[Idea] Ship System

[Alexand3r]

Reading all these posts about EoA filled my head with ideas, one of them being the use of ships in WoW. I was inspired by the new Garrison feature and a little bit by AC: Black Flag (completely different game, I know). Keep in mind that I imagined that a Ship System would be the main feature in an expansion that focuses on Azshara, the sea, the naga, etc, and that the level cap would be raised to 110. Some achievements I came up with take these factors into account (such as a possible encounter with Ozumat).
I doubt we'll ever see something like this in WoW, but hey! I had some fun doing this. Anyway...


Behold! The Ship System!





Overview

- At level 110 (or earlier) you will automatically acquire the first quest of a chain that will allow you to have your own ship and crew.
- You will be able to use your ship to sail from one continent to the other and maybe stumble across creatures, pirates, enemy players or Naga.
- Weather plays a role. A storm might make controlling your ship more difficult, strong winds might slow you down or cause your ship to speed up, fog or a blizzard might reduce your visibility, and so on.
- Just like Garrisons, you will be able to upgrade your ship and customise it.
- Some upgrades will grant your ship special effects.
- You will also be able to customise your ship in many ways.
- Just like the followers in the Garrison feature, you will be able to recruit crew members.
- As soon as you acquire your first ship, you will be given the option to name it. The player can place the name on the ship, either on one of its sides or elsewhere.
- You'll gain a bunch of crew members throughout the Quest Chain, but you'll also be able to gain new ones via Achievements, dungeons, raids, other quests, treasure chests, etc.
- Some crew members will be rarer than others. Some will also have a special ability.
- Crew members play an important role. They can attack enemies, even players.
- You will also be able to customise your crew members and even make every single one of them use the same item set.
- During the Quest Chain, you will also stumble across a Bloodsail item. This will allow you to join their ranks, if you choose to, sail the seas as a pirate, plunder ships of your own faction (an item could allow you to do this for a day, as Poysonivy suggested on this thread) and acquire a Bloodsail ship.
- Players of your faction can board your ship to hitch a ride. They can also take control of your artillery if needed.
- You will be able to fight players of the opposite faction.
- Players can form groups and become a fleet and fight together against another fleet of the opposite faction.
- If a player on your ship bothers you, you can order a crew member to send him off the ship with a kick.

- Vessels have their own tab (my photoshop skills are terrible).



- The Quest Chain rewards you with your own ship. You can also acquire additional ships via raids, etc. You can also buy some for gold.
- Guilds will be able to buy a Guild Ship. Guild Ships can only be used by players, not by your personal crew, and can be upgraded.

Ships

- You can use ropes to swing forward. These ropes are found close to your Broadside Cannons.
- You can use Grappling Hooks to board a ship or keep it close to you. If that ship gets too far away the Grappling Hooks will break.
- Your primary ship will have its own crew. You can give other players a ride and players can also use your artillery once your crew
member steps aside. You can also take control of a cannon or other piece of artillery.
- You can decorate your ship. From changing your flag to altering the ship's interior. From putting a figurehead on your ship's prow to having a world map on a table in the captain's cabin (if there is one).
- Ship repairs require materials, such as lumber. Ships will also slowly regenerate their health once docked.
- Destroying enemy ships will grant you gold and other materials, sometimes even rare items.
- Ships can only be summoned at a dock.
- Ships have a 10 sec. cast time. Dismissing them also requires 10 seconds.
- Once summoned, you can take control of your ship by simply right-clicking the Ship's Wheel.
- If your ship is destroyed, you will have to wait an hour before you can use it again.
- You will also acquire smaller vessels. The first quests will reward you with a small Sailboat.
- Smaller vessels, like the Sailboat, act like mounts and have the same cast time that your mounts have (they can only be used in bodies of water, obviously)
- While Alliance players will begin with a Human ship, and Horde players with an Orc ship, they can also acquire different ships.
- Here are some ships that players could use:


- More ships could be added and the ones we currently have could have their appearance change depending on your upgrades and whether you select specific cosmetic changes or not.
- You can customise the artillery of your ship. Whether you want a Flame Turret or a pair of Chase Cannons is up to you.
- Broadside Cannons are the default weapon for your ships.
- Ships don't steer easily.

