Quote:
Originally Posted by ElCid97
I really, really hope "Alte Kamaraden" or "Preussens Gloria" aren't copywrited! I can "hear" them when I see some of these shots! It would be great if it was part of the background music, or at least the gramophone!
Excellent work, my friend!
ElCid97  |
Thank you and everyone else for your comments, you make it all worth it!!
I was hgoing to post some more screenshots but hit a technical snag - but I can overcome it! Just need to finish my work shift this morning lol.
Work on the UPC Submarine data files is nearly done, this is a big step forward!
Light cruiser models were delayed by the need to model new destroyers, but as you can see work on the destroyers is wrapping up.
Current plan is for AI ships to have the following features:
1) Crew panic effects (running/getting life vests etc) along with fire fighting
2) Lifeboat/Raft lowering - no more need for "magic lifeboats spawn!"
3) 3d shellholes - about 20-50 large 3d holes and hundreds of less detailed damage marks per model
4) 3d boilers, turbines, magazine, and cargo hold (only rendered at close range) - plus real turrets with parts and crew that have destructible sub-components.
5) Varied flags (sometimes false flags!) Be careful or you could sink a German blockade runner disguised with a British flag. Alternatively, some British merchants will disguise themselves with US, Dutch, Spanisb flag etc.
6) Pennant numbers/signal flags/funnel bands for warships
7) Neutral hull markings/ Q Ships that raise British Flag and drop flag boards before opening fire
8) Many new smoke, fire, oil leak, and fume effects for damage
9) Possibly, seaplane take off effect for ships that had them. And barrage balloons.
10) Varied armament for ships as the war goes on - some merchants will just have men with rifles, others will have 2 or even 3 big guns especially late in the war
11) Crew performing simple tasks on deck, just like in UBoat
12) After a ship sinks or plane crashes, rescuing 1-2 passengers with your U-Boat to get information or renown...small chance of rescuing someone important for big renown. Also, retrieving documents/code books for intelligence from flotsam or floating corpses....renown will count towards medals/promotion. Not kidding, this is doable.
13) Not going to go in too much detail, but weapon impacts will affect AI crew. Also, in midocean I plan to add occasional encounters with survivors (or "non survivors"). Again, not going to be too detailed but "non survivors" will .... "change" over time, if you observe them for long enough. These aspects will be optional to make WOTK acceptable for Subsim regulations/all age groups/people who don't want to deal with such things - I completely respect that.
I am tired of naval games - even the latest naval games - using the same old smoke/fire particles to represent damage. It's time to do better... WOTK will have what I call DSD (dynamic ship destruction). Remember, when you target ships you are targeting people. I'm not going to go overboard on blood/guts but I want to make this mod poignant. My ultimate goal is to make it so that you actually REGRET sinking ships, in a way. For example, when I play Red Dead Redemption 2, certain aspects are so realistic that I try not to target civilians. When you feel that way? That is how you know a game developer has succeeded.
Of course the priority always is the basic game, so don't worry - I will not let "feature creep" stall things, main objective always is core simulator with working U-Boats and a smaller/manageable number of AI target units. In a working core game to be released as soon as possible. Trust me, I will not get sidetracked with little things although details are fun.
I spent this morning before work on a new Chatham Class light cruiser, and research for the HMS Falmouth Class, Weisbaden Class, Emden, Karlsruge, etc. Also work on sub interiors, character features and effects, and a very special surprise that I think has potenital to change Silent Hunter 4 in a big way.... I will say it has to do with the MARINE.dat file in the Library section.
I am not brilliant modder, these changes are not rocket science - it's just that no one has bothered to do them!! We could have achieved so much if we had a bigger modding team like the Total War or Mount and Blade fan communities. So much is possible using Silent 3d Editor - I highly recommend all modders study it!
More news coming up!
Stay tuned!!! Will be trying for more regular posts, images, and youtube movies showing progress more regularly.... also update on FB page and screenshot/preview packages for download.
