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ANCIENT ISLES UNIVERSITY ARTICLE
WHAT TWO PIECEING IS.
The weapon wielding strategy that has adapted from previous game techniques, like the "2pump" from fortnite battle royal, where a player will equip two guns, (generally a flintlock and Eye of Reach) and fire both weapons in a weapon swap, trigger clutch explosion, dealing beyond deadly damage in less then a second.
Tho its accomplishable on both console and PC, it's most commonly demonstrated in PC players, due to the more favorable and faster swap speeds.
A vessel boarded by an accurate "2pop" pirate has its crew mostly meet a green misty end.
With seemingly no counter, many players have grown increasingly frustrated by this infamous "Meta" and have regularly expressed their aggressions, both on the forums, reddit and twitter.
Despite its increasing popularity appearing more and more, I've taken it apon myself to investigate this deadly duo to find out just how deadly it is, and if there is truely, NO COUNTER.
MY INVESTIGATIONS
To begin my investigation I took to the seas to try it out myself. To get a feel and understanding of how the Meta operates, how it looks to fight it, and how hard it is to defeat a 2poper or be defeated as one.
After a several minutes maybe nearly an hour, I hopped around on my boat practicing my 2pop speeds and agility.
PC was off the bat no sweat to manage, comfortable to use and freedom of aim. The mousewheel made for speedy swaps and double click fire was smooth..
However, rolling over to Xbox, my first issue that I come across, was button mapping. The defult setting for Xbox controller bindings were just not ideal, to jump, and swap weapons I had to leave my aim controls to both evade and attack with the primary method. So a quick button remap got me to where I needed to be however the controls felt a little "off balance" with things being moved around. BUT I am now able to jump, aim, swap weapons and fire, all at the same time, which was the aim of the remap.
Now confident with how i feel opperating the Meta, and comfortable with my shot spds, I took to the seas to find willing pirates to fight in a friendly clash of skills.
FINDINGS IN THE FIELD
You may feel like when your boarded by a Two Pieceing pirate, its immediate game over, after my research on the topic, I think this feeling is justified, if not simply warranted, some pirates wont even stick around on the serever once they enter the ferry it is so overwhelming..
This in mind, untill it is addressed properly by the developers, it will continue to appear in sessions.
I think this may help.
The thing I had first discovered was the huge flaw of nearly no chances solo, or even duo if they are a good shot. Fight to your last breath! But dont feel bad for losing, its VERY hard to compete against in many cases..
However....
After fighting against a MULTITUDE of 2pop pirates there were two seperate main factors and one MAJOR factor that determines the outcome,
the MAJOR factor is to protect your ammo box at all costs... dont let them near it lest they grief you with full access. Keep them from reloading there stock they are harmless without ammo.
Now the two other important factors that determine the outcome of the fight is that Two piecing pirates will perform either
With great aim, or with not so great aim.
A player that isnt the best shot, will be an easy takedown should you take adequate steps.
SO DANCE LIKE YOU MEAN IT!
When a two piecing pirate misses a shot, the chance on an insta-kill is missed with it, the method requires BOTH shots to connect in order to take an entire health bar.
A missed shot means they are now vulnerable, they have to reload to land the second shot to claim your life, leaving you available to rush them or heal up.
When a two piercing pirate misses a shot, it generally results in a retreat to the lower deck to put distance between you and them, looking for their chance to reload and access your ammo box.. keep a pirate on ammo guard the minute your crew know theres a 2poper on board.
All of your crew together, this should end in winning the fight and continue battle with the opposing vessel.
But the 2nd possibility is
If the Two Poeceing Pirate has uncanny accuracy, (likely with a mark on the TV for a center dot) and adequate knowledge of his limitations, Fighting them will be hell. They generally board in pairs with one pirate using a cutlass to defend the reloading 2poper.
Attacking them as a split up crew WILL get you all killed, one by one, again and again.
So.. Guard your ammo box AS A TEAM and retain LOTS of cover points.
You must attack the two pirates as a group, with the defender to die first, so guns out!
Using your cover points and the ammo box you are defending. All of you focus your attacks on the one pirate protecting to 2poper.
With this done the duel wielding pirate can only kill one of you before having no defences.. if your crew is killed off... return as a group. All of you wait, to leave the ferry as a team!. (Give xbox a few seconds before following on PC to compensate for load times)
If you respawn all split up you can only fight one at a time and you will all die the same way. So stick together, pressure them into a dead end and swing and shoot like crazy!
You will get through them! if you focus on their needs and drought thier supplys,
YOU WILL WIN!
Be safe out there kids!
And BE KIND!
Brought to you by the Ancien Isles University Research Team
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