[Freeciv-Dev] Re: River Navigability (again)

[Martin Willemoes Hansen <mwh@xxxxxxxx>]

> Idea/suggestion:
> Make rivers navigable, at least to some ships/boats.

I would realy like to see that implemented :o)

> Description:
> Either rivers should be generally navigable (perhaps
> as an option in the terrain ruleset), or a movement
> type "water" should allow both ocean and river.

The last thing about movement type would be the way to go IMHO, cause
some ships today are just too large to go up a river.

> Realistic aspect:
> Besides the local river, consider...
> * the historical accounts of the Vikings sailing up
> the Seine and Volge.
> * the fact that river transport of ground troops has
> always been of strategic importance, and the current
> movement bonus for rivers stretch believability (why
> does a barge with horses on it go faster than one with
> foot man, while presumable industrial age river
> steamers offer no benefit over ancient times).
> * the strategic effects / elements of controlling
> important rever junctions and the mouths of rivers.

Umh you got a point there. And if ships can sail on the rivers then how
can the land units suddenly have a boat?

> How to do it:
> KISS -- nothing to complicated.  At most add type
> "water" that allows both ocean and river travel (more
> realistic -- I can't imaging an aircraft carrier on
> the Tennessee river, but a trireme I can).  Otherwise
> allow an option for general navigability (simpler, but
> less realistic -- all ships can go on rivers or else
> none can).  Specifics about vessels and water depth
> are probably best not considered for the purpose of
> efficiency.  River boats could keep the "Trireme"
> specification even into modern times to represent the
> fact that they are not designed for to be ocean
> worthy.
> 
> (I've tried to work this in as a crud hack, and
> checking for not S_RIVER along with other restriction,
> but must be missing something as it to doesn't work.)
 
-- 
Martin Willemoes Hansen

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