The Reason Why Boats Ain't Floating...

[Potjeh]

If it's annoying you it's not useless

But seriously, it seems to me the main problem here is that you set your aim too high. Just draw a basic one-person rowboat for starters so we can test the concept before you commit to drawing stuff like that longship you drew. I'm guessing you're being held back by problems which might turn out to be no problems at all, and are failing to see some major problems that may arise. Draw a placeholder boat to see just what you should keep an eye on when drawing more permanent stuff.

[Neyvn]

I would like to apologies to both Jorb and Loftar...

My Guessing is that if I didn't post this Theory, the children might not be as annoying as they are at this moment, which isn't much of a change to start with. But its a little more so...

But I do agree with Potjeh, start off small, make a Raft and test it, heck I will test if for you as Punishment. If I drown no worries I will start again from scratch but I put my Hearthling at your disposal...

[jorb]

Establishing a model that can only handle a few trivial cases of what you aim to do long term is a potentially endless waste of time. When it comes to actual implementation, obviously we'll start out small. The problem isn't implementation, but the model. I'll admit, though, that I haven't exactly been working around the clock to get it done.

I've been exploring my turf lately -- traveling long distances on foot -- and I've felt the need for both horses and boats while I've done that, so they're definitely both on the not so distant agenda. To be honest, though, I'd rather do horses than boats, as they'd probably contribute a whole lot more to gameplay than would boats. They have a lot in common, though, so it's really not a case of either or.

[Dwarfu]

I'd rather do horses than boats, as they'd probably contribute a whole lot more to gameplay

Since you mentioned it, I'm sure that means it will be in the next update Will I be able to hook up a cart to it? Or have saddlebags?

[Potjeh]

I understand that the number of possible combinations of boats, their passengers and their cargo is vast. Establishing a model that makes it fairly easy to convert normal sprites to boat-loaded sprites that interact well with the boat sprite is a challenging task, I'll give you that.

But for start, a simple raft will do. As raft can't obscure anything on it, and it's not unreasonable to display hearthlings standing on the raft, you can reuse all the normal graphics without modification. The only art needed is that for the raft itself. You can easily recycle graphics here. Just take three logs, remove the bottom half, paste them together and draw a bit of rope on them to bind them together. The oar can simply be displayed as held by the oarsmen, it doesn't have to be animated to paddle. After all, hearthlings don't hold the handles of carts either.

Now I admit this doesn't do anything long-term for your side of the boat project. But it allows Loftar to start experimenting with various boat implementations. For example, he could see in practice if it's better to make boats a sort of walkable terrain or to have fixed positions on them. If he uses fixed positions, he'll need to come up with ways to change positions, board and leave the boat. If he makes them walkable terrain, it will likely involve a lot of headaches with stuff like pathing or remembering terrain below the boat. Either case, Loftar's side of the project also involves a lot of work, and it wouldn't hurt to give him a head start, so you can implement new boats as soon as you draw them. Besides, some of the details of your part of the work may depend on details of his part.

[CG62]

I'd rather do horses than boats

Please do. I want a pony for... Hearthmas?

[kimya]

sure thing boats are cool and we will have lots of fun with it. but honestly, why are you all so into having boats AT ONCE? theres so much more that could be implemented...
Think about animal domestication. thats wayyy cooler than boats! boats just float and eventually drown. thats it. horses! cattle! chicken! oh im so looking forward to it

[Yolan]

Actually, I would like to see the LP system fixed. We now have super players who can earn so much LP, they have 100+ in most if not all skills. This should never be the case. Skills need to be improved by doing them, or at least, doing something related. At the moment, its all about the hunter/fighter, and how many bears you can kill. I would rather see such people become damn good at fighting, and maybe butchering (as they would do a lot of that), but little else. No reason why they should be good at sewing, or smithing, or carp, if they have never sewed before, or smithed, or carped.

[Dwarfu]

Skills need to be improved by doing them, or at least, doing something related.

I kind of like this...perhaps different LP for the related skills like FEP. That way it doesn't block you from switching professions, but you actually have to do the profession to improve in it.

[kimya]

yeah thats another thing that should change soon. not those friggin boats