This wall of text looked very incoherent and impossible to read enjoyably so I took the liberty of revising it for the original poster and everyone else. Honestly, the night maps idea is decent, but I'd prefer static spotlights rotating on lighthouses. That would be badass. Without further delay...
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Hello! Here is my post of random ideas I could have put in already-existing threads! Just be happy I didn't start a thread for EACH IDEA. Don't tempt me. I hope you enjoy it and provide feedback!
It would be really cool if there were maps that were really, really, dark and would require a spotlight to illuminate enemy (and friendly) ships. I do not propose replacing a gun with a spotlight utility, no sir. That would be silly. Who would replace a gun slot with a spotlight "gun?" No one! So, a large spotlight could be a spotting tool attached to the ship IN ADDITION to the typical gun slots for night/dark maps. Maybe the Galleon could have one on each side and gunners could mount it to turn the light on or off and aim it. Only the gunner class. Because gunner. But maybe the Pyramidion (and only the Pyra!) could have a little spotlight next to the captain? I'm so high right now. How about harpoons (if they actually worked...) as part of the ship too? Harpoon slots and spotlight slots and gun slots. All separate!
Aesthetically, the ships in this Steampunk/Dieselpunk game should be more detailed and feel a little more "homey." Think about it... these aren't just hours-long journeys between settlements; they are treacherous treks across entire continents! What would they have on their ship? Where's the galley? The bunks? The TOILET!?
Oh, and about the clothing and stuff... there should be a "I don't give a #*%, I'm a PIRATE!" look. Currently, there are far too many dapper ladies and gentlemen of leisure in this Steampunk/Dieselpunk game. I feel like they all have that look, like, "Ho-hum, I say, dear sir or madame, I do challenge you do a duel! Excelsior!" The ships, too! Way too Steampunk/Dieselpunk and not enough NYHARRRR PIRATEY shiz in this game. There should be more themes with raggity sails and whatnot. Skulls and crossbones and grog and rum and planks and eyepatches and parrots and achievements for bedding the captain's daughter! I've already visited the Guns of Icarus Online Steam Workshop and upvoted the
MIGHT PIRATE VOICE PACK created by Atruejedi. I even shared it with all my friends! I really want to get it into the game... but it isn't ENOUGH FOR ME, MATEY! I'll make Muse WALK THE PLANK IF I DON'T GET A PEG LEG FOR MY AVATAR!
Now, let's talk about realism. I have no idea how art assets and computer power allocation work, so I'm just going to drop all this here: Let's say there are two Pyramidions in a game. The ships in skirmish mode look like they were built by their own crew with scraps. That's the art style. So, how can there be more than one looking exactly the same? If this game were Real Life™, how or why are these ships identical? There should be a lot of different types of ships looking like they were built from trash. Are these vessels mass produced? Is there a factory somewhere in the wastes that pumps out these ships on assembly lines and sells them all to each faction? Do they use the profits to influence elections and topple dictators? Does this fantasy world have their own military-industrial complex!? Are they Boeing? Northrop Grumann!? LOCKHEED MARTIN!?!? Conspiracy!
I've been looking at boss ships and they look crazy! What the hell? This means I don't like how they look but offer no reasons why or constructive criticism! I like typing. I wish you could hear my inner monologue's voice. It's like Robin Williams, all coked up.
What if, instead of the beacon flare gun, the captain could carry his or her own, personal, little, flare gun as a tool to spot enemies? It could occupy one of his pilot tool slots and replace a more needed tool. He could hop off the helm control to use it! It would be immersive. I know we already have a spyglass and that crews bring spyglasses to spot ships and that this handheld pilot flare gun would do the same thing, but... variety! IMMERSION! Occulus Rift!
Speaking of immersion, ships should have more functions besides the gun mounts the captain chooses. But I'm not going to suggest anything and anything I WOULD suggest would make little sense to add to the game. And hey, what about smoke bombs? I'm ignoring the other threads that recently proposed this same idea. Pilots would hate this. What if you shoot the enemy ship with a smoke bomb so they can't see anything around them but YOU and your allies can still see them? It would be like being caught in a cloud, except only for the target ship, defying all physics, realism, and fairness.
In my opinion, to make this game better, it should be more detailed and realistic. Like my only-affects-one-ship smoke-bomb-launcher idea. Gameplay isn't important. Cosmetics are! NYARRR!!!
Share your random nonsensical and unrealistic ideas!
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You're welcome.
