Today, Oct. 26

Posted by omicron1 on Oct. 26, 2006, 11:56 a.m.

Today I have submitted another of my early works to the archive - a text adventure engine called TAE Worlds. Look for it whenever the reviewers hurry up enough.

Empire of the Stars Feature:

Map design 2: Intermixed Systems

This random map design is one of two in which the player starts with more than one claimed planet. However, in this map, each player starts with one planet on each side of the system - that is, your planets will always have enemy planets on both sides of them. This tends to lead to rather desperate fighting as each side tries to protect their two sources of wealth. Since the planets are separated by such a large distance, some players may choose to develop their constant-flow resources early on, then abandon one of the planets by the time the game gets to the colonization stage.

There is a unique modding system present in Empire of the Stars: The AI language. This is a system of code that allows the player to write their own AI routines for the game. It includes variable if statements, goto commands, and creation orders. It is possible to make a very advanced AI with this system, and I hope some users may do so.

My modeling tasks for LotA are not nearly finished yet. I still have the following ship models to make:

English Galleass

English Great Ship

Galleon 1550

Galleon 1590

Brigantine

British First Rate

British Naval Cutter

Collier Brig

Howker

Everything from the Brigantine onward is set in the 17th and 18th centuries, while everything previous to it is set in the 16th century. I intend to have the battle against the Spanish Armada be a sort of midpoint in the game, separating two "acts," or stories. First you will play the exiled grandfather, who rebuilds his fortune and finally becomes an important part of the battle against the Spanish Armada. Then you will play his grandson, who takes the Black Cross - the pirate organization which caused the events of the first act - to task.

Comments

Grand-High Gamer 18 years, 1 month ago

English "Great" Ship

British "First Rate"

Fan of the British, first rate means good quality (eg. That was a first rate meal old chap, Yes it was absolutely spiffing!).

omicron1 18 years, 1 month ago

I shall quote my source:

English Great Ship 1520

During the 16th & 17th centuries it was usual for each nation to have at least one "Great Ship" as a show piece , as much as to exert naval power .The English under Henry VII and Henry VIII had undertaken much considerable naval development , and it is thought that carrying heavy guns , firing through ports in the side of the hull emanated from this period . One of the Great ships, "Great Harry" carried 21 heavy bronze guns , 130 iron guns and about 100 barrel guns , these latter being swivel - mounted "murdering pieces" . It seems these Great Ships carried top and gallant sails on most of their masts . Approximate dimensions are

Length 185 ft.

Beam 54 ft.

Depth 30 ft.

British First Rate - 1780

The First Rate ship of the line was THE warship of the sailing era . Because of the size of the ship required to carry the 100 or more guns that the rating required and the 800 or so men needed to work the guns and man the ship , the First Rate was a large ship , carrying large quantities of ammunition and provisions . A first Rate was also the flag ship of any squadron that she sailed in , and so had to carry the Admiral and his staff . A first rate cost about £67,000 in 1760 and because of the difficulty getting sufficient quantities of wood, rope , and guns , no fleet had many . During the 18th Century , the British fleet had usually 5 or 6 First Rates in service , which sometimes rose to 11 . Because they were expected to last a long time , they might last 50 - 70 years or even more , undergoing many changes and re designs . The rigging might be altered too . The Victory , for instance, was over 40 years old when at the Battle of Trafalgar and had been rebuilt twice .

Length 210 ft.

Beam 51 ft.

Depth 21 ft.

Tonnage 2,000 tons

Crew 850

Cost £67,000