Compass

[Pictor]

Constructed from a small amount of metal (say, 4 nuggets?), the compass polls the server and gives you your absolute position in world coordinates.

Would be useful for conveying locational information to people and would likely trivial to implement.

[sabinati]

they obfuscated the coordinates for a reason

[Pictor]

That tells me absolutely nothing.

Why? Where can I find more info? Is this something that has been stated explicitly or drawn as a conclusion? Have circumstances changed since the decision was made?

[sabinati]

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3871&p=42434

[ImpalerWrG]

Unfortunately the incredible efficiency of players mapping efforts have largely overwhelmed the obfuscation and most people can readily find their coordinates on a world map. I'f the developers do not want that happening then they would have to kill all the third party mapping clients which doesn't look like an option, and ideally make in game cartography worth using too. I can certainly understand how the world maps are killing most of the thrill of exploration from the game, I personally explore a lot less then I did last world and don't bother with cartography as the out of game maps are so damn good and got completed so damn fast now it's crazy not to use them.

As for Compass what if it gave you a constant 'ping' indicator towards a specific point on the map when equipped. The point is set in the compass (permanently perhaps) when physically standing at that spot. The compass could then be given to someone else be used to navigate to that spot. They could be duplicated and named much the way keys are now. This would be a handy way to record locations say of resource nodes or villages while not revealing any coordinates to the player.

[mvgulik]

Gave the idea of a compass a couple of passes. Mainly to rack up the reasons why a normal compass (read: real life compass) is of no use.
How about something like a compass. Not to get your position in relation to the world of course, but to get you baring back to a previous set position. (ergo: to a location you set.)

... here is where I lowered the thinking process, and focused on writing ...
(ignoring the existence of online world maps, also ignored internal saved-map features. Feel free to drag the last one back in.)

Kinda like a little help tool for those times you lose your baring after a long walk.

- just as a normal compass, it only gives a general* heading and no distance.
- *General heading: same pie slice feature as with other tracking cases. Pie slice size could be linked to some skill (+some random variation of course). Maybe even distance related to ... rendering it potentially useless if you walk to far. (as such its of no direct use unless your near its target location (thinking SG range or something like that)
- if a compass target location is character bound ... it seems limited to only being a "find you boat back" tool. But if its linked to the compass itself ... it seems to have some additional uses, as it turns into some location storage.

... only thing that seems to be missing now is a way to dig a hole to drop you treasurer in. ... (Edit: or your key, or spare key. )
(or your loot if you like, but it should still be tractable if there are any scents for it out there.)


[other compass related topics, ... search after write.]
- @ Map and Compass... A way to 'auto move' (Jul 27, 2010) (6msg)
- @ Re: Secrets of The Hearth (Dec 28, 2009) (2msg, 1-Jorb)
- @ Re: Navigation (Jul 17, 2009) (~3msg, 1-Jorb)

After a quick read ... Something very similar seems to be already on Dev's todo list.
Cool. ... I'm Out ...

[jlt314]

-1. let's just call the item "log-port" or whatever it's called in your favourite One Piece translation with the global maps it's more or less useless. just use Mqrius' mapmaker to backtrack for any given purpose, and the global map for navigation and orientation

[cloakblade]

On the note of a compass. Having one that pointed either to your village or to your Hearthfire might be interesting though I would think mostly unused.

[DatOneGuy]

On the note of a compass. Having one that pointed either to your village or to your Hearthfire might be interesting though I would think mostly unused.

Pointing to the center of the world would be neat.

Any compass in general though as stated earlier seems pointless overall.

[Jackard]

Unfortunately the incredible efficiency of players mapping efforts have largely overwhelmed the obfuscation and most people can readily find their coordinates on a world map. I'f the developers do not want that happening then they would have to kill all the third party mapping clients which doesn't look like an option, and ideally make in game cartography worth using too. I can certainly understand how the world maps are killing most of the thrill of exploration from the game, I personally explore a lot less then I did last world and don't bother with cartography as the out of game maps are so damn good and got completed so damn fast now it's crazy not to use them.

Pretty easy to give Cartography an ingame purpose. Below are a few different methods offhand:

1. Have carrying maps give a Travel bonus to places on the map.
2. Map based automovement - waypoints.
3. Remove minimap so Cartography is only option