Golden Sands Event Feedback Now That It is Complete

@captain-fixx I just saw someone post about the other day suddenly Reaper's having 100% then dropping back to neck and neck. If that is true, it could have only been achieved by someone hacking.
Either way, there have been exploits on the Reaper side. The worst is, now I think Rare are trying to bury any sign of exploiting or hacking/cheating from their game to not lose face in front of their players and avoid a COD fiasco. If I'm not mistaken, my post was also deleted by a moderator because I posted a video of someone cheating from YouTube to start a conversation around it and someone said that I was breaking the rules.

There have deffinately been an increase in shadyness this season around Lost Sands and I'm afraid Rare are not transparent enough and long time SOT players are defending them with contorted interpretations of the rules.

@captain-fixx hold on a second, so u r saying that the event is complete? Who won?

@captain-fixx

Yes, I did not name anyone because this is simply a video I have found on YouTube, so I don't know anyone and do not recognise any names. I didn't come to report, nor do I have any intention to as I am not a Rare employee nor is it my job to investigate or create reports that do not directly affect me, my playthrough or my account. I am simply here to have discussions. Witch hunts are not preventable. If its not here, it will be on Reddit or elsewhere.

I also did not mention any particular Rare employee or disciplinary action taken against them by adding this title. It is obvious that those are not admins and the title for the topic is designed to create intrigue for discussion and to discredit the title of the original video.

I would not have posted anything that I believe would go against the rules or would be a detriment to my account, but in the event that this post would to be removed, despite the fact that it does NOT break any rules, would be disappointing and discouraging, as that would prevent free discussion and encourage a toxic echo chamber.

I would like to hear sailors opinion on these issues and in the future, I would like to see and hear directly from Rare, quantifiable steps that they take in combating cheating on the Seals.

I honestly don't care what result Lost Sands end with, but it was obvious that there was some foul play here.
You said that they should be transparent and despite others saying they "they don't owe us that", I disagree.

They absolutely owe us transparency. We paid into their game, we spend money on ancient coins, we spend time of our finite lives to populate their servers. Fans don't credit themselves enough because without us, Rare and SOT are nothing. We make their game.

This whole event was a mess from the start. First off they had two radically different game modes. This meant that helping one side would be easier and more fun and would lead to an imbalanced outcome. Both sides should have been doing the same, or very similar thing. Like both delivering Rowboats from equidistant boats. One with supplies the other with a bomb. Another would be a defensive game, or an offensive minigame at the Outpost. These means that both sides have an absolutely fair and equal chance at winning and won't feel lime the odds are stacked against them which I heard plenty of people on both sides with that sentiment.

The lack of information from Rare about what counts and doesn't, along with misinformation from Deckhands left a lot of players confused and frustrated and many rightfully believe it was intentional to rig the results. It took them almost a week to clarify blowing up rowboats away from Golden Sands doesn't help. A lot of this info was only provided via social media and often only just twitter meaning only a small handful of players got these updates and it had to trickle to the rest. The lack of knowledge of what actions count and how much leave us wondering was it feasible for my side to win. If rowboats count for 10 points and supply crates cpunt for 10 then that is going to mean Reaper is at a disadvantage, but if Rowboats are instead worth 1000 then far less effort would be needed to support the Reapers over Hunters.

The way the quote on quote tracker vasilated back and forth looks extremely fishy. While a back and forth isn't impossible it certainly isn't the norm with these kind of competitions. One side grabs a lead and then runs away with the competition is the norm. I and many others get a sense the tracker was for show to simply keep people engaged and give the illusion it was close when it really wasn't. While I think Rare felt this would make players more engaged, and they may be right it also frustrated them and created further suspicion the results are rigged and that they're being strung along here.

To only further give the impression Rare has it's thumbs on the scale they doubled the points on the last day which was clearly going to help whichever side could get more players on that specific day which is absolutely unfair. If Ruin Golden Sands win the Save Golden Sands side will feel utterly cheated. They were ahead the day prior and took them a few days to gain the lead after bringing it back to neutral. They're certainly going to believe that rule change was made specifically to help their opponent and ensure they lose.

This is the big issue. For a lot of us working hard for the competition we feel like our efforts were pointless as Rare seemingly kept putting their thumb on the scales to achieve their desired outcome. We felt like we were being strung along, manipulated and lied too. The whole time many of us felt frustrated by the event. We weren't enjoying ourselves. Hell I had one friend say he was never coming back to the game regardless of the outcome and deleted it right then and there off his console. I'm in the same mood. I don't mind tension, I don't mind defeat and disappointment. That is par the course for the game, but I don't ever want to feel lied to, unfairly treated and cheated and that is how I feel and I don't even know who the quote on quote winner is yet. Your players should never feel this way ever.

