my opinion is pvp needs a buff or we need a pvp server #bringbackarena but yes i know arena wont come back but in my opinion the sea of theives have been pretty quiet lately
peoples opinion on pvp and its state right now
Server performance wise it's rough and has been for a long time but it's a pretty solid time for adventure pvp thanks to the new athena voyage being a success.
Sea forts and the athena voyage are producing a lot of loot, more often, which makes adventure pvp organically healthy.
If this voyage gets nerf'd to death that will change things but right now is a good time to get out there to pve and pvp.
We had a long drought but we are alright for now.
I think it really depends on who you're tossed with on the same server. Started to play again a few days ago (last time was around the PotC crossover).
Everything was mostly quiet. Till yesterday when we ran into other players ships on our server quite constantly(only one fight, the rest was observing each other at the horizon).So sometimes it feels empty and sometimes crowded, but it's always (up to)5 ships on the same server. This empty vs crowded feeling instead of having a more constant experience at times is probably what feels like an issue (while it really isn't).
I do remember someone saying that due to all the activities and voyages added during the past years, the 5 ships distribute more (or less) equally across the map instead of costantly bumping into each other when trying to do the same events.
However I am not sure more ships on a server(technical issues aside) would improve it. After all I don't want to be surrounded like a sheep in a shark tank all the time. I do enjoy the encounters regardless of their outcome when they happen, as I still have a good amount of time inbetween to get things done.
Though, I would not mind trying out a more populated server if it ever becomes possible to do so.
I avoid it whenever possible. Haven't seen a big swing up or down with activity/being attacked.
I avoid other ships like it’s the most important part of the game. Abandon voyages and Red Sea loot when being chased. Zero interest in any aspect of playing this game with other people. I do it because I have to of course but I try my best to avoid PvP at all costs. Even just leaving a server if the other ships are too near me
Prior to the new Athena voyage, there were more Emissaries running around stacking the new sea forts than normal. Pretty much every server I was on had at least 2 GH and 1 OOS Emissaries and more often than not, at least one was stacking Sea Forts. So, whether I was hunting, or producing, There was no shortage of sails on the horizon and the potential for PvP.
Now, with the new Athena Voyage, it seems like everyone is either doing the voyage as an emissary, or hunting those that are doing the new voyage while having Athena Emissary up. I have not seen a single Reaper Emissary since the new voyage dropped...and I've played pretty much daily since then...so...bizarre, but definitely no shortage of PvP.
So, right now...PvP activity is in a great state IMO.
Are there some mechanics that are a bit...wonky? Yeah.
Are there some METAs that could use a shakeup? Abso-freaking-lutely.But there's definitely no shortage of PvP IMO. As someone that loves PvP in SOT, I'm highly satisfied.
I have a couple of groups of friends that I'm playing with, they have the same playstyle as I do and everyone avoids other ships like they are the plague.
If we see a ship near we just change the course, if we see many ships we just go somewhere quiet or change server. We don't want PVP at all and there are a lot of people in game that feel the same, maybe just right now they are more players like we are than pvpers.My biggest gripe is no one runs flags anymore. I love to pvp but I hate fighting crews who offer me nothing outside of a fight. I always run a flag and have loot on board to sweeten the fight. But most crews just rush no flag, no loot, no incentive. Otherwise I've had plenty of fun fights over the past two weeks. Had lots of good naval too which has been fun. Still have plenty of reaper 5 gallys run from my sloop though lol.
@H0ck3y-Locky Combat in-game is messy. Combat in real life is messy, so that works out. If all goes well and no bugs occur during a fight, it can be really fun. What I think people who run from fights should do instead is turn around and face their aggressors, so that through practice and training they can one day reach the level at which they can properly defend their loot- which is really what I think was intended for this game- rival pirates fighting over loot, where it takes the same skill (but not time) to steal the loot as to gather it.
