Any purchasable items that aren't cosmetic?

Consumeables!

@nightmare247365 Im sorry but the latern isn't going to blind someone that's outrageous. And a game mechanic is a "constructive rule or method of play" so for example shooting a cannon like I said.

Also I'm not saying game mechanics as a use to win the game but rather to have more things to play with in the game, which is the point of a mechanic. E.g they add a new instrument that offers new mechanics, it doesnt give any advantage in sinking ships.

Imagine you could buy a chess board for your ship, doesn't add any win strats but brings more fun mechanics.

Hope this helps

@nightmare247365 There are ways to have diversity and stil maintain horizontal progession.

Boots which let you swim faster, but walk/run slower.
An Eye of Reach that can shoot further, but does less damage.
A cannon that is less affected by wind, but takes longer to load.
A banana that heals more, but you can carry less.

This does not make you more powerfull, it just lets you adjust your playstyle.
These are just random examples, but I imagine there could be a lot of choice.

@tedimshy Spot on mate exactly what im saying. Btw I really like the idea of pets especially how you can shoot them out of cannons ;)

@nzl-king-prawn what you are asking for will happen, just not as you are proposing it.

I fully believe that RARE will and intends to continue adding to the game mechanics. However, when they do this, they will implement the new mechanics through free updates. They will instantly become available to ALL players. These will never be something that you purchase. The only thing I can see possibly being "unlocked" is what happens when you reach "Pirate Legend" and you begin to be the "Captain" of your own ship. We may see much more customization to ships (more so than just changing the hull/sail color) once you reach that stage. Again this would still be cosmetic, but perhaps a more advanced or intricate form of cosmetics that the beginner player does not have access to. As @nightmare247365 has said, RARE is huge on solely HORIZONTAL progression. I think they will keep to the code on this one.

@eph1zul Totally agree. I'm currently a 3rd year game designer at uni and there's a lot of theory on this and balancing systems. So for example adding front cannons to your ship is a huge advantage. Make it that the front cannons mean you have to lose one of your masts and now you go slower now you have choices and consequences. It creates organic play and creates more ways to play, fail and succeed rather than making you OP. I think game theory does nothing but prove how positive it can be on a game system.

Being able to customize a ship outside of cosmetics will result in a meta, so I don't want that feature. At the moment Sword/Blunderbuss is already kinda meta imo unless they tone the blunderbuss down a little (like perhaps it has some kickback after being fired).

Though I hope they add potentially new emotes, dances, and songs on top of the ship and gear skin cosmetics. Maybe even outfits for your pets.

@eph1zul said in Any purchasable items that aren't cosmetic?:

@nightmare247365 There are ways to have diversity and stil maintain horizontal progession.

Boots which let you swim faster, but walk/run slower.
An Eye of Reach that can shoot further, but does less damage.
A cannon that is less affected by wind, but takes longer to load.
A banana that heals more, but you can carry less.

This does not make you more powerfull, it just lets you adjust your playstyle.
These are just random examples, but I imagine there could be a lot of choice.

These types of things lead to META, and Rare doesn't want that. If trading one stat for another affects balance just 1%, then that is still better. Rare doesn't want to balance these items.

@tedimshy Yes, there will always be a "meta" play style. But the fact is that it will always be evolving, and the important part is that it would be available to ALL players. So what harm is there in giving players more ability to customize, as long as everyone has the same ability? Sure, there will be one form of customization that becomes the "meta", but someone will break out of that, and it will change again. It does allow for more fluid and changing play styles. In fact, we already have a "meta" play style, its just that everyone is doing it, and they have no other option than to do it.

@tedimshy Yea I understand the whole META problem but that really comes down to their methodology of playtesting and research. So looking into what things they can add into the game without it being OP. Like I said before as well, even if they made it have nothing to do with wins cons, it would still be nice to add more mechanics in like being able to play cards on the ship or adding a human cage on the front of your ship instead of a brig. Things that are fun to save up for and play with. Toys rather than just skins that what I think would help entice more types of players.

I'll take unique voyages instead, thanks.

@tedimshy I understand you not wanting to distract the developers, as I know RARE is smaller team than a lot of other larger titles. However, I don't think they would have to spend a large amount of time on "balancing" these different customizations, because they are available to everyone. If one form becomes very strong, than people will begin to use it. RARE does not then have to "nerf" that customization because it is "too strong", because it is available to everyone. So if the option is for all people, why would there be a balance issue? There will always be weaknesses and disadvantages, and someone will find them in the new meta, exploit them, and the meta will change.

@rayfromjersey Well that's new mechanics as well and you have to buy voyages so it does count as a purchasable item that isnt just a cosmetic thing. So I agree with that as well.

I agree.
Whats the point of sailing the high seas, fighting skeletons, searching for treasure chests and battling fellow pirates if there is no Loot to show for it.
Sure you get a Treasure chest... but chests inspire mystery and excite a curiosity to Seek out more, because there might be anything in there.
There might be gold, or a map or some magical trinket or a weapon or the chest itself might be the loot.
With the state of the game now you don't even get to see what is in the chest.
You can't even open it up.
You have to turn it in, but whats the point of turning in your treasure chest to a trading company just to open it if there is no more incentive or mechanic to try and open it yourself.
I mean all you know is that your getting a lesser amount, but you have no idea how much the trading company is getting... why not make getting rep with the company help you get a better cut.

Where is the incentive?

The other option is to become a trader and go and find "things" to bring back like: .. a couple of chickens for a trading company, which is a good way of working and I can understand not getting loot for that... it's a transport mission I can handle getting paid in gold, no mystery there... you bring me this and I'll give you gold. you can buy stuff with gold its valuable. makes sense.

The idea is that the game doesn't want to have disadvantage to players that are just starting... but what is the point of prolonged play if all your going to get is better looking clothes? Mechanics drives game play having items that affect game play would give incentive to get those items. Like getting a Rutter that helps you turn faster or sails that pick up wind better or a scope on your rifle that works better or a blade that does more damage or something... People want to feel like their gaining something from the time they have spent playing the game.

Also a point on NPC's... where are the NPC pirates Why does every pirate ship on the high seas have to be another player... why can't their be AI pirate ships or trading ships that you can try and attack and plunder.
The only thing out there are skeletons and Sharks.

I'm disappointed because this game is a lot of what I want from a game, but its missing some essential things to make the game Amazing.... Like the mystery of finding things that make a difference in the game.

Please make some changes.