Rare needs to acknowledge these issues fast and promise to do better, or I might be following my friends example here soon. I was upset about how Arena was ended and I 100 percent completed it. Cause I knew a lot of players were not given fair warning so they could grind it out and finish it if they wanted, but also because they repeated a number of past mistakes. Such as announcing a reward(Good Boy Ship Set) with less than a day to get it. Past incidents with last minute cosmetic rewards should have taught them this was a bad idea and yet they still repeated the same mistake. I have a feeling tje devs will simply repeat the mistakes of this Adventure going forward and I don't want to be angry and frustrated more about this game because of it.

@shamanmclamie said in Golden Sands Event Feedback Now That It is Complete:

[... ]The way the quote on quote tracker vasilated back and forth looks extremely fishy. While a back and forth isn't impossible it certainly isn't the norm with these kind of competitions. One side grabs a lead and then runs away with the competition is the norm. I and many others get a sense the tracker was for show to simply keep people engaged and give the illusion it was close when it really wasn't. While I think Rare felt this would make players more engaged, and they may be right it also frustrated them and created further suspicion the results are rigged and that they're being strung along here.

Back and forth ? It was first Reaper in the lead, than after a day (maybe 2) it was shown as a stalemate and the last was that the Hunters were slightly in the lead.
If Hunters hadn't wasted their time exploding blowboats but doing Merrick's quests instead (or bought and delivered a few fruit crates), Reaper would have had less of a lead the first days.

I actually liked the mystery and questions behind the adventure and "what does what". Didn't care for the adventure itself, it was just okay...but not due to lack of information.

@like-500-ninjas dang bro, tell us how you really feel about things.

@like-500-ninjas you definitely didn't offend me friend. I can just tell that you are a say what you mean type of person. Don't feel the need to apologise to me.

@bruvhandles said in Golden Sands Event Feedback Now That It is Complete:

Reapers when at 50.1% ahead: STOP THE COUNT!

Merrick's followers when they are losing badly: There must be SOME kind of exploit giving the Reapers an unfair advantage. We can't prove it but it MUST be true.

Merrick's followers after they are in the lead: There is a verified exploit for only our side? Doesn't matter, no one knows exactly how much 40 rum bottles in an hour really counts vs 3-4 exploded rowboats on GS.

@bruvhandles said in Golden Sands Event Feedback Now That It is Complete:

@kommodoreyenser What was that? I can’t hear you the sunshine and breeze is too pretty and loud here on the golden sands

Best not to fight facts, you are spot on with that.

@bruvhandles said in Golden Sands Event Feedback Now That It is Complete:

@kommodoreyenser those were both of ours opinions babe…no facts here. Also I play solo and didn’t do a single quest for the event so I really have no clue what you’re even talking about. Im just happy whenever reapers lose. See you at the Red Sea where my shop despawns matey arrrr

Lol the despawn wall is a loss for both, usually 4-5 minutes for the chaser and 1-5 hours for the runner. I couldn't care either way as I will just be drive-by or rowboat selling my entire lot before your full galleon/brig catches my empty solo sloop. That's a real win/lose scenario.

Also not an opinion, literally a whole group of folks on Merrick's side were hard denying that exploit counted as much as it most likely did. They need way more balance testing before releasing these competitions in the future.

@bruvhandles said in Golden Sands Event Feedback Now That It is Complete:

@kommodoreyenser win lose meaningless words in a sandbox but sure

@bruvhandles said in Golden Sands Event Feedback Now That It is Complete:

@kommodoreyenser Im just happy whenever reapers lose. See you at the Red Sea where my ship despawns matey arrrr

So either by your definition of Reaper's losing is time wasting. Therefore those who wasted the most time are the biggest loser, aka the despawn wall gang that gathered up loot for 1+ hours to only lose it all.

OR

Win/lose means nothing in this game so no one lost this adventure nor when they chase a despawn wall potato.

I'm confused, which of your stances are we going with here?

@bruvhandles said in Golden Sands Event Feedback Now That It is Complete:

@kommodoreyenser lol both are true. There was an actual contest with points where a victor was decided and then there is sailing a ship. To me making it to the Red Sea before I get caught means I won the race I was playing. To you, sinking me or watching me sink means you won. There are no points in this scenario. So my logic stands.

Lol, everything means nothing. What a great philosophy to go by.

@like-500-ninjas said in Golden Sands Event Feedback Now That It is Complete:

@hijack-hayes

Thank you sir. I'm glad to hear that.

Hope to see you on the seas sometime!

I hope so, you're more than welcome to add me sir, my gamer tag is the same as my name here. I can be kinda sporadic with times and how long I can play for as I have little kids but hit me up.

I agree with the concerns, it felt like we arent helping any outcome from the start. As soon as Rare released the adventure, there was 0 information about what counts and the progress bar on the website had no numbers whatsoever. (all of this should have been relatively easy to display)

Even the progress bar on social channels shouldn't have been displayed in percentage, it should have been raw numbers for all achieved points combined across the game.