My opinion on PvP as a newer player, and more casual one at that (real life take priority, and I often don't have the spare hour or more for an unexpected multi-chapter voyage):
On one hand, I grok that this isn't 'Sea Of Friends', and that not being 'safe' all the time is part of the design. I also play Elite: Dangerous, and if one is playing in 'open', PvP is very much a thing, and it does add to the game play and potential excitement.
On the other hand, I also see this approach as being one of the reasons many newer players quit the game and never come back. Why would someone want to play a game, spend an hour or more running a voyage, only to have it all stolen in less than 10 minutes by a skilled crew.
Not sorry, 'get gud' is not an acceptable response. Not everyone has the time or ability to practice with the physics system SoT uses, which I do like. Making the game based on player skill and not 'higher level players are more powerful' is The Proper Way (tm) to handle a multiplayer PvP system IMO.
What I wouldn't be against seeing implemented is something like what Frontier did with Elite, 'open', 'group', and 'solo' game modes. Same servers, just don't show other ships that do not have the 'open' flag set on their session. And as an incentive for playing in the 'open' mode, make the rewards higher (call it hazzard pay if you like).
I see this as a method to keep an active player base (and a source of income for the premium cosmetics), as well as giving players a choice. More risk for more reward. Those who want a PvE only experience (which can be a handful on it's own), with or without friends for things like the shrouded ghost summoning (minimum five players), there is an option.
@baconavenger764 It's so common for these suggestions to happen and the devs consistently and continuously stayed sturdy with their opinion on having a true open world experience. I don't get why the devs should crumble and forego their design philosophy to a group of players that play this game with a mindset not healthy enough for this game's original concept, we have it bad enough with the Xbox-Only split, we don't need any more separation. Sailwind is a game some players of this mindset are probably looking for, and it should be on their Steam wishlists if they want isolated friendly sailing.
@wallyscag1817 Huh? Crews can still win defending. Solo defenders usually won't win though against a 2 man+ crew with braincells unless they've got 10k hours in the game. The imbalance is crew size not really attacking or defending. Defending is easier sure because you can just run but if you turn to fight it's no different.
I mostly solo sloop and avoid pvp cause the amount of effort required to win against crews + server lag is not worth it. I will sometimes seek out other sloops or brigs if I feel like it for fun but if I am doing pve stuff I will just avoid it because 1 no reg or 1 rubberband off my ship = insta lose.
@baconavenger764 So a PVE mode which will never be in this game cause it's a PVPVE game at its core, whereas ED really isn't. I mean it is, but ED singleplayer splits the playerbase and it's a bad idea. If anything, singleplayer in ED shouldn't share the same progress as open. I usually solo voyage in SOT too and am against any PVE modes. The game needs pirates otherwise it's a sleeperfest. Also, sometimes I get attacked by sweats, other times everyone on the server is chill doing their own thing, so if you don't want pvp it can just be a matter of switching servers.
The mandatory 5 man adventure is dumb though.
@nex-stargaze said in peoples opinion on pvp and its state right now:
I don't get why the devs should crumble and forego their design philosophy to a group of players that play this game with a mindset not healthy enough for this game's original concept, we have it bad enough with the Xbox-Only split, we don't need any more separation. Sailwind is a game some players of this mindset are probably looking for, and it should be on their Steam wishlists if they want isolated friendly sailing.
Why the devs would allow for this? Well, there is the money aspect. More options on playing tends to equal more people purchasing a license to play, and spending money on ancient coins for cosmetics. Devs gotta eat as well.
If you are worried about more 'separation', suggesting someone go play a different game that is aimed at a different group (not everyone wants a 'realistic' game) is not going to solve the issue of less people playing ones' preferred game mode.
And IMO, saying players don't have 'a mindset not healthy enough for the original concept' isn't going to help with player retention either, regardless if offense is intended or not. IMO, having an original concept for a game and wanting to stick to it is great, but not allowing that concept to change, even in small amounts, as the gaming environment changes is a great way to kill an otherwise great game.
