PVE servers for newborn pirates

Sure why not. But all gold/dubloons/cosmetics should be reset to nothing after this period, so that they enter the real SoT world as fresh accounts.

Personally i think it would be better if new players would be directed to this forum OR the official Discord channel to pair up with veterans of the game. Friendly pirates that would show them the ways of the seas. This way they could ask questions and have things shown to them.

Just my few cents to the topic.

[mod edit]

Just got my girl friend to join.

She's not used to a controller so she needs to learn to walk and look around.. learn the buttons and functions.. learn how the game works and what she is supposed to do..

There is zero ingame tutorial or info

I played 2 sessions of a couple of hours so far and slowly she gets the controller and beginning to understand how merchant, soul and goldhoarder missions work.. i let her do everything i just guard from skellies etc so she can take all time to learn to do it her self.

I think new people can really use someone helping and explain how it works but there is nothing they just wake up at the bar thats it -.- i really dont understand this

@needsmokes

I wouldn’t be opposed to a starting world, where it attempts to dump pirates with lower sailed hours or voyages completed, into one server. This way everyone is sorta on a similar playing field, similar to a ranking system.

I personally do not enjoy rolling up to another ship just to learn it’s a crew, who barely knows how to turn the sails.

Pvp, or at least I do, consider it the more competitive side of SoT. Where we want to dominate and control the sea. Gives a top dog kinda feeling.

Though I will sink most players, typically I let merchant voyages go, after I catch them in my net. The interesting part, after we let the sloop go, they shoot two cannons at us. I just chuckled and waved bye.

Even if the server attempted to pair the newer players together, I wouldn’t mind. I’d say 10/10/10or an average of 10 or 15 since not many will do merchant, and levels will be spread. They could also do t based on sailing miles ( via Xbox) under 200 miles place players onto server A. All others go to every other server.

This way if the newer players want to pvp, at least they are on a similar skill based to experiment and learn. But this won’t stop deleting pirates to make a new one or pvp. However I think newer pirates might stay away from other ships

@needsmokes if the only way you can defend your suggestion to seperate the playerbase and further dull adventure mode the for the purpose of babying people is to insult me then you should accept that its not smart.

good to see pve whiners are still the same. picking fights instead of using their words cause they cant defend their verbal garbage since it has nothing to stand on, because they type it up after they get trashed and altf4 instead of thinking about it.

@acetemanophen

I pvp a lot, what is being suggested is a sorta tutorial like sever. Where this could be separate from the game. As an example, your mission is to get to level 5 on each. After that they are required to play the normal game, where pvp/ pve reside.

You weren’t great at this game at one time, you had to learn. A little guidance to those starting I wouldn’t have a problem. My issue is a pve only server for the higher ranks, or people grinding.

You’ve just implied that thread creator was asking for a pve server. Level 5 on each is a pretty easy feat. I’d suggest removing skull forts, since one will typically push you beyond the cap. If they make it or force those players to do one voyage each, it will at least give those players a chance to learn basic sailing ect. I’d also recommend removing bottle voyages from the barrels. I find most of the newer player base seems to believe this is how they should grind their levels.

The reason why I say level five is to demonstrate to the player the “promotion” on the actual merchants

I think a beginning server is a good idea. I don't think it needs to be very different from the normal servers. Everything would be the same, except it would be limited to the first few levels. After that, you'd be sent to the "normal" servers. I see no reason not to take your gold and rep with you, but I don't think doubloons should be earned in the beginning server. No Duke, etc. PvP would exist, but obviously at a much lower level.

Here's where my idea diverges from most others I've read.

I think it would be fantastic if there were a program whereby Pirate Legends could apply to be Mentors in the beginning servers. This would allow them to play in the beginning servers, with the express purpose of helping the new folks get a feel for the game. They could show people the ropes, teach them what they need to know in the "real" servers, and even defend them if they're having trouble from more aggressive newbs.

Pirate Legends would have to apply to become mentors, become approved, and go through a brief training. Nothing too difficult, just enough to make sure the people who become Mentors do so for the right reasons. I've played other games with mentor programs, and it's a really great way to ease new players into the game. This helps create positive first impressions and role models that can last forever.

Food for thought.

@genuine-heather

Well at least remove bottle missions. I joined a couple open crews, just to see what they were doing. Some of them just had a full voyage wheel of just bottles. Which are good for those starting out but 1 X island for a sefeirer chest is rather annoying for those later in the grind. A level 45 gold hoarder going to pick up one x that’s castaway or sefeirer is just a disappointment and waste of time. I still get that at pirate legend, getting the lower tiers of loot, where I’d prefer meradur or captains.

For your mentor thought, your still going to have pve or pvp oriented mentors. Either one can help force the acceptance of friendly or foe. As an example, if I were mentor, I’d show them the aggressive pvp side of SoT. While someone else might show them the friendlier alliance side. I don’t think pirate legends should be able to be mentors in trial server. They will teach the newcomer their own play style. The guy I mentored ( random guy on twitch) enjoys pvp and has a bit more courage to stand their ground to approaching ships.

But that’s just my two cents on the matter. It is a nice idea, but I just think it will make players ‘play a set style, similar to my mentor’

Let’s say the mentor, pirate legend, has developed the style of running from every ship. That style will be adapted by the newcomer.

lol
Kappa

@dragonwhir0 Mentors would receive guidance about this. I doubt the hyper-aggressive PvP types would be interested in mentoring new players. But even if they did, they’d be helping with game basics, not promoting a particular play style. It’d be fine.