The other problem was letting all players complete both sides of adventure. That means, instead of helping their preferred faction, the vast majority of players did both sides just to get the rewards and then never played the adventure again.

Some people who were lazy to complete their non-preferred faction side ended up finishing it on the last day just for the reward when efforts were supposedly doubled making them unintentionally aid the side that they never wanted to help in the first place. That is, if player actions even counted at all.

@like-500-ninjas said in Golden Sands Event Feedback Now That It is Complete:

@reallybadgamer7 said in Golden Sands Event Feedback Now That It is Complete:

@like-500-ninjas bro it’s a pirate game! When you buy the game you agree to be in a world where pvp is an option.

Side note: PVP isn't "an option" in this game. It is only an option for the person who initiates it...not the person on the receiving end. Unless you consider scuttling and loosing your loot, spending an hour or more running, etc. fun "options". The "Its a pirate game" excuse has to be the most played out, pathetic one put forth since this game came out. That's as bad as someone who goes around intentionally wrecking players online in Forza because "rubbing is racing." Same griefer mentality.

You are right. Its not just an option. Its one of the core elements of the game. Thats not an excuse its a fact.

Imagine buying a pvp game like counter strike and complaining about other players for shooting at you and calling them toxic over it.

@like-500-ninjas said in Golden Sands Event Feedback Now That It is Complete:

@alienmagi said in Golden Sands Event Feedback Now That It is Complete:

@like-500-ninjas said in Golden Sands Event Feedback Now That It is Complete:

@reallybadgamer7 said in Golden Sands Event Feedback Now That It is Complete:

@like-500-ninjas bro it’s a pirate game! When you buy the game you agree to be in a world where pvp is an option.

Side note: PVP isn't "an option" in this game. It is only an option for the person who initiates it...not the person on the receiving end. Unless you consider scuttling and loosing your loot, spending an hour or more running, etc. fun "options". The "Its a pirate game" excuse has to be the most played out, pathetic one put forth since this game came out. That's as bad as someone who goes around intentionally wrecking players online in Forza because "rubbing is racing." Same griefer mentality.

You are right. Its not just an option. Its one of the core elements of the game. Thats not an excuse its a fact.

Imagine buying a pvp game like counter strike and complaining about other players for shooting at you and calling them toxic over it.

Based on all your posts, it's clear you are a PVP person. As I've said in other threads, I respect your opinion on it but I do respectfully disagree. This isn't an FPS game. This is actually a colorful open world that is designed for kids to play pirate in. The fact that so many grown men (and women) treat it so seriously and sweat at it so much, not to mention take pride in ruining other people's day, is sad.

But...for the sake of discussion, let me offer a counter point: Let's say this was an FPS game. It wouldn't be the same as being mad that someone shot back at you. It would be more like starting the game to find out it is 4 v 1, the other team knows the level and has better weapons, is hacking, and gets to shoot you first. Does that sound like fun? Because the vast majority of my PVP experiences have been vs 3 man Brig with the occasional 4 man Galleon.

And don't forget the toxicity. The last time I was involved in PVP, the other crew (Brig...which me and my friends have a name for that won't be posted here because the Brig is ALWAYS the boat of choice for griefers) spat obscenities so much I blocked them in game. One of them then felt the need to message me, like 30 minutes later mind you, when I was watching YouTube to tell me "While you're watching YouTube, look up how to get good at Sea of Thieves." Yeah...that's not harassment or griefing whatsoever. I'm sure they only did that though because, you know, "Pirate Game". I've had countless encounters like that involving players in this game. I do not recommend this game to friends because of the extremely toxic player base which, while some will say either doesn't exist or is a small percentage of players, is actually out of control.

1. I'm not just a PvP player, im maxed in every faction and I enjoy every aspect of the game.

2. The only people who seem to taking this game too seriously in my opinion are those who cant handle losing a pvp fight every once in a while and trying to spin the concept of PvP as toxic harrassment.

3. The game is part FPS by definition, you play in first person and you occasionally shoot stuff. Your comparison to counter strike is highly exaggerated. A more proper comparison would be treating the sloop as a handgun, brig as a submachine gun and galleon as an assault rifle. You are always free to choose which one you would like to play with. If you choose to sail a sloop you are voluntarily making yourself more vulnerable. This is also why solo sloops are considered to be the hardest play style.

4. Again, PvP and toxicity are not the same thing. As someone who spends a lot of time doing PvP I can tell you that in my personal experience the majority of toxicity and slurs come from PvE players who couldnt emotionally handle losing a fight. But that is an anecdote which is why this is a meaningless point.

The game's description tells everyone that it includes online interactions and PvP and when someone encounters these things in the game, acts surprised and starts asking the developers to unreasonably screw with game mechanics and ban innocent people over non toxic pvp, it is dishonest and I feel obligated to point it out.