If Rare and MS are fine with how things are going now and the game is bringing in enough monies to be viable and keeping the lights on, great, it is their game. I just think that they could get more if they allowed for 'more casual' players. Unlike FDev with Elite, Rare has added a lot of PvE content instead of passing a lack of it off as 'room for personal narrative'.
@Liljimothy2306 said in peoples opinion on pvp and its state right now:
I mean it is, but ED singleplayer splits the playerbase and it's a bad idea. If anything, singleplayer in ED shouldn't share the same progress as open. I usually solo voyage in SOT too and am against any PVE modes. The game needs pirates otherwise it's a sleeperfest. Also, sometimes I get attacked by sweats, other times everyone on the server is chill doing their own thing, so if you don't want pvp it can just be a matter of switching servers.
I would agree that splitting the player base would be bad, especially when it's forced (read, non-free maps like some other FPS shooters have in the past), but forcing people who don't want PvP as a possibility isn't going to help either as they are the ones that will either not even try playing or will quit and never log back in, which is the worse outcome. Sure, there will be some that never go into the PvP mode, but there will also be those who will once the PvE aspect isn't enough and they want that added 'spiciness' the threat of PvP will add.
Switching servers is an option, but with the current game design, it's clunky at best and not a very good option IMO. It doesn't solve the original complaint, and as the server subsystem is designed to prevent single ship servers, PvP is still a potential.
I just don't see any real down sides to having a way for someone to have a strictly PvE experience. When they are ready for more, feel confident in their game skills and abilities, and want 'more spice', PvP is there waiting for them.
It's already been said more than once, not everyone wants to have PvP be a threat all the time, sometimes one just wants to vibe and fish on an island somewhere without worrying about someone sailing by and killing them for faction rep or 'the lulz'.
@wallyscag1817
Avoiding PvP is quite easy nowadays. Just stay away from world event and other ships.I literally cant do a single quest without being attacked/sunk by sweaty reapers its happened to me and my crew for the past 4 days straight, its safe to say we are uninstalling the game and wont be coming back any time soon. I cant stand pvp possibly the worst thing they could have put in the game, I just want to get on and kill some skeletons and sell loot without being sunk every 5 seconds.
@thefroginator1 said in peoples opinion on pvp and its state right now:
I literally cant do a single quest without being attacked/sunk by sweaty reapers its happened to me and my crew for the past 4 days straight, its safe to say we are uninstalling the game and wont be coming back any time soon. I cant stand pvp possibly the worst thing they could have put in the game, I just want to get on and kill some skeletons and sell loot without being sunk every 5 seconds.
And this is what I, and others, are referring to.
Players quitting the game outright is, in effect, 'splitting the player base' in the worse possible way as these players will not be players, full stop, and never be potential participants in the PvP pool.
@baconavenger764 i've been playing the game since release and i've never seen pvp like this before more and more people are sweating and specifically just going after player ships. They server hop just to sink ships and then say how easy it was to sink your ship, toxic pvp players are the reason we are leaving.
@baconavenger764 You really can't split a player base that does not want to be in the PvP pool to begin with. They already split themselves from the start. They are just either going to avoid PvP like the plague or stop and find another game to play. They majority of players will embrace one side or the other where a minority of players will meet in the middle.
@wdw1011971 said in peoples opinion on pvp and its state right now:
@baconavenger764 You really can't split a player base that does not want to be in the PvP pool to begin with. They already split themselves from the start. They are just either going to avoid PvP like the plague or stop and find another game to play. They majority of players will embrace one side or the other where a minority of players will meet in the middle.
Right, as I stated earlier:
Sure, there will be some that never go into the PvP mode, but there will also be those who will once the PvE aspect isn't enough and they want that added 'spiciness' the threat of PvP will add.
That can not happen if someone never even tries the game because PvP mode is the only option, or outright quits and uninstalls out of frustration. If there is a PvE only mode available, there is still a chance the player(s) will branch out into the PvP pool.