Commands

- As stated before, you can take control of your ship by right-clicking its wheel.
- To steer the ship with WASD or with your mouse, if you hold both mouse buttons.
- While at the wheel, you can issue commands to your crew. Depending on your weapons and upgrades, you will have different types of commands.
- During a ship fight, you'll want to use your Broadside Cannons as much as possible.


- Once your ship is fully upgraded, you'll earn the following ability.


- Another basic ability is:


- While Crew members will automatically use grappling hooks whenever an enemy ship is close, the player may activate the Grappling Hooks! ability to make all his crew members throw grappling hooks at the same time.



Ship Upgrades

- Upgrades are divided into four categories: Basic, Advanced, Unique and Cosmetic.
- Most upgrades have three ranks.
- A fully upgraded ship could look like the one you see at the top of this page, for example.
- Basic Upgrades are those you obtain as you level up and progress through the Quest Chain. While you can choose which ones you want, by max level and by the end of the Quest Chain you should have all of them. These upgrades could be the following:




- Advanced Upgrades are more interesting and different. You won't be able to have all of them, so you will have to choose wisely.
For example, you can either choose
or

Then, you could choose two of the following:


The same thing could be applied to the following upgrades (although maybe you could choose more than two):



- Unique Upgrades instead are more peculiar (most of them, anyway).
For example, you could only choose one of the following upgrades:



- Cosmetic Upgrades are just simple cosmetic changes to your ship. You can earn additional cosmetic upgrades via Raids, PvP, etc.

Cosmetic Upgrades - Additional Information

Cosmetic Upgrades are divided into several categories. Figurehead, Sails, Wheel, Hull, Other (trivial things, such as lanterns and other minor cosmetic things). They are all parts of collections but you can come up with your own combinations. For example, you may choose Pandaren Sails and choose a Zandalari hull. Some Cosmetic Upgrades are class specific. Many of them are rewarded by completing Achievements, finishing Raids, etc (as stated in the first page). Here are a few more examples that might make the whole concept more clear.

- Pandaren Shipwright: Consists of all the blueprints that give your ship a Pandaren look. Common Pandaren Hull, Common Pandaren Wheel, Common Pandarel Hull, Yu'lon (figurehead), Xuen (figurehead), Pandaren Lanterns (would fall into the Other category), Celestial Sails, Wheel, Figurehead and Hull, etc.

- Hell's Fury (Warlock): Comprises blueprints that make your ship resemble demonic vessels. Pitlord's Gaze (figurehead, sculpted face of a pitlord. Fel Magic drips off his teeth), Fel Cannons (would alter the design of your Broadside Cannons), etc.

- It's All Ogre: Comprises all the blueprints that give your ship an Ogre look.

- Gnomeregan's Pride: Comprises blueprints that give specific parts of your ship a Gnomish look. Mech Wheel, Steampunk Hull, etc.

- Zandalari Warfare: Comprises blueprints that make your ship resemble Zandalari vessels. Could be found in the Throne of Thunder or in a new troll raid (if there is one).

- Wrath of the Iron Horde: Comprises blueprints that make your ship resemble vessels of the Iron Horde.

- Guild Pride: Blueprints include Guild Sails, etc.

- Defias Outlaw: Comprises blueprints that make your ship resemble Defias vessels.



Crew

- You will be able to choose a quartermaster. The quartermaster will answer any questions you may have and will issue orders if you happen to be off the ship. Using the "Here!" command will make your quartermaster take control of the ship and move it close to you.
- You can change your quartermaster whenever you want. You can even promote one of your other crew members to quartermaster.
- You can customise each crew member and even make your whole crew wear the same thing! You can also give them nicknames!
- You can switch crew members whenever you're at a dock.
- You can only have one crew member with a special ability at a time.
- Around the world you will find items that affect your whole crew.
Example: Cursed Coin - You and your crew will take on the appearance of an undead pirate fleet.

