Following Seas 1.2 - Introducing Square Rigs

The second major content update for Following Seas is now live. Along with a number of bug-fixes and fine-tuning - this update introduces a new ship type (and new rig type that can be ported to other ships in the future), and a new landmark.

This update also contains much of the groundwork towards localization support, and functional ship ai.

Fixes:

Fixed issue where inventory items could be equipped via main inventory key while certain ui items were active, breaking functionality of the ui item.

Fixed issue where multiple ship functions could become stuck and continue functioning while walking around when interacting with the ship's sail control points, then interacting with a generic winch.

Made numerous adjustments to the fish pool system to constrain object parentage to the ship hierarchy, and enforce local spawn positions to (again) hopefully fix the issue where fish would appear far from the hooks/lines on the fishing caravel.

Improved the number and reliability of mesh lods on fishing caravel, significantly reducing the number of triangles drawn per frame.

Changes:

Significantly updated the generic item interface (many ship features implement this) to better account for other interactable components. Adds to the bugfixes above that prevent interaction states from getting confused. Also allows for much finer control of item disengagement.

New Content:

Square rigged ships have finally made it to following seas. A variant of the Xebec is available that trades one of its lateens for four square sails. The performance and behavior of these sails is still under construction, but it's at the point where the ship is stable and controllable.

Square rigs function a bit differently when compared to other sail types, needing a bit more restrictive controls to keep the mess of spars and lines stable.

The mainsail can be controlled via corner lines in much the same way as other ships, but all of the yards are controlled by a new control type called a brace controller.

These are two part controls used to brace the corresponding yard to port or starboard. You don't need to roll out slack, as tightening on one side will automatically loosen the other.

The reefing of square sails functions much the same as other types, but you will need to get up into the shrouds for the topsails.

The Xebec variant also has a partially new hull, with a flatter deck and rounder shape to be better suited to offshore travel. She is also armed with 18 six pounders, though as with other ships these are very much works in progress.

Below decks you will see cargo capacity has been cut back significantly, and you have gained a magazine, workshop, and brig. (None of which are currently functional.)

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Note that unlike the caravel variants, this new ship can not be purchased from the standard imperial shipyard, instead you will need to make a trip up north to a new landmark - Weeping Isle.

"A palatial fortress laying at the northern reaches of the old Empire, built to project power and act as a bastion against the raiding peoples of the far north.

Bearing neither food nor water, the great fortress was abandoned as the world fell to ash. The tower has now become host to new owners. Calling themselves the Inheritors, they fancy themselves successor's to the martial traditions of the old Empire. In the eyes of those seeking survival among the isles, they are better known as pirates, raiders, and slavers.

With prey becoming scarce, cautious traders may succeed at trading food and drink, but ever there is the chance of ending up in chains - or, as rumors abound, upon the tables of starving raiders."