Only just started playing, really enjoying it. I decided to buy the Collector's Elemental Power figurehead as Kameo is my other favorite Rare game. Only now my friend won't sail with me, as he's very particular about keeping lights off at night to avoid being spotted and my figurehead glows pretty bright, which makes me wonder why a more expensive cosmetic gives such a disadvantage? If there was a way to disable the glow on certain cosmetics or even make it so you can only see the glow when very close, I feel like that would keep the game balanced while still letting you show off.
That said I still keep lights on at night anyway when I'm by myself, even though it's a beginner's mistake. Sailing in the pitch-black just doesn't appeal to me. If the glow of ship lanterns could be non-visible at a distance as well I would enjoy that, though I'm sure most would say that takes away from the strategy.
The disadvantage of glowing cosmetics
I personally love the glowing cosmetics for that very reason. I sail with my lights off generally, but I still sail with cosmetics that glow, because I want it to be seen.
If someone sees it and flees, potential threat dealt with without wasting a single canon ball!
If they see it and approach? Well, time for a good fight, winner take all!This game is built around the 'threat' of PvP. PvP isn't guaranteed, and can certainly be run from, but engaging in the PvE always carries a risk of a player rolling up on you, them's the breaks when sailing the sea of thieves.
If I'm honest, it's not that hard to see a ship in the distance even with the lights off. Give your friend a tankard of grog, hoist the sails and have an adventure! If you get sunk, well, makes for a fine tale, no? (But in all seriousness, there is a non-glowing version of the figurehead in the store too, the collectors version is designed for people who want to show off a bit more. Or simply use a different figurehead when playing with your friend)
Fair winds to you, and hope to see you rocking that lovely figurehead on the seas!
Only now my friend won't sail with me, as he's very particular about keeping lights off at night to avoid being spotted and my figurehead glows pretty bright, which makes me wonder why a more expensive cosmetic gives such a disadvantage?
Lets be real here, every person just starting out and gets serious about the game pulls the same stunt with the lights. Lights will render further out, but the glow doesn't til it comes closer. The reality is, it doesn't matter. Any crew worth its salt will still have you spotted regardless of glow because they will have you spotted long before the glow even renders. You stop looking for lights and start paying attention to silhouettes. Disabling lights only works on bad crews, the ships still remain giant eyes-sores on the horizon.
I've played this game quite the long time, the only thing that crosses my mind in seeing ship lights is they may be new, but regardless if they are lit up, they would have been spotted. Your friend is overthinking things, the lights will only stop brand new players. Even if you are spotted, new players sink like stones anyways. The people you should be worried about are the types that make themselves as visible as possible, high chance they fear no ship and may have the skills to back it up. People already struggle to spot the Reapers faction even though they are permanently marked on the map 24/7.
Thanks for all the replies! I said the same thing to my friend that most of you are saying: Pretty sure the outline of a ship on an open ocean is just as much of a giveaway as having a few lights on. Doesn't seem like it's that big of a deal to him anymore, thankfully. I'd rather not spend another six dollars on the non-glowing Kameo.
@nabberwar I turn off the deck lights for the simple reason that I find the glare can be distracting. And although everything you said about still being able to see ships is true, the lights do make it easier to spot a ship in certain circumstances. We're not always scoping the horizon meticulously. Sometimes all we have time for is a quick scan. It makes enough of a difference to warrant keeping them off if you want to avoid detection. Sometimes that extra bit of time before being detected can make a difference, whether you're sneaking up on another ship or trying to slip away.
As for the glowing green stuff, my main problem with it is that it really steps on the toes of the pirate legend ghost stuff. Before when you'd see glowing green stuff, you knew the pirates wearing it had earned them by grinding Athena rep. I've never really been a fan of all the glowy stuff anyway, but at least it meant something. Completing that outfit at PL10 was the crowning achievement of the game. Now you can get better "glowing green" stuff without all the hassle.
I know a lot of people like it. But for me...meh.
@t-wal9167 The whole point of the lanterns is that you can see them from far away so i dont see any reason to change it.
You can use the normal version of the sails that dont glow but i think that your friend maybe is making a big deal out of it, its just a game.@t-wal9167 You can also set your ship lanterns green and blue to resemble a skeleton ship. Veteran players will still be able to tell the difference, but it can take some players a bit longer depending on the distance.