- Just like followers in Garrisons, your crew members will level up and become better at performing certain tasks.
- Crew members use Firearms, melee weapons, bows and grenades. Some will also use spells.
- Some crew members will have interesting abilities, like doing minor repairs whilst sailing.
- Some crew members will have unique abilities. You can only have one crew member of this kind active at any time.

For example, you would be able to choose one of the following:

Rena Leen, Kirin Tor Mage: Increases the spellpower of nearby allies and can use the Invisibility ability, which makes your ship invisible for 6 seconds. This ability is instant and has a 2 min. cooldown.
Exarch Irius, Draenei Paladin: Passively heals nearby crew members and can use the For The Light! ability, which heals nearby allies for a greater amount over 6 seconds. This ability is instant and has a 2 min. cooldown.
Uruk, Orc Warrior(Horde) or Sergeant Matthews(Alliance): Increases the ranged and melee damage caused by your crew by 10% and can use the Battle Cry ability, which reduces the cooldown of your Fire! ability by 2 seconds for 6 seconds. This ability is instant and has a 2 min. cooldown.
Farseer Tonu, Broken Draenei: Reduces the effects that Weather has on your ship and can use the Gale Winds ability, which increases the speed of your vessel by 40% for 8 seconds. This ability is instant and has a 1.5 min. cooldown.

- Crew members that die can be brought back to life after 10 minutes. They will be weaker for an additional 10 minutes after being resurrected and will earn less experience.
- You can even recruit Tuskarr, Murlocs, possibly even Jinyu. These races could also include unique crew members with unique abilities.
- Nat Pagle Could be a unique crew member with a unique fishing ability.
- A unique crew member could be a robot! (Sail-a-tron, or something)


Quest

At level 110 you will automatically acquire the "These Ships Ain't Gonna Build Themselves", which is the first quest of a chain that will allow you to have your own ship and crew.
The first few quests take place in Stormwind's Dock and will require you to perform menial tasks, such as collecting lumber and other materials. Then, you will learn that a ship requires people to defend itself during its voyage to Kalimdor. Once you accept the quest and embark yourself on this voyage, you will soon get to know the many threats that inhabit the ocean, such as the Naga, pirates and other creatures. Completing this quest will reward you with your own Sailboat (similar to a mount).
The day after or as soon as you complete your previous quest, you will be informed that a ship has been hijacked by pirates and will be tasked with freeing it from their control. The quest takes place in a Scenario and is completed once you slay the pirate captain. If you loot the captain, you will find an item that will allow you to join the Bloodsail Buccaneers, if you wish to.
Back in Stormwind, the quest giver will praise you and seeing that the ship is in terrible conditions, decides that you can become its new owner.
The quests that follow will involve you searching for crew members and repairing the ship. Then you'll begin upgrading it. By the time you finish the Quest Chain, you will have a ship with all basic upgrades. Completing the Quest Chain is also the requirement of an Achievement.


Achievements


I imagined that there could be a Scenario where you use your ship to defeat Ozumat.














Notes

- Should some ships be better than others? (Or, for example, some won't be able to have the same level of artillery as the rest, but overall the difference shouldn't be much).
- Should ships use ammo? It might make them more interesting but at the same time it could make them troublesome.

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So there you go. I'm not sure Blizzard has the technology to do something like this, and some things may be a bit too much. Still, would be fun to see something like this. I hope that my wall of text didn't give you a stroke.

If you have more ideas (ideas for upgrades, for instance) and suggestions, feel free to share.
Keep it civilised and constructive!

