Trying to be a friendly pirate

It’s like Racism.

We weren’t born this way it’s a behavior we learned.

I try to always be friendly but I'm a pirate and I'm self serving

I don't mess with new players I don't interrupt tall tales with chaos I don't puff out my chest just because I can.

If you have a LOT of loot or a level 5 flag I'm going to try to take that from you

I'm always running an emissary but I don't always want your loot because it's not worth my time to shuffle low end loot back and forth so I might touch it but I don't want it. I'll take your supplies if I need them. I'll check your barrels for fish that I need for commendations.

Unless you attack me or act weird around me I more often than not don't want anything to do with what you're doing

I don't check quest tables because I'd rather shovel cow manure in hundred degree heat than spend my time tucking on your ship

I give away loot I don't feel like turning in myself.

I don't care about your athena chests they don't serve me anymore

I don't trust anyone out there but I don't take out anything out on someone just because I got screwed over by someone else.

Some are as generous as me while stilling being selfish but a lot are looking to mess with you in one way or another so just keep your distance or get good at making them keep theirs

Communicate often and clearly and with kindness or at the very least decency. If it's ever going to work out it will be because you communicate well and because you aren't unpleasant. Don't crowd people you are trying to be friendly with. Trigger fingers get itchy when people get too close

@glannigan said in Trying to be a friendly pirate:

It’s like Racism.

We weren’t born this way it’s a behavior we learned.

Hah, that's disturbingly accurate.

The pirate theme does imply PvP and for some players that all they're interested in, and really if we're honest doing voyages all the time does get a bit boring. So if you're someone who's interested in leveling up or getting commendations, then PvP doesn't tend to be an efficient use of your time, but there are others who's only goal is to find PvP even if the majority of their targets don't pose much of a challenge to them, but I do support their ability to do that if that's how they choose to enjoy the game.

I'm a friendly pirate. But yes every other player I meet is probably going to try to kill me, sink my ship or steal my quest items.

Players who talk in game and say hello are mush less likely to be dogs, but I've also had "Don't worry we're friendly" come over the mic as they throw fire bombs and grab my chests.

Thanks for the replies, that's more than I needed to know. By the experiences I'm having it looks like the optimal way to confront most people is being relentless and kill them before they do it to you. Hopefully some friends hop in, that way we can balance a bit the odds in our favour. Yesterday I had a good run against two different ships but I could get away with my Sloop after like a 30 minute chase, but I'm still bad at managing everything alone.

By the way, a bit off topic but the gunplay feels great, don't know what they did with it in the last two years but it's so satisfying when you hit someone.

So pirates on the sea can be divided in three primary groups:

• New and Newish
• Grinders (aka, PL wanabees)
• Old Pros
  The first and last group are most likely to be friendly.
  New and Newish because they haven't learned and they don't generally know what to do or expect.
  Old pros group simply because they no longer care about gold or rep and if they are in the game they usually either spending quality time or just screwing around for pure fun. Old Pros are very unlikely to attack New players, because there is no point in that, they may go after high price target run by grinders but also very likely to give all your loot back (I had seen people giving back all of the gilded voyage spoils)
  Grinders are the largest group, and one that will usually attack everything that moves and cries the loudest when things don't go as planned. Since there is no way to know what group ship is in, the only way to find out is by attempting to be friendly. My rule is (I am friendly, unless you attack me me for no reason, than all gloves are off)

@henlohori

Contrary to popular belief the game can be friendly and can be a lot of the times.

Most players you run into the game aren't PvP'ers, unless this is dependent on region because most of my servers are filled with PvEers.

So the problem is and I think most people have forgotten this little tid bit because they just expect that things are black/white. You are either nice or mean. PvE or PvP.

It boils down to personality most of the time. I'm not going to lie, players who roll up and go "Hey want to alliance??" in a monotone voice, I'm going to sink them because one they said my trigger word....alliance lol....2 they seem to be boring.

I rolled up to a ship that ending up sinking to a skelly ship and the guy in the water uses the Chinese phone prank voice on me and I laugh my butt off and I hang out and talk with him.

Lesson is that people forget that being friendly is also an aspect of socializing. If you seem boring or just really a bother then I'm not going to waste my time.

Another aspect is how you approach ships.

PvE'ers make up their own rules and think that is the law of the land. PvP'ers make rules for themselves to PROTECT themselves against each other.

PvE rule for approach - they come in with cannons up but they come in REALLY close. Ship is super close and crew is able to act which is a potential threat if there is a betrayal.

PvP rule for approach - sails up and ship way off in the distance past max cannon range to summon mermaid when swimming up to the other ship. Ship is far as hell away and person is in the water. Threat is super minimal. You get on mic and you let them know you are shooting over to give them full warning where you are at all times. You do NOT approach the other ship you swim to make contact and sit next to your mermaid. If the mermaid is close to their ship then you sit farther away. Never get close.

PvE rules for alliance - Flag is up we should all respect that. The mentality of "why get 50% of something when I can get a 100%" - The potential gain is almost guaranteed because their ship is usually not prepped and it seems like they would just lose instantly. People swimming around with kegs freely in the water and no one paying attention. No one guarding the ship.

PvP rules for alliance - Prepped to betray if need, Prepped to protect if need. Ship is never broadside to another ship, other crew members are not allowed onto the ship period. Anyone is in the water with a keg they are shot instantly. Someone is always on lookout. It is SHOWN that if a crew were to betray there is a chance that they will lose. "If we try to betray there is a big chance we can lose" - Percentage of loss is too high so they don't do it.

Think of it as predators and prey. Predators respect each others territory to a degree because of the potential dangers involved, however the prey is just that, prey.

Learn to be at the top of the food chain and you decide what happens. Be the naive prey thinking that a simple "hello I'm friendly" or believing that the alliance flag protects you, you are just asking to be robbed.

So short version - Have a personality and make it seem fun to hang out with you and don't behave like a mentally challenged rabbit surrounded by wolves. You can be part of the pack without having to be bloodthirsty.

Just let others know you aren't an easy target and you'll gain a lot of respect.

@galactic-geek said in Trying to be a friendly pirate:

@xultanis-dragon Did someone say mentally challenged rabbit? 😅

Gots the SHARP - POIN-TY TEETH........LOOK AT THE BONES!!!!