We need a working diving helmet! That way a pirate could stay underwater as long as someone in his crew is pumping air down back on the ship or as long as a solo pirate can wind it up. It would function as another tool to find and acquire valuable loot.
What We Would Get
A diving helmet with an extendable hose that comes out of a wooden box. The wooden box is the air box. It has an enternal air bladder and an external wheel.
How it Would Work
At first thought it would be very fun if someone had to continuously pump air down to the diver. However, that would prevent solo pirates from having fun with it. So, a solo pirate would wind the air box up using the wheel to start it running. As the pirate dives underwater the hose extends. The pumped air lasts about 2-3 times the time the pirate could hold their breath. If the pirate is not alone, a crew member could wind up the device again to extend the period. The pirate could tug on the hose to send signals if there is someone up on the ship.
There would be specific locations under the sea that a dive could happen. There is already a sea bed around islands, some times extending far and deep away from the shore.
New Gameplay
~ Voyages to search rumored sites of lost shipwrecks. The diver could have to walk into broken, crusted ships.
~ Voyages to dig up sunken treasure under the sea floor.
~ Solve underwater riddles in a new ship graveyard as part of Order of Soul missions.
~ Fight dead captains forever trapped at what remains of their sunken ship or a special chest they pledged to protect with their life.
~ A voyage could entail diving to find and locate a statue, totem, or shrine in each part of the sea to reveal a hidden underwater sea cave.
~ Dive to find giant clams to pry open to find giant pearls, including a rare golden pearl.
Risks & Hazards
~ The air box could randomly malfunction, becoming stuck and not pumping air. The air box would need to wind up again to reset.
~ The air box could randomly break due to pressure of overuse. Planks could be used to repair it.
~ Skarks could spawn that randomly bite at the hose eventually breaking it.
~ A new hammerhead shark could be added at these locations. Instead of biting and drawing blood, they headbutt and disorient the diver.
~ A new electric eel could pop out and shock the diver. Electricity fills their vision as they are temporarily stunned.
~ Maybe the helmet is not a permanent item or just one part. Maybe it is loaned out from an old diver located at one of the sea posts. Maybe parts are found in barrels on shipwrecks. Being limited the item is sought and even fought after. Maybe crews with different parts form an alliance to put it together and help each other out to find the more valuable loot waiting under the sea.
Extra Item
Weighted Boots: The weighted boots help the pirate sink faster. They also cause the pirate to walk slower. him walk slow. The diver would of course swim slower back to the surface.
Example of Real Life Diving Helmet Equipment
My Ideas
Fishing, Crabbing, Digging Clams, & Harpoon Monster Hunting
Walking the Plank
Outpost Under Siege
Sea Folk Magic
Usable Dagger: Weapon/Tool & Environmental Targets
Fly More Flags
Diving Helmet
Community Ideas Master List
You can find a lot more creative and fun ideas from the great minds of the community in Community Ideas Master List. Who knows maybe some of them will be coming our way soon in a future Bilge Rat adventure or update!
