Docks Boating System

[Kiaring]

The Dominion has the Guildhouses System, an amazing (and currently underused) system that allows for scripted solutions to the usual "Ugh, can't get a DM to help me with my player faction". It is a clear-cut, well explained way of having your PC pursue his goals actively. It gives you a tangible goal that you don't need a DM online to achieve. This is really awesome.

What about a similar system in the Docks, but with boats, instead of Guildhouses? Just like gathering people to your banner seems to be the way of climbing the social ladder of the Duchy, in the Docks it seems to be about getting yourself a 'crew', and pursuing your goals from there. Due to the lawless nature of the district, there's really no way a guildhouse system could work. Maybe there could be a turf system, I don't know. But it seems like a very cool idea to have a scripted boating system. I know a boat is a big, big thing to have. I know it's hard they could be usable without DM supervision. But here's my idea:

 - Unless a DM is on to oversee any trips with your boat, your boat remains moored in the Docks. It serves as a faction area, with all the associated perks (resting, storage etc)
 - Boat captains have far more leverage, far more things 'to show' for what they are, than your average Docksman. If you have a boat, you're likely to have a crew, and a clear agenda you can recruit people to serve under.
 - You can 'schedule' DM quests: trading runs, blockades, boardings and so forth. Maybe a single scripted quest could be available, with a large time limit - IE, once a week. This can only be taken with a minimal 6 member party, or some large restriction like that, to prevent PC faction leaders and other prominent characters to handle everything on their own.


More ideas are welcomed. Thoughts and comments also.

[Divine Intervention]

This sounds like a really cool idea but it also would be a big think.  Ships are expensive and aquiring one is harder than a guildhouse I should think.  However this seems to promote activity and using this as a tool to help achieve your goals.

[Kiaring]

Well, the initial investment to become a Patrician (something necessary if you're going to rent a guildhouse) is around 4000 coins. I'd say something in the vicinity of 10k for a boat, plus around the same fee for guildhouse rentals, to rent yourself a place to moor your ship, is fine.

[SkillFocuspwn]

This is a very, very cool idea but I think without a DM to spend time and effort scripting in functional and usable ships, it would feel like guild houses were just replaced with boats in the Docks for no real reason!

[Kiaring]

Well, like I said, DM's could handle actual 'use' of the ship, and a simple, once-a-week scripted quest of some kind could be put in. If your group is high-profile enough to get a ship, I'm sure a DM will be interested in seeing what you are up to. The rest of the time, your ship can just stay moored in the Docks, acting much like a guildhouse.

[Yalta]

Well... why not have it so you initially buy some shit heap that barely floats, then if the Crew sticks around and do stuff they can earn improvements (or pay via scripted NPC's). So start at 5k for a very basic one and move on from there.
 
Maybe at some point you can start to do basic journey's and so on as your faction flourishes.

[Porkolt]

Do this, but just make an elite and overly expensive rafting system, however.
 
DMs might be able to organize doing something more special with it if they are so inclined.
 
Yalta's upgrades idea works, I suppose. Similarly, the amount of available ships could be severely limited (say, the shipyard finishes one per month). Factions that disappear have their ship mothballed and used for materials to make new ships out of, for simplicity.

[Kiaring]

Amount of ships is limited by the number of moorings, much like the guildhouses aren't unlimited.

Upgrading works, certainly. I like the idea that you start with a run-down old wreck and work your way up. Sounds very Docks-like.

Just an elite and extremely expensive rafting system? The rafting system already works to this effect, it's not expensive and there's really no need for it to be elite. These are meant to be faction areas, when a DM is not available to oversee a journey.

[derfo]

Just having two or so simple rentable ships for player factions only, that serve as a docks equivalent storage, rest, and one-way voyage to rafting points, at a comparative price to patricianship/guildhouses, seems pretty solid.

[Thomas_Not_very_wise]

Dooooo eeeeet

[AllMYBudgies]

One of the best suggestions ever, would love to see this or something similar implemented!

[Tyrant, The Orange Wizard]

Perhaps also make it that instead of getting an upgrade you can "Find" a better boat, to encourage more devious crews.

[Ordeal]

It makes sense. Even if it just meant you could go to all the places the Raft could go, it would be immensely worth it.

And a perfect excuse to get that Kobold Rafter perk, right?

[PlayaCharacter]

I love this idea.

[The Crimson Magician]

kobold pirates yes