Rockstar's attention to detail in their 2018 blockbuster Red Dead Online doesn't come close to the gripping story of the single-player campaign, it still shares many of the enveloping details along with some unique aspects of its own.
The most notable detail in Rockstar's western adventure is the accurate correlation to the America's westward expansion, a depiction of a world filled with boomtowns-turned-ghost towns, the lawless expanse being brought to heel, and the western genre (and history) RDR2 is soaked in.
Steamboats rose to prominence throughout the early 1800s as a way to transport goods and people throughout the many river towns in the eastern United Statesa such as New Orleans and New Yorka and the upriver areas like Louisville, Kentucky, and Albany. Their most prominent use, of course, was along the Mississippi, but they also became essential in early western pushes by utilizing rivers such as the Red River, Arkansas River, and most notably the Missouri River. By the time RDR2's campaign takes place steamboats were sharply on the decline as the railroad was rapidly replacing them. As RDR2 and Red Dead Online's entire setting serves to showcase the changes in frontier life as civilization moved in, adding this extra wrinkle would make the tales even more nuanced.
Why Steamboats Are Important To The Red Dead Frontier
Steamboats provided the initial launch point into the western fur trading expeditions, giving tens of thousands age up the Missouri River en route to excursions like the Oregon Trail. By the late 1800s transit via boat was on the decline, as the railroad expanded on the heels of the infamous ing of the Central Pacific Railroad and Union Pacific Railroad in 1869, making travel and transport of goods significantly more efficient. This monumental new rail system, though, didn't replace river travel completely in a number of the states featured in RDR2, but the in-game world has another railroad issue that precipitates the necessity for steamboats.
In RDR2's map there are two separate train routes running through the states featured in the main story campaign, but upon reaching the epilogue players will find the new railroad being built throughout New Austin. The layout of these two railroad systems effectively cuts the map in half while also leaving Blackwater completely isolated in between the two. Despite the railroad not reaching the region yet, the town of Blackwater is still one of the fastest-growing cities, and much of New Austin is filled with the early seeds of settlement. While keeping players locked out of Blackwater makes sense for the narrative of the single-player, the lack of railroad connection also means the regions would be heavily dependent on river boats, and that is only made more apparent in RDO as the map is fully open from the beginning.
The need for steamboats is further proven by the fact the two train routes only run north, from Saint Denis to Annesburg, before looping west through the other towns. So, for goods to be shipped from Annesburg to Saint Denis they would have to go all the way through Ambarino and West Elizabeth before finally making it back to Lemoyne. This would be crippling on fur trading as the delay would lead to damaging pelts hunters had gathered. RDR2 itself even tips its hat at the prevalence of river travel as Annesburg, Saint Denis, and Blackwater all have large harbors on the Lannachee River, which would certainly be a primary means of transit given the layout and status of Red Dead Redemption 2's railroads.
What New Features Could Be Included With Steamboats In RDR2
While it would be fitting for the realistic nature of RDR2 to have boats going up and down the Kamassa and Dakota, they're both too shallow and narrow too allow proper age, leaving the Lannachee as the only feasible option - but that is perfect given the three large cities and harbors along with Flat Iron Lake. Since Rockstar has already put an end to any additional content for RDR2's single player campaign this would only apply to Red Dead Online, but RDO could introduce a single large Iron Belle steamboat that cruises the river docking at Annesburg, Saint Denis, and Blackwater or anchoring out in the lake. This major expansion could bring with it a number of activities to expand the online world.
Steamboats weren't just for transportation. They were also a source of entertainment with special restaurants, music, and, of course, casinos. Even to this the day riverfront casinos still mirror the old steamboat charm, and it would be the perfect addition to RDO. Similar to the casino in GTA Online, the Iron Belle could provide an opportunity for lodging and special gambling events, even adding new games to play like craps and roulette to go with other RDO gambling mini games already available. This could also lead to a fitting storyline where players can enter into a high-stakes poker tournament on board the casino after receiving an invite and winning enough money at various poker tables throughout the map.
Rockstar could work in storylines at the poker table, with potential robberies of certain NPCs or perhaps hidden bounty targets that could be discovered through chatting while gambling, giving the tournament a vibe of Casino Royale. This would allow Rockstar to build upon the player roles already available as well. In addition to having bounty targets hidden on the ship that would have to be tracked, there could be new rare collector's items and an auction house on board with weekly spotlights where Red Dead Online players could sell items for a similar to Madam Nazar's weekly lists.
The Trader and Moonshiner roles would also be easily incorporated, as players could use the Belle as a place for sales missions from the butcher's table in camp, selling off pelts for more lucrative rewards to be shipped off on the boat. Likewise, the Moonshining role could feature new missions for setting up a shine running business on the boat to move goods from port to port, doing multiple deliveries and maximizing profits, all while avoiding agents lurking around the docks. This could also be opportunity for Rockstar to add a for Harriet aboard the boat which would have exclusive missions and items that are more rewarding than Harriet's current rewards, which mostly only serve to advance the Naturalist role itself.
Each addition would evolve the Iron Belle into a deeply-nuanced hub that brings a myriad of new experiences for Red Dead Online players, and an endless potential for new missions of any kind that Rockstar can imagine. There could be any number of possible heists, specialist role missions, and even a lead in to the region of Nuevo Paraiso should Rockstar ever choose to include it. Most importantly, though, adding in a steamboat would further solidify the incredibly realistic setting of Red Dead Redemption 2 and Red Dead Online, making them an even more accurate tale of the American West.
