The video, presented by Daniel Rammon of Ray’s Guide, discusses the ambitious Kickstarter project for “Ahoy,” a first-person multiplayer Age of Sail game that has garnered significant attention by raising nearly seven times its initial funding goal. The game promises three development phases: Sea Trials, an arena mode for team battles, and a massively multiplayer online (MMO) persistent world set in the Caribbean circa 1780. However, only the first two phases are guaranteed by the Kickstarter, with the MMO phase contingent on future sales, raising concerns about player expectations and long-term funding.
A key focus of Ahoy is authenticity rather than mere realism. Unlike games that incorporate fantastical elements, Ahoy aims to deliver a faithful representation of the Age of Sail era, emphasizing historical accuracy in ship management, crew roles, and naval combat. This commitment to authenticity presents unique gameplay challenges, such as the slow and deliberate pace of loading cannons or setting sails, which contrasts sharply with faster-paced action games. The game plans to use detailed NPC animations to depict these processes, avoiding intrusive progress bars and enhancing immersion.
The gameplay will revolve around managing a ship’s crew, with roles like captain, sailing master, gunnery master, and master at arms, supported by AI-controlled NPCs to maintain the choreography of ship operations. Daniel notes that while the game’s visuals and sailing mechanics look impressive, there is currently a lack of detailed crew animations and sound design, which are crucial for creating an immersive and authentic experience. He emphasizes the importance of investing in motion capture and real-time 3D sound mixing to capture the cacophony of a working sailing ship.
Regarding the MMO phase, the video highlights the challenge of balancing realism with player engagement, as sailing between locations could take hours or days, which may not appeal to all players. To address this, Daniel suggests implementing mechanics such as time debt for fast travel, encouraging players to spend time in ports for ship maintenance and social activities like joining other crews. This approach could help maintain immersion and provide meaningful gameplay during downtime, rather than turning the MMO into a simple route-planning game.
In conclusion, Daniel expresses cautious optimism about Ahoy, recognizing its potential to redefine the Age of Sail game genre through its dedication to authenticity and detailed gameplay mechanics. However, he stresses that the game’s success will depend heavily on the developers’ ability to deliver on crew animations, sound design, and a sustainable funding model for the MMO phase. The upcoming Sea Trials will be a critical milestone to gauge whether Ahoy can fulfill its ambitious vision and attract a dedicated player base.