--------

Update:

- As Poysonivy suggested on this thread some time ago, it's probably a good idea that in order to attack and plunder ships of your own faction you have to use an item similar to the Censer of Eternal Agony.
- Another interesting feature could be the ability to take prisoners. You could either take them to your capital and receive a reward or ask them whether they want to become part of your crew or have a swim with some sharks. You could earn unique crew members this way.
- Budd Nedreck could become part of your crew. Maybe he could be a unique crew member with the ability to find interesting items (although the chances of finding something useful shouldn't be too high).
- As I've told rda already, a Diving Bell could be an interesting addition. Maybe it could be one of the upgrades that the player can choose.
- I was also thinking that there could be a cosmetic upgrade (or a series of cosmetic upgrades) that makes your ship more "steampunk-y".
- It would also be fun to have Murlocs as crew members. You could have your crew made entirely of Murlocs. You could also earn an achievement for this.


11/04/2015 Update


New PvP Modes

- Fury of the Maelstrom: The islands surrounding the maelstrom are no more after the rise of the naga whose home lies far beneath the surface.
Fight another player whilst sailing around the Maelstrom. The longer the fight goes the closer the ships will get, until their masts cross each other at the centre of the Maelstrom. During this time players can engage in close-quarter combat. If victory is not achieved within a set amount of time both ships will get destroyed.

Note: A ship duel, if you will.Took inspiration from Pirates of the Caribbean. It would be fun though I'm not entirely sure something like this could be implemented. But eh, just an idea.


-Island Defence: Defend the island from enemy ships and players or lay siege.

Note: Strand of the Ancients-like battleground.


-Treasure Hunter: Capture the treasures on the various islands before the enemy does.


- Conqueror: Capture islands and hold them for as long as you can.



New Advanced Upgrades Ideas

UD stands for Undecided.

- Quick Repairs: Restores 2% of your ship's health every 30 seconds while out of combat.

- Boarding Mastery: Makes your Ropes and Grappling Hooks more effective.

- Chemical Chaos: Your crew members will throw explosive or poisonous flasks.

- Merchant Ship (UD): Allows the player to gain rare crafting materials from hostile creatures, enemy players and ships. A merchant called Mero will stay on your ship, allowing you to trade and repair your equipment.

- Cataloguing of Specimen (UD): Unlocks pet battle daily quests with unique rewards. In addition, hostile creatures and enemy ships have a chance to drop Battle-stones.

- Bounty Hunter (UD): Increases honour gained from enemy player ships and unlocks unique PvP dailies.



New Unique Upgrades Ideas

UD = Undecided. V = Version.

- Fire Ship V1 (UD): Creates a ship that slowly drifts in the direction of the enemy ship you've targeted. Enemy ships can simply get out of the fire ship's path or destroy it.

Note: The player might also choose to personally steer the fire ship, or send crew members to use it and jump at the last moment

- Fire Ship V2 (UD):

30 min. cooldown

You set alight your ship. If you hit an enemy ship your own ship will explode and deal massive damage. You and your crew can abandon ship a moment before impact and survive the blast.

If the ship takes too much damage from enemy ships, it will explode.

Fire Ship lasts 1 min. After that, the ship will automatically explode.

Successfully destroying an enemy ship resets this ability's cooldown.


- Master & Commander: Whenever you're in a party or raid with one or more ships, the damage and health of your ship and crew are increased by 5% per nearby friendly ship, up to a maximum of 45%.

- Sabotaging Raft: Summons a raft that you or one of your crew members can use to reach the enemy ship and board it unnoticed. The raft contains an explosive charge.

- Portal (UD): Creates a portal at the target location. Friendly players and your crew members can use it to board the enemy ship. The portal can be used to return back to your ship once every 15 seconds. The portal lasts 30 seconds.

- Veteran (UD): Grants a unique upgrade/ability depending on your class. I have a list but it's too long. Mages for example could get a Frostfire Cannon that deals damage in a line or the Portal upgrade I mentioned before.

- Colossal Harpoon: Grants your ship a massive harpoon. Shoots a huge harpoon with a chain that pierces any enemy ship it encounters. Ships bound to the chain are slowed by 30%, though enemy players or crew members can destroy the chain. Can also be used against creatures.



