Adding Naval Units That Can Carry Scouts

[nietzschestache]

I had an idea for a mod that I think would be very useful, whilst relatively simple (I have zero experience modding): a Renaissance-era naval unit designed specifically for exploration via a capacity for a landing party.

Often, you research Astronomy, build a Caravel and set sail for new continents, and on your way, pass a whole load of ancient ruins, which of course you cannot explore in a ship. When you reach another continent, ships may be rendered pretty useless by having a hilly coast, as you wont be able to see beyond one tile into land. Both of these issues would be solved if there was a unit that could disembark from your Caravel. (Simply sending out embarked scouts/other land units is undesirable because of their limited moves and sight; this is also more historically accurate, and I think logical, than embarked scouts.)

So my proposition is this: a unit called the Carrack which is some sort of cross between the Caravel (moves, appearance, required tech, though less strong) and the Carrier (but with a capacity for the Landing Party rather than aircraft, which in itself would be a duplicate of the Scout). I noticed this thread: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=542321 but I'm hoping that because the Carrack would be a combination of the features of units already in the game it would be relatively simple.

What I expect would be more complicated is the dependency of the Carrack's abilities on whether or not the Landing Party is on board - both simply to make sense, and to make sure the Carrack would have a purpose distinct to the Caravel, I would want to have the strength of the Carrack and its moves decreased while the Landing Party is disembarked.

Is this possible? And is it a realistic goal for someone with no modding experience?
Thanks

 

[whoward69]

Renaissance-era naval unit designed specifically for exploration via a capacity for a landing party.

Is this possible? And is it a realistic goal for someone with no modding experience?

Certainly possible, but definitely non-trivial

I'd create THREE units

1. The main ship (Carrack) set up as a fully fighting ship
2. A land scouting unit (Shore Party) set up as desired
3. A zero-moves, defensive only ship (Carrack-at-Anchor) set up as the weaker version of the ship

Only the Carrack can be built. When adjacent to land it has a custom mission (there are at least two ways to do these - both requiring a modded DLL) called "Land Shore Party". If that action is taken, create a Carrak-at-Anchor unit in the same hex and transfer the relevant stats (xp, damage, promotions, etc) from the main Carrack to it, then remove (kill) the Carrack. Also, create the Shore Party unit on any adjacent land.

The Shore Party also has a custom mission, "Return to Ship", that can only be taken when adjacent to a Carrack-at-Anchor unit. Taking this action removes (kills) the Shore Party unit (you may want to save key stats like xp, promotions and damage earnt/taken while ashore to reinstate these when the Shore Party is next needed), create a main Carrack unit, transfers the xp, damage, promotions from the Carrack-at-Anchor unit to it, and then remove (kill) the at-anchor unit.

Simples!

Edit: Note that the AI will have absolutely no idea on how to use the custom missions!

HTH

W

 

[nietzschestache]

Thanks, I suspect it will be out of my reach for now, but it's something I might return to come summer, when I have a bit more time. I'll take a look at some of your tutorials as well.
Thanks anyway

 

[Sarin]

Just a little piece of factoid....carrack is ingame already, as Portugese UU Nau. A good ship class for this would be brigantine, sloop or schooner, all quite light vessels (while carrack was heavier vessel that evolved into galleon).

 

[whoward69]

Finally scratched this itch!

"The Brigantine is a small, fast ship for early coastal, and later cross-ocean exploration. It can disembark its crew for shore operations (scouting inland, exploring ruins, clearing barbarian camps, pillaging, etc)."

Anybody feel like doing the icons and digging out some unit models?

 

[LeeS]

Finally scratched this itch!

"The Brigantine is a small, fast ship for early coastal, and later cross-ocean exploration. It can disembark its crew for shore operations (scouting inland, exploring ruins, clearing barbarian camps, pillaging, etc)."

Anybody feel like doing the icons and digging out some unit models?

This is probably a little too 'Viking': http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=24613

This might work for the 'land explorer' unit : http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=534357

I'd volunteer to do Icons but anything I'd create would just make a Whale drown from laughter.

 

[qqqbbb]

explorer unit: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=566904

 

[whoward69]

Added models (thanks for the suggestions LeeS), also the icon for the Shore Party.

Fixed the embark issue for the shore party, and set the Brigantine-At-Anchor to have no maintenance

Just need the SV/flag icon for the Shore Party and the main icon and SV/flag icon for the Brigantine

 

[AndreP]

A little Bug:

When the Brigantine stand in City and the shore party leave the Ship,
he can not never back to this.

 

[Craig_Sutter]

Check my sig... in my scenario, I have a cog the sv and Flag icons of which might be useful. If you download it, they are under ART/UNITS/COG I think.

 

[AndreP]

The Icon/Button Graphic is not the problem.

The Button is not functional when Brigantine stand in City.