Ship Driver LSL Script – Advanced Water Vehicle Control System with Camera, Hover, Damage & Effects (Copy/Mod)

Introducing the Ship Driver LSL Script by Jubaerk — a highly advanced, fully optimized, and deeply customizable vehicle-control engine designed specifically for Second Life watercraft. Built from the foundations of the historical HC-1 flight system but completely transformed, this script delivers a polished, modern, and robust driving experience perfect for pirate ships, speedboats, fantasy creatures, steampunk vehicles, or any water-based craft that demands precision handling and immersive realism.

This script is not just a “driver”—it’s a complete maritime control suite, offering a sophisticated blend of physics, hover control, motion handling, responsive steering, custom camera dynamics, animation control, sound integration, prim-based effects, and even a battle-ready damage system. Whether you are a creator looking to enhance your products or a hobbyist crafting a personal vehicle, this script gives unparalleled realism and flexibility.

ENGINEERED FOR REALISTIC WATER MOVEMENT
The script includes a custom hover system designed around SL’s native water level. It independently evaluates both water height and ground height, ensuring that your ship behaves differently when above water vs. above terrain. The hover system is smooth, stable, and physics-accurate, providing a premium sailing feel.

The water offset system ensures that your ship floats at the correct height, adjusting dynamically for waves or land crossing. This makes the script ideal for open ocean sailing, combat boats, RP pirate vessels, or futuristic sea cruisers.

ADVANCED VEHICLE PARAMETERS
The Ship Driver LSL Script uses fully configured flight/vehicle parameters repurposed for watercraft. By shaping linear friction, angular friction, motor decay timescales, buoyancy, vertical attraction, and banking efficiency, the script creates smooth gliding movement while maintaining strong directional control.

Acceleration and braking feel intuitive, forward/back glide is responsive, and turning is handled through a combination of angular torque and y-axis force adjustments. Creators may modify these values to create slow heavy galleons, fast skiffs, or agile sci-fi hoverboats.

PILOT PERMISSIONS + ANIMATION SUPPORT
When the owner sits on the ship, the script automatically requests and manages:

Animation permissions

Control permissions

Camera control

The system automatically detects the first animation in inventory and plays it seamlessly when piloting begins. If creators add a new animation, the script detects and updates it automatically.

This allows creators to add unique steering, sailing, or rowing animations, providing a higher level of immersion.

IMMERSIVE FX: WINGS, LEGS, & PRIM ALPHA BEHAVIORS
One of the unique elements of this script is the dynamic prim visibility system. Creators can tag linked prims with descriptions such as “wing” or “leg,” allowing the script to toggle visibility or create randomized alpha flapping effects.

For pirate ships, this can be used creatively:

Sails that fade or flap dynamically

Magic wings or boosters that appear while moving

Effects that activate only during piloting

CUSTOM CAMERA CONTROL SYSTEM
The script includes a full cinematic camera setup optimized for ship driving. The camera follows behind the boat with soft dynamic lag, smooth transitions, and adjustable pitch and distance. Steering feels more immersive, and creators can fine-tune camera values to achieve their desired look.
This makes the driving experience extremely user-friendly for RP players, combat sailors, adventurers, and casual explorers.
INTEGRATED DAMAGE SYSTEM (CANNONBALL COMPATIBLE)
The script includes a built-in Kraken SPD Damage System, originally designed for combat role-play. Your vehicle can detect incoming CannonBall objects that are not owned by the pilot, reducing health with each hit.

Features include:
Adjustable health system
Linked message notifications for HUDs

Auto-sinking behavior when destroyed
Timed death and cleanup to avoid clutter
This is perfect for naval battles, pirate RP, combat regions, or interactive game systems.

SMOOTH TRANSITION STATES: RESTING & FLYING
The system uses two main states:

AT REST
Scripts disable physics
Legs show, wings hide
Vehicle becomes stationary
The pilot is cleared
Awaits owner to sit and take control

FLYING / DRIVING
Physics enabled

Controls activated
Animations triggered
Camera repositioned
Vehicle effects enabled
Real-time input handling

This dual-state architecture ensures stable startup, no accidental movement, and clean initialization every time.

EASY TO MODIFY – FULL COPY/MOD PERMISSIONS
Creators can fully customize:

Speed

Rotation and turning strength
Hover height
Vehicle friction
Animation
Sound effects
Wing/leg prim effects
Damage values