@baconavenger764 said in peoples opinion on pvp and its state right now:
And this is what I, and others, are referring to.
Players quitting the game outright is, in effect, 'splitting the player base' in the worse possible way as these players will not be players, full stop, and never be potential participants in the PvP pool.
Players with that kind of attitude were never going to be in the "PvP pool" to begin with.
This game has a friendly and cartoon-y nature but it is cutthroat in its gameplay and player interactions, in some way one can call foul for false advertising, especially since the game does a poor job of demonstrating hostile encounters or the PvP environment that shouldn't be ignored.
Sea of Thieves doesn't necessarily need to please everyone to be a game everyone should play. People who are interested and down with what goes on in the current environment will be happy that it hasn't changed. The idea that anyone could be an enemy and a friend is what entices people to continue sailing, it's about the memories to be made on the waves than the contempt for someone that shot some cannonballs and bullets towards you consciously without you aggro'ing them.
Now, let's please depart from this discussion cause I'm getting tired of the same names I see on this forum starting this kind of discussion, it goes nowhere and gets threads locked because of unwanted back and forth between one another.
SoT will not be getting "PVE modes" and PvP is in a fine-enough state, those looking for non-stop action like it's a battle royale game will be disappointed by the lack of thrilling action, but everyone will get an encounter they're looking for eventually. And it will be great.
I usually play PvE, and (almost) never engage in PvP first. Sometimes I do when I play in a crew, and if my crew is into it. I usually shy away from PvP because my skills are as good as they are going to get. and they Aint good. But I will fight when attacked because I don't want to have to resupply if I can help it. I understand the PvePvP aspect of the game, so usually don't get upset when a crew attacks to get my loot ("usually"). It's the PvPers that go after people that have no loot and show no interest in PvP that bother me the most. (Crews that are doing a tall tale and make it clearly so). I also usually only play the game when my mindset is in the right place. It's too easy to get upset when a crew sinks, kills, camps you, when you have an agenda for the session. I've been there to many times. But overall, this game is just too awesome to leave just because a handful of crews have figured out how to ruin my sessions. If there was a PvE only mode I would probably play it. But it would have to be with other crews, or it wouldn't be much fun for me. I have a Love Hate relationship with SoT, and hopefully I will learn to adapt however Rare decides to take it in the future.
@mr-ugly-joe yeah i like to pvp but im not the type to kill somone if there doing a tall tale. its gotten to the point where i could care less about loot and if its a new player and i can see it is ill let them go but if its a new player who is salty and toxic then they needa go idc what there doing. and also im glad you will fight if somone comes to you to fight thats much better than like 50% of the people i come across. most just run and while they run they wont even try and board so its a boring chase that leads to them getting away because we already wasted 2 hrs of playing fox and rabbit and im not that desprate for a fight at that point
@baconavenger764 said in peoples opinion on pvp and its state right now:
@thefroginator1 said in peoples opinion on pvp and its state right now:
I literally cant do a single quest without being attacked/sunk by sweaty reapers its happened to me and my crew for the past 4 days straight, its safe to say we are uninstalling the game and wont be coming back any time soon. I cant stand pvp possibly the worst thing they could have put in the game, I just want to get on and kill some skeletons and sell loot without being sunk every 5 seconds.
And this is what I, and others, are referring to.
Players quitting the game outright is, in effect, 'splitting the player base' in the worse possible way as these players will not be players, full stop, and never be potential participants in the PvP pool.
No it is not.
If a new player starts and dislikes the game and leaves, then it is not splitting the playerbase. They purchased a game and they didn't like it. That's life.
Trying to accommodate for these players only results in masses of easy PvE features. So if someone dislikes what the game is at current, then they should stop playing and try something else. It's not that I don't want them to play, but we can break the games core concept of PvX just to accommodate to small group of people who don't like that they bought a game about THIEVES.
And also, anyone who complain a about "losing 2 hours of work to sweaty Reapers" I ask you this question.
