Manned ships?

TDK1044 · 12-08-06, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corsair

At the time SH3 came out, animated crews on all boats would have an impact on the framerate for the medium machines of the time ?

You are totally correct. I guess I'm just looking for a compromise that could be more audio based than visual and which helps you to believe that the ships in SH4 actually have crews on them.

elanaiba · 12-08-06, 08:38 AM

I for one am very pro to seeing animated crew on the ships you attack. Hell, there were some guys manning guns on SH3 ships. But there's room for more:

- command deck crew
- watchmen looking around
- misc crew moving on the ship
- guys actually reloading the guns, doing stuff.
- damage control teams fighting fire
- crew abandoning ship

But then you'll have more trouble, questions raised and work to do:
- do you need collision/hit detection on them? To see them get killed when and explosion lands around them, or for gameplay purposes:if you shoot a light machine gun on a open 3" gun, you shouldn't be able to destroy it, but perhaps supress or kill the crew, right?
- some sort of AI - do they avoid walking in fire?
- a connection between their presence and ship systems efficiency
- a decision mechanic - when is there crew on visible in XX location? Are they present all day and all night? Harbor or not? etc.
- Not to mention the moral question of shooting crewmembers - which could immediately raise the rating of the game.

With time, I'm sure the Silent Hunter will get some sort of AI for the crew, with several states that can also be judged by examining the ship:
- Leisure cruise - poor crews not manning the guns and less efficient in sensors
- normal cruise - all systems manned,
- Battle stations - all systems manned, full efficiency according to ship crew rating
- Damage Control - all systems are less efficient
- Abandoning ship - lookouts and guns get deserted one after the other, sensors are coming off

I would have the ships and their crews "talk" to each other - for example a small AI that has ships reacting to friendly of neutral entities coming within a certain range but not part of the same group. With a little work, you could wave the men on the deck waving, yelling an "Ahoy". Using a blinker light so send a message (ship's name?). Stoping to pick up survivors from other ships. Stuff like that.

Now, this is just outta my head and a few ideas I put on paper some time ago, but with a little time it could be developed in a working system.

TDK1044 · 12-08-06, 08:56 AM

In the fruition of time, it would be great to see any of those thoughs actually implemented. Thanks, Dan.

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12-08-06, 08:38 AM	#2
elanaiba Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bucharest, Romania Posts: 1,058 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 3	I for one am very pro to seeing animated crew on the ships you attack. Hell, there were some guys manning guns on SH3 ships. But there's room for more: - command deck crew - watchmen looking around - misc crew moving on the ship - guys actually reloading the guns, doing stuff. - damage control teams fighting fire - crew abandoning ship But then you'll have more trouble, questions raised and work to do: - do you need collision/hit detection on them? To see them get killed when and explosion lands around them, or for gameplay purposes:if you shoot a light machine gun on a open 3" gun, you shouldn't be able to destroy it, but perhaps supress or kill the crew, right? - some sort of AI - do they avoid walking in fire? - a connection between their presence and ship systems efficiency - a decision mechanic - when is there crew on visible in XX location? Are they present all day and all night? Harbor or not? etc. - Not to mention the moral question of shooting crewmembers - which could immediately raise the rating of the game. With time, I'm sure the Silent Hunter will get some sort of AI for the crew, with several states that can also be judged by examining the ship: - Leisure cruise - poor crews not manning the guns and less efficient in sensors - normal cruise - all systems manned, - Battle stations - all systems manned, full efficiency according to ship crew rating - Damage Control - all systems are less efficient - Abandoning ship - lookouts and guns get deserted one after the other, sensors are coming off I would have the ships and their crews "talk" to each other - for example a small AI that has ships reacting to friendly of neutral entities coming within a certain range but not part of the same group. With a little work, you could wave the men on the deck waving, yelling an "Ahoy". Using a blinker light so send a message (ship's name?). Stoping to pick up survivors from other ships. Stuff like that. Now, this is just outta my head and a few ideas I put on paper some time ago, but with a little time it could be developed in a working system.

12-08-06, 08:56 AM	#3
TDK1044 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 2,674 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	In the fruition of time, it would be great to see any of those thoughs actually implemented. Thanks, Dan.