@genuine-heather

I’m hyper aggressive, if training them means battling a great player later, sure. If training them to be able to hold their ground against attacking ships and how to counter approaching ships.

But with that mentality, it shys away from social interaction between other crews- I.e alliance. I’ve always played to hoard loot for hours, sink others, and treat any outside interaction as hostile. Since you could team up and still sink from your own alliance.

I play (my crew) vrs the world
Others might play ( my alliance) vrs the world.

I’m not opposed to the idea, I’m just playing devils advocate. Catch 22. However, I still prefer the learn as you go approach.

But markers or highlighted marks “go here to pick up voyage, place down voyage here. Sell your items to vendors. Do another voyage repeat.”

“ You are now max in this tutorial, please go to live servers to finish earning rep till you reach 50/50/50 then talk to mysterious strange in the tavern”

At least in the tutorial server they might not encourage pvp as often. If they do, they are on a similar tier as their opponent. Might not have boarding parties ect. Or using explosive kegs to critically damage the hull of a ship. At least they will learn how to sail and how each ship handles I.e turning stopping ect

@bugraersoyyy said in PVE servers for newborn pirates:

add mm for average rep in crew not a pve server

Mm? Mile markers?
This isn’t a topic about pve only servers.

Which would also imply that the newcomers would be under level 10, making average rep levels null and void; not contributing.

Besides what would average rep of the crew be used for? If you say to get higher loot tiers on voyages, I’d be all for that. Full ship of pirate legends doing an Athena, digging up a seirfer chest is very tilting. Getting a foul or disgraced is also tilting. I’m not saying I should always get captains, but rather eliminate the bottom tiers; (((( which is off topic of the original post))))

Expanding upon my Mentor idea:

Assuming a beginning server had the same 6 ship limit as a standard server, I could see one mentor crew per server. The mentor crew could be a full crew of up to four or a single pirate. Either way, their purpose would be to sail about and interact with the new players, helping them become acquainted with the game world in a positive way. The mentor's ship could have specific cosmetics to easily identify them. Their map table would display the locations of all other ships on the server, so they would know where to find new players. A mentor shift would be at least two hours in length.

Clearly, the goal would not be to teach players a particular style of play (like PvP vs. PvE) but to simply help them get the hang of things and encourage a positive gaming experience. This could go a long, long way towards helping promote the Pirate Code and the spirit of the game.

Another point would be to mention similar to

“While you build your legacy amount the sea of theives. I wish you best of luck, On your upcoming voyages. I’ve sailed the seas for many moons, meeting friends along my path. A word of caution from the wise[NPC], not everyone on the sea is friendly. I’ve encounter them, attacking me while I dig up some chests. They took my loot, but that didn’t stop me. Now I’ve become one of the lord of the sea of theives. I’ll look forward to seeing you in the Athena realm.”

Where it throws caution at the new comer to say that “not everyone is nice/ raid you at an island”

I think an OPTIONAL starter area is a great idea. Cap all factions at level 5 and let new players learn the ropes, so to speak. Maybe it could also be limited to one region of the world, so they have more stuff to look forward to.

I love seeing new players learn the game but I am also afraid that they'll get rolled by experience players and get a poor experience of the game, giving up before they even give it a proper go.

The seas are harsh to new pirates and it's not like it was when most of beta players started - back then everyone was new. I think things have changed a lot and it would help introduce new players to the game.

I see no problem with this at all.

@ghostfire1981 Finding veterans to learn from would definitely benefit new players more.

I wouldn't care if there was a 'proving grounds' of sorts for them to get their sea legs, though.

In my opinion Sea of Thieves is working fine as sandbox with a lot of sand, toys and other people in it. New players need some guidelines but different server would take away the joy of discovering game :) I think it is really hard to come up with idea of creating "tutorial" that is immersive enough to be in game... Maybe NPC that would tell new players what to actually do? It could even be Duke - as "eventish" NPC :)

I think private servers or even an offline mode should be introduced. Not just for new players but for anyone. This mode should disable all progression and cosmetics.

This could be used by new players, those looking just to sail round or friends wanting to Group up in fleets

I'd personally always been against separate modes and would never use this mode but I think the complaints from those not wanting pvp is at a point it should be introduced. The trade off being they can't progress to PL/athena and cosmetics are disabled.

Also think alliances should be nerfed to stop server wide farming

That's a terrible idea. On my first day I learned everything in 1 minute is not that hard that's why is such a good game and I was already farming some players that had been playing for months.

The whole point of this game is to throw you into the water like that and that's honestly how you learn to play better, not by being baby sitted.

I'd say no to PvE servers for new players but I do agree that new players should be given more of a tutorial. So here's what I suggest.

In the lore it's told that we sailed into the sea of thieves before you start. So why not do 2 things in one. Rare can apparently manage seperate instances for the Arena so I suggest a seperate Instance where new players can be dropped who still need to (or want to) learn the ropes.

Here you'd be on a galleon and you'll be told to raise the anchor, lower the sails and angle them to the wind. You'll be asked to use all of your tools at least once on a pretty linear quest that ends up with you sailing into the shroud eventually ending up in the actual sea of thieves. People would be able to visit this scenario at any time, would be rewarded with a commendation once (maybe some dubloons) and new players start here at first launch just to learn what to do. The tutorial would have to be expanded upon with new tools and gameplay when it drops but I think that can be handled.

This would prevent first time players from being overwhelmed and would put a bit less stress on older players having to teach new plyers the ropes.

It's not needed in any way but would be a nice addition both with a lore perspective and a way to teach players the game. They can take all the time they need without holding anyone up or being forced to solo.