Posted by Zebulost on May 13, 2000 at 22:27:02:
In Reply to: The Oceans of Thera posted by Zebulost on May 13, 2000 at 22:26:00:
Revamping the Oceans of Thera would leave a huge opening for a new class: the Mariner.
Mariners are those that go down to the sea in ships, whether as explorers, fisherman, traders, naval men, or pirates. They tend to be hardened workers, adjusted to hours of back-breaking labour, long periods of intense boredom punctuated with brief moments of stark terror, and the occasional run ashore. Mariners are trained to handle a wide variety of situations, and pick up many skills during their journeys. The mariner class is a combination warrior/thief with a dash of bard thrown in.
Skills:
Rank 1: axe, mace, sword, dagger, polearm, hand to hand, diving (*)
Rank 2: trip
Rank 3: dirt kicking
Rank 4: parry
Rank 5: fast healing
Rank 6: dodge
Rank 7: enhanced damage
Rank 8: second attack
Rank 9: kick
Rank 10: navigation (*)
Rank 12: lookout (*)
Rank 14: meditation
Rank 15: dual wield
Rank 20: seamanship
Rank 28: third attack
Rank 30: reckoning (*)
Rank 35: blackjack
Rank 40: pilot (*)
* Diving allows the mariner to swim beneath the surface. At less then 80% skill, he can hold his breath for 1 tic, and procede 1 room beneath the surface. At 80-89%, he can hold his breath 2 tics and procede 2 rooms beneath the surface. 90-99%: 3 & 3, 100%: 4 & 4. If breath runs out, he automatically surfaces. If he cannot go up from the room he is in, he takes drowning damage.
Navigation allows the use of the 'course' command. It also reduces the dangers of shallows and restricted waters. Higher skill decreases deviation from course.
Lookout increases scan distances. The mariner has a %/3 chance of scanning 1 room farther. 80%+ skill gives a %/5 of scanning another room. 90%+ skill gives a %/10 chance of scanning yet another room. Thus a hero mariner may be scanning 9 rooms. At sea, the % chances are double.
Reckoning, if successful, returns the mariners current position on an ocean grid (in latitude and longitude, or perhaps in relation to last landmark)
Pilot skill allows the mariner to use names of specific destinations with the course command, as well as further reducing dangers in restricted waters.
Songs: (note that mariners do not have the sing skill, nor do they require an instrument to sing their shanties)
Rank 16: 'Fyfe and drum'
"Away, away, with fyfe and drum,
here we come, full of rum!"
- from 'the North Atlantic Squadron', a baudy Canadian shanty from the world wars.
This song raises the level of intoxication in those listening to it. Groupmates also gain a small damage increase of +1 for every 16 levels of the singer.
Rank 21: 'Painted ocean'
"Day after day, day after day,
We stuck, nor breath nor motion;
As idle as a painted ship
Upon a painted ocean."
- from 'the Rime of the Ancient Mariner', Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 1798
This song calms the weather, reducing wind speed and storm intensity locally.
need a couple more songs - nothing to powerful.
Some mariner level titles (in no particular order): Boatswain, Coxswain, Jolly Tar, Warrant Officer, Petty Officer, Able Seaman, Leading Hand, Killick, Third Mate, Second Mate, First Mate, Master's Mate, Corsair, Buccaneer, Filibuster, Freebooter, Sea Rover, Bunting Tosser, Cabin Boy, Navigator, Pilot, Admiral, Vice-Admiral, Rear Admiral, Commodore, Captain, Commander, Lieutenant, Sublieutenant, Midshipman.