taking the spyglass (and other possible future piloting items) from the pilot class and putting them there wouldn't really benefit the other classes much. Since there would be nothing left in the pilot items that they could make use of, making the pilot items useless and replaced by the omni-slot for them. In theory the pilot would benefit, since they generally don't bring utility items like the spyglass anyways. Having the omni-slot would allow them to do so without sacrificing other pilot items they could use for actual piloting.

tldr:
I agree with Crafeksterty

[Goldenglade]

again i find myself agreeing with thomas. There is no need for a meta class item or moving the spy glass. Plus soon they're bringing out range finder if they can fix the bugs with it. Would that be a meta glass item as well?

[The Sky Wolf]

The Spyglass and Rangefinder would be excellent in the Omni-class item slot. It would allow captains who have filled all their slots with useful things like Pheonix Claw.. Kerosene.. and Hydrogen to also bring in a prized gadget like the spyglass. Then gunners and engineers could bring in Kerosene for quick escapes just in case the captain lags out or leaves the match.

Now I heard you say if they removed the spyglass from the pilot slot that that slot would become useless to gunners and engineers, but think about how already useless hardclip and a buff hammer are to a captain when he needs to be piloting, but he still can bring them in anyway for the why-nots.

[The Sky Wolf]

We should just call it "The Gadget Slot".

[GeoRmr]

The Spyglass and Rangefinder would be excellent in the Omni-class item slot. It would allow captains who have filled all their slots with useful things like Pheonix Claw.. Kerosene.. and Hydrogen to also bring in a prized gadget like the spyglass. Then gunners and engineers could bring in Kerosene for quick escapes just in case the captain lags out or leaves the match.

Now I heard you say if they removed the spyglass from the pilot slot that that slot would become useless to gunners and engineers, but think about how already useless hardclip and a buff hammer are to a captain when he needs to be piloting, but he still can bring them in anyway for the why-nots.

On a junker a pilots enginnering tool can be invaluable to help repairing the ballon immediatly behind the helm, and the ammo perhapse could alow more options for the galleons light guns by preloading the stern chaser with ammo for another crewmember (who would bring a different ammo type for the light port gun) or themselves to use.

[Goldenglade]

Geo what if the pilot's tools were specific to the ship incase the captain DC's or leave?

[Goldenglade]

That's assuming someone doesn't step into his spot as an engie/gunner