Did you have fun until you sank? In which case you can rewrite your complain to "I spent 2 hours having fun and some Reapers stole my golden pixel prize money". Its not an issue of Sinking. If you had fun before sinking then it's fine.
If you did not have fun then why are you playing
@baconavenger764 said in peoples opinion on pvp and its state right now:
On one hand, I grok that this isn't 'Sea Of Friends', and that not being 'safe' all the time is part of the design. I also play Elite: Dangerous, and if one is playing in 'open', PvP is very much a thing, and it does add to the game play and potential excitement.
Good that is the idea.
On the other hand, I also see this approach as being one of the reasons many newer players quit the game and never come back.
So what? These players bought a game they didn't enjoy. So what if they stop playing? They can buy a new game they'll have more fun playing. Trying to accommodate them leads to tons of easy PvE features getting added.
Why would someone want to play a game, spend an hour or more running a voyage, only to have it all stolen in less than 10 minutes by a skilled crew.
Because they had fun??? Are you having fun before you sink?? Because if not, WHY ARE YOU PLAYING.
Not sorry, 'get gud' is not an acceptable response.
It is an acceptable response.
Not everyone has the time or ability to practice with the physics system SoT uses, which I do like.
Well everyone does. It will just take longers.
Making the game based on player skill and not 'higher level players are more powerful' is The Proper Way (tm) to handle a multiplayer PvP system IMO.
Which SoT does so that's fine.
What I wouldn't be against seeing implemented is something like what Frontier did with Elite, 'open', 'group', and 'solo' game modes. Same servers, just don't show other ships that do not have the 'open' flag set on their session. And as an incentive for playing in the 'open' mode, make the rewards higher (call it hazzard pay if you like).
So you want PvE servers. NO. Sea of Thieves is PvPvE. If you do not like PvPvE, you are playing the wrong game.
I see this as a method to keep an active player base (and a source of income for the premium cosmetics),
Active? PvE Prey migrating to a private server is not a way to keep the playerbase. It literally goes against the games core concept.
as well as giving players a choice. More risk for more reward.
You get Ri/Re with Reapers and Emissaries, that's how you avoid interaction
Those who want a PvE only experience (which can be a handful on it's own), with or without friends for things like the shrouded ghost summoning (minimum five players), there is an option.
Well they purchased a PvPvE game. There is no 'PvE' only experience. You play PvPvE or you play another game. Again, if you do not have fun playing and dislike PvPvE, you are playing the WRONG GAME.
@ottyman8687 said in peoples opinion on pvp and its state right now a lot of things, including:
If a new player starts and dislikes the game and leaves, then it is not splitting the playerbase.
Yes it is. Every person in the world is a 'potential' player. If they pick up the game, don't like the PvP aspect and quit, the player base has effectively been split between those who play the game and those who do not. People who do not play the game will never have a chance to become PvP mode players. And if PvE mode was a thing and these players never venture into PvP mode, the end result would be the same, you wouldn't see them in game anyway and they wouldn't have any effect on your enjoyment of the game.
So what? These players bought a game they didn't enjoy. So what if they stop playing? They can buy a new game they'll have more fun playing. Trying to accommodate them leads to tons of easy PvE features getting added.
How does adding PvE modes lead to 'tons of easy PvE features being added'? The devs are just as capable of adding a PvE mode and not touching any other aspect of the game play as they are not adding a PvE mode.
Because they had fun??? Are you having fun before you sink?? Because if not, WHY ARE YOU PLAYING.
So, they had fun playing it as a PvE game, which then became non-fun when it turned into PvP. Sounds like you are kind of proving the point.
Well everyone does. It will just take longers.
Coughs and motions toward people who have physical disabilities and products for controllers that allows them to use a controller to play games Yes, this is an edge case, but the point is still valid IMO.
Active? PvE Prey migrating to a private server is not a way to keep the playerbase. It literally goes against the games core concept.
From https://www