More Achievements!

- Master Saboteur: Kill all crew members on an enemy player ship.

- This Crew's Got Class: Have your crew made up entirely of characters that match your class.

- For the Motherland: Have your crew made up entirely of characters that match your race.

- Specialist Crew: Have your crew made up entirely of characters that match your race and class

- This Isn't My Ship: Get completely smashed, board a friendly ship and travel to another continent.

- Frozen Whiskers: Have your crew made up entirely of Tuskarrs.

- Mrlrlglrglrgl: Have your crew made up entirely of Murlocs. Rewards Murloc Captain Costume.

- Guild Cruise: Travel from one continent to the other with your guild members on a guild ship.

- Guild Supremacy: Defeat 100 enemy ships with a guild ship.

- No Surrender: Defeat 3 enemy ships whilst your ship's health is below 50%.

[Deleted]

Dude, I love the amount of work you put into that

Its certainly a nice idea, however, multiple ships and fleets...I am not to sure that can realistically be implemented. There is a reason why garrisons are individually phased and not freely placeable.

[Alexand3r]

Dude, I love the amount of work you put into that

Its certainly a nice idea, however, multiple ships and fleets...I am not to sure that can realistically be implemented. There is a reason why garrisons are individually phased and not freely placeable.

Indeed, I might have gone a bit over the top, but at least I wrote it down. I had to get it out of my head!
If Blizzard ever makes something like this, it will probably be simpler and less confusing.

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

I'm all for. Especially if we tie it in with Garrisons as the "next step" for them.

[pokcmvmxckm]

Sweet idea, how ever, I don't think wow is the kind of game that will "work" with boats. Namely, while the pvp idea you came up with is cool, in the past players did not respond well to new buttons and a new rotation to learn. As well as having the boats be max level exclusive

At level 110 you will automatically acquire the first quest of a chain that will allow you to have your own ship and crew.

may be a bad idea. Easing players in to it whale leveling may be a better idea. as well as the game world is made with land travel in mind. I.E. players sailing in to the malestorm and getting flushed in to deepholm. However, i can forgive all this if i can get a goddamn zeppelin! That be sweet!
For the horde!

[ercarp]

I like this.

Some of the ideas were a little ehh, like the Bloodsail questline... it just wouldn't make sense to suddenly go against your own faction, considering a lot of the quests in the game commend you as the hero of the Alliance/Horde, so... yeah. But other than that, I like it.

Also, Admiral Proudmoore Would Be Proud sounds exactly like something Blizzard would put in the game lol.

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

Sweet idea, how ever, I don't think wow is the kind of game that will "work" with boats. Namely, while the pvp idea you came up with is cool, in the past players did not respond well to new buttons and a new rotation to learn. As well as having the boats be max level exclusive may be a bad idea. Easing players in to it whale leveling may be a better idea. as well as the game world is made with land travel in mind. I.E. players sailing in to the malestorm and getting flushed in to deepholm. However, i can forgive all this if i can get a goddamn zeppelin! That be sweet!
For the horde!

If this ties into a Great Sea expansion (as it likely would) it is probably best to get started early. Since this will likely be THE big feature of the expansion (a'la Garrisons) and would quickly become the primary mode of transportation for most players.

[UnHolyBrew]

TLDR the post besides OPs (Also may have skimmed over this).

It would be pretty cool if you could dock your ship at the Garrison (If they continue it) that you'd build on Azeroth.

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

TLDR the post besides OPs (Also may have skimmed over this).

It would be pretty cool if you could dock your ship at the Garrison (If they continue it) that you'd build on Azeroth.

And assign followers to work it.

As someone who's played Eternal Arcadia, it'd be awesome if we could assign followers to crew key positions on the ship, with each follower giving unique benefits to it.

