Dear Devs,
Please give veteran players something else to do. They seem to be getting bored and are tormenting newer players like myself. I have spoken to a few that didn't just kill me right away, and they go out to hunt weak ships for fun. Although that is part of the game I cannot get anything done as I am constantly a target. This game looks awesome and I am quickly loosing interest. Why can you not group players in servers with similar player levels. Let the pros fight the pros.
Bored veteran players are becoming jerks.
@spase-munkie I don't sail often anymore. But when I do, I'm a menace who preys on anyone who foolishly crosses my path.
People that specifically "hunt" new and unskilled players outside of streamers that are looking for tuck content aren't pros they are punching down because they can't handle high skill competition
outside of pirates specifically targeted new and unskilled pirates it's just a pirate being a pirate. They have a limited amount of activity on their server and they are looking for fun just like anyone else. Most servers have a window of about 1 hour -3 hours where you get left alone. Take advantage of that window just like everyone else that gets a lot done. When a server change happens get sold ASAP.
If you spawn in and see a bunch of activity right away go to a new server
@spase-munkie As a veteran player myself, I have completed all of the in-game commendations (Shrouded Ghost aside). But my crews activities haven’t changed, we still do PVE events when they appear, we still do some Athena missions, Ghost Fleets, or Vaults from time to time, and when we see player ships on our adventures, we still go after them. From a distance, we have no way of knowing whether we are approaching a new player/crew or a veteran player crew. When we arrive, we send players off to attempt to board and investigate. If the loot on board is substantial, we’ll engage in naval battles, if not (or if a tall tale is being worked on) we disengage and continue on our way.
We played this way on Day 1, and we still play this way well over 2 years later. It feels like you are being targeted because you are new and the skill level of your opponent seems much higher. I had the same feeling when I was new and was decimated in battles. Chalk it up to experience (good or bad), play some Arena for some quick intense PvP practice, and keep an eye out when doing missions for ships in the distance. Don’t let this get you down though. As you gain more experience, you’ll get better at PvP and develop strategies to combat this.
No need to worry, those that hunt don't necessarily target the weak. They target any set of sails they see. If you learn to play around the PvP one can spend hours without even exchanging shots with another crew. Not that I am against some more end game, but Rare has been adapting the game to make it more accessible for everyone. The main thing of veterans is that they don't necessarily avoid conflict and are more likely to engage with it when the opportunity arises even when they are out doing PvE.
If you want to avoid being an easy weak target, learn the basics of security:
- Watch the horizon, no pirate appears out of thin air.
- Once parked, raise those sails and anchor and preferably not to far away while facing open water. That way a quick escape is simply done by dropping sails.
- Learn to sail and the strengths and weaknesses of each ship.
- Guard those ladders when needed.
- Optionally use the speaking horn and negotiate.
Above all do not sail around with more than you are willing to lose. Selling more frequently means you always secure some loot. Hoarding loot is done at your own risk.
Good luck and happy sailing.
The other day, I was alone and didn't know what I wanted to do, so I just randomly started experimenting with different cosmetic set combinations to see what worked. I did this at the outpost for nearly an hour when out of the blue, I saw a ship appear in the distance. I figured, why not get a little bit closer and see what they were up to?
As I got closer, I noticed that it was a Reaper. Doing my diligent duty as a Bilge Rat, I engaged them.
They were a crew of 2, so I was outnumbered, but it quickly became clear that their experience and/or teamwork was lacking - I didn't realize this beforehand. In contrast, I nailed many shots and got plenty of hitmarkers with my cannons. Furthermore, my sailing discipline was better too, as I was able to maintain such a position that they couldn't really fire back. My ship got hit only once during the entire fight.
In desperation, I saw them coming in to ram me, with 1 of them carrying a gunpowder down from their crow's nest towards the front of their ship. I raised my sail to slow down, and then turned the wheel slowly to bring my cannon into range, which was preloaded. Then I fired...
The ensuing double fireball (presumably from another unseen barrel, also at the front of their ship) was glorious! Their ship was sunk in short order. But alas, my fight was not yet done.
One of the pirates (likely their wheelman), was heard swimming in the water. I quick-switched to my blunderbombs and jumped to the tarp for a bird's eye view of both ladders. Twice he tried to board, and twice he failed. He fired 3 shots from the water, missing each time. I threw 2 bombs back at him, also missing, as he dove beneath the waves. Not wanting him to get away, I dove in after him, drawing my flintlock as I did so. I fired, and missed - that got his attention. He turned and fired back with his own flintlock - this time, though, he didn't miss. Hurting, I reached for my food - none could be found. Another shot rang out...
I blinked.
...and then I realized he was out of ammo. He drew his sword and came towards me. I didn't have time to reload, or draw out my final bomb which I was saving in case he went for my ladder, so I switched to my own blade. Just in time too - as his biting blade came in for a strike, mine parried his. In surprise, his offense abated just long enough for my blade to find its mark across his neck - it cut clean through.
I swam back to my ship, used the spyglass to spot their loot and lvl. 2 flag, and sailed towards the Reaper's Hideout to level up.
On the way, I checked my map table just in time to see a lvl. 1 Reaper appear at Daggertooth - it must gave been them, because it was headed directly for the hideout. I diverted course south to round Wanderer's Refuge and head to Golden Sands figuring that they were going to wait for me. I sold everything at the outpost, figuring that the immediate payout was better than risking having it stolen back at the hideout. I then checked to see if they were still at the hideout - they weren't, but they were close. I waited a moment until the nearby storm covered the hideout and then sailed directly into it, unseen. Upon arriving, I worried about tuckers, hidden unseen. I hid their flag at the shallow water's edge and bombed the entrance just to be sure. Clear, I turned in the flag inn uncontested, for a cool sum. Satisfied, I left the Sea and messaged my opponents thanking them for a good time.
One of the things that makes the Sea such an interesting place is how dynamic pirates can be - some go in with a plan, while others follow their whims. You will never know if you will find a new friend, or perhaps ruin their plans, until you make a commitment to try something. If it works, then great! If not, then you might learn something that in turn makes you a better pirate in the future.
I was the former, using my skill and experience to great effect. The other pirates were the latter - observing me, and probably learning not to use GPBs so carelessly.
Veterans aren't bored, nor are they always malicious. They're teaching you - you can't learn how to swim, until you're willing to risk sinking 1st.
@cotu42 Great response. You captured it very well. Veteran players are less likely to avoid conflict when the opportunity is there. You also gave great advice for newer players.
Veteran players are not becoming jerks, jerks just exist in the game. I guarantee that plenty of veteran players left you alone because they could tell you were new. Unfortunately jerks look for new players because its fights they can win. It's just gonna be the nature of the game. Unfortunately until you are in the position of being in control of most interactions you are gonna have problems with jerks
1 out of 11
