Age of sail simulation?

aergistal · 05-10-10, 05:26 PM

I was wondering if you know any good example. I know there's a sub-forum called Pirates! around that's about sailing, but none of those games would fit my idea of a simulation. So I'm thinking past click-and-go with the wind, or worse, against the wind. I haven't tried Age of Sail yet but judging from what I've read around that won't come close either.

I find the theme interesting and fascinating and I wonder why isn't there such a game yet (at least I'm not aware of any). It could have a great deal of exploration, like giving you the available maps at the time and let you have a go at establishing new trade routes, doing navigation the old way all in a dynamic campaign setting on which you can choose your side (yes, pirates included

). The micromanagement fans would be able to dive into crew/supply/ship configuration. You could be fighting other ships or the forces of nature, like confronting a severe storm and, providing you survive, being able to tell where the heck you are on the map afterwards

Drop in realism options like in SH and some nice graphics and it could work.

Anyone else who would enjoy this sort of game?

FIREWALL · 05-10-10, 06:05 PM

There are modern ship sailing sims out there.

How good ? Anyones guess.

Google is your friend.

aergistal · 05-10-10, 06:26 PM

This is not about Virtual Skipper mate. The topic is called Age of Sail Simulation. When I say I'm not aware of any example I mean I've searched and re-searched before posting. Also this is a discussion so any opinions are welcome.

fw66 · 05-10-10, 07:57 PM

I would definitely buy a game based on this sort of thing

I know you're asking for specific games, but I'm afraid I don't know any, but I've always thought that sh3's engine would be great for modding something like this due to its campaign system and the fact that it models wind speed/direction, crew morale etc..

The campaign could be set in the napoleonic wars, or perhaps a little earlier.
You could choose a navy (eg French, British, Spanish), start as captain of a sloop and get sent on cruises to patrol certain areas capturing/sinking vessels - much like in sh3

Scripted events could also take place (like the battle of the Nile, Trafalgar etc) and you could be summoned to join scripted fleets via the radio message system (obviously modded to look suitably 18th/early 19th century as if receiving orders from a ship carrying dispatches)

the renown system would work well with ship and weapon upgrades too.

Of course, even a very simple version of this would be an enormous amount of work, but it's an interesting thought and one that I frequently daydream about!

Sub146 · 05-11-10, 07:36 AM

Yes i would love this type of game/sim , as it stands i get my age of sail fix with empire total war and napoleon total war , we can only hope this will happen some day

i for one would buy it.

fw66 · 05-11-10, 12:33 PM

I also get my fix from East India Company, which as a game is pretty disappointing, but the combat is the closest thing to what I'd like (although rather crummy simulation of weather and all that) as you can stand on the deck and get a bit of a feel for it. The East India Company Pirate Bay addon is a bit better I guess as it's completely focussed on the combat, but it's not really worth the money.

I like Empire, but find the management of so many ships gets very frustrating!

05-10-10, 05:26 PM	#1
aergistal Chief Join Date: May 2010 Location: France Posts: 326 Downloads: 23 Uploads: 1	Age of sail simulation? I was wondering if you know any good example. I know there's a sub-forum called Pirates! around that's about sailing, but none of those games would fit my idea of a simulation. So I'm thinking past click-and-go with the wind, or worse, against the wind. I haven't tried Age of Sail yet but judging from what I've read around that won't come close either. I find the theme interesting and fascinating and I wonder why isn't there such a game yet (at least I'm not aware of any). It could have a great deal of exploration, like giving you the available maps at the time and let you have a go at establishing new trade routes, doing navigation the old way all in a dynamic campaign setting on which you can choose your side (yes, pirates included ). The micromanagement fans would be able to dive into crew/supply/ship configuration. You could be fighting other ships or the forces of nature, like confronting a severe storm and, providing you survive, being able to tell where the heck you are on the map afterwards Drop in realism options like in SH and some nice graphics and it could work. Anyone else who would enjoy this sort of game?

05-10-10, 06:05 PM	#2
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	There are modern ship sailing sims out there. How good ? Anyones guess. Google is your friend. __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

05-10-10, 06:26 PM	#3
aergistal Chief Join Date: May 2010 Location: France Posts: 326 Downloads: 23 Uploads: 1	This is not about Virtual Skipper mate. The topic is called Age of Sail Simulation. When I say I'm not aware of any example I mean I've searched and re-searched before posting. Also this is a discussion so any opinions are welcome.

05-10-10, 07:57 PM	#4
fw66 Torpedoman Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: UK Posts: 119 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 0	I would definitely buy a game based on this sort of thing I know you're asking for specific games, but I'm afraid I don't know any, but I've always thought that sh3's engine would be great for modding something like this due to its campaign system and the fact that it models wind speed/direction, crew morale etc.. The campaign could be set in the napoleonic wars, or perhaps a little earlier. You could choose a navy (eg French, British, Spanish), start as captain of a sloop and get sent on cruises to patrol certain areas capturing/sinking vessels - much like in sh3 Scripted events could also take place (like the battle of the Nile, Trafalgar etc) and you could be summoned to join scripted fleets via the radio message system (obviously modded to look suitably 18th/early 19th century as if receiving orders from a ship carrying dispatches) the renown system would work well with ship and weapon upgrades too. Of course, even a very simple version of this would be an enormous amount of work, but it's an interesting thought and one that I frequently daydream about!

05-11-10, 07:36 AM	#5
Sub146 Mate Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Essex , England. Posts: 53 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	Yes i would love this type of game/sim , as it stands i get my age of sail fix with empire total war and napoleon total war , we can only hope this will happen some day i for one would buy it.

05-11-10, 12:33 PM	#6
fw66 Torpedoman Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: UK Posts: 119 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 0	I also get my fix from East India Company, which as a game is pretty disappointing, but the combat is the closest thing to what I'd like (although rather crummy simulation of weather and all that) as you can stand on the deck and get a bit of a feel for it. The East India Company Pirate Bay addon is a bit better I guess as it's completely focussed on the combat, but it's not really worth the money. I like Empire, but find the management of so many ships gets very frustrating!