[Alexand3r]

@ercarp I wasn't sure about the "plundering ships of your own faction" bit. Skipping that part, it would be fun to have some quests that make you work for the Bloodsail Buccaneers.

@Slowpoke and Pokcmvmxckm When I wrote it I thought that people wouldn't have liked the idea of having so much focus on ships while levelling, but, as you two said, it would probably be better to have this at an earlier level.

Thank you all for the feedback, by the way!

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

@ercarp I wasn't sure about the "plundering ships of your own faction" bit. Skipping that part, it would be fun to have some quests that make you work for the Bloodsail Buccaneers.

@Slowpoke and Pokcmvmxckm When I wrote it I thought that people wouldn't have liked the idea of having so much focus on ships while levelling, but, as you two said, it would probably be better to have this at an earlier level.

Thank you all for the feedback, by the way!

Yeah, you were right about easing players into it. Even Garrisons have multiple tiers to ease you into it.

Maybe at 100 you start with a small ship for 1-3 people, then at 110 you can upgrade into the full version.

[Poysonivy]

Extensive written idea you have there. Kudos to you! And I really like it. Also ArcheAge has a nice ship system. And why not 'borrow' the system from them, since other MMO's have 'borrowed' lots of things from WoW.

Hope one of the devs read this and sparks up some new systems or ways to make this possible.

Idea: Pirate for a day mode? Or with a quest item(toy) perhaps? Where you can do missions to plunder other people boats/ships.

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

Extensive written idea you have there. Kudos to you! And I really like it. Also ArcheAge has a nice ship system. And why not 'borrow' the system from them, since other MMO's have 'borrowed' lots of things from WoW.

Hope one of the devs read this and sparks up some new systems or ways to make this possible.

Borrow it and upgrade it (Followers as Crew).

Also I do wish WoW would use the Piracy system in that case. I legit think the open sea would be a great WPvP chance. One giant Ashran with the factions battling over the quickest travel routes between zones.

[Zabrinka]

Love this. Love ship games in general. Seems like a pretty plausible idea too. Rather than just doing garrisons again, make this the next version of garrisons.

Biggest difficulty I see in your version of it is how the ships interact with the existing game world. (Maybe you covered this and I missed it.) Can ships go anywhere on Azeroth with water? Seems like that would be a problem. Might need to be limited to the new zones, or maybe even have a special "ship-only" world phase that looks like the real world but where you only interact with other ship content.

[Deleted]

Awesome thread. I like it.

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

Love this. Love ship games in general. Seems like a pretty plausible idea too. Rather than just doing garrisons again, make this the next version of garrisons.

Biggest difficulty I see in your version of it is how the ships interact with the existing game world. (Maybe you covered this and I missed it.) Can ships go anywhere on Azeroth with water? Seems like that would be a problem. Might need to be limited to the new zones, or maybe even have a special "ship-only" world phase that looks like the real world but where you only interact with other ship content.

Eh phasing it makes it feel segregated and Queued.

[Deleted]

great idea, never seen it before, I am all for that - also, give airship option

[Deleted]

Yeah, no phasing would be best

[Alexand3r]

@Slowpoke That could work out well.
@Poysonivy Hahah thanks! I wish we had something similar to ships in ArcheAge. I tried that game and the ship system there was the first thing that caught my eye!
The pirate for a day mode would be perfect. Maybe the Bloodsail Quest Chain I was talking about could give players an item with that effect.
@Zabrinka Well, my idea is that ships can sail across any body of water (unless Blizzard wants to keep some areas closed).
As Slowpoke has already said, phasing it would make it less fun. I'd love to see massive battles in the open sea. There could be performance issues though hahah.
@Zigrin Airships would be cool!

Thanks once again for the feedback!

[Alexand3r]

Great Idea. I don't know if I missed it but will there be PvP aspect to this? Like ship battles between Horde and Alliance?

Yup, I might have forgotten to write that in the Overview section. Mea culpa! (I did make a PvP Achievement though).

Edit: Just added some sentences to clarify.