Lumber Mill. Indestructible gaia building. Can be captured by simply walking a unit over to it and taken off you by a enemy by moving a unit to it. Produces one wood per second. This was help losing ships to be far more forgiving on water maps. And even if trees run out, you still get wood. This building is generally only on water-based maps. But can be placed in the scenario editor.
All war ships can transport five units. This will make scenarios with ships as Viking Longboats more immersive Transport ships can transport up to 30 units.
Trade port. Indestructible gaia non-capturable building. That trade cogs can trade with, tends to be corner of the map. Trade cogs produce 20% wood for the value of gold per trip.
Boarding Ship. Same thing from Rome at War mod. This ship is heavily armored and high HP. When it attacks another ship it acts like a monk and over five seconds it will capture the ship. Heresy cannot block the boarding mechanic.
Deep Sea Fish. Infinite food source. You can fish from this source of fish forever.
Deep Sea Fish and Trade port can be a specific feature of some random maps (Like Age of Empires 4 for the trade port).
The first one could be like a “water gold rush”.
Another idea: the Boarding Ship can also be the equivalent of the bireme in Battle for Greece? Deal damage in close combat + have a little chance to convert enemy ships.
I think the Galley line should carry 5 units and the Longboats 10.
Other Unique ships potentially too, other generic ships not.
I want resource trickle building in general but I don’t think they should be in normal random maps.
Chronicles adds the option to trade for Wood on water.
The Beta of AoE2 had a feature where you could trade with “outside of the map”, which basically made your trade cog disappear at the edge of the map and then come back with Gold after some time.
Those 2 features could be combined. You can trade with the edge of the map (or maybe just the corners) for Wood only.
The boarding ship exists hidden in the editor, I think Drake uses it? You can place it with triggers along with trade workshops generating resources and Gaia markets so they’re ideas that almost made it in the game and I wouldn’t be surprised if they become official sooner or later. Someone made a thread here about these hidden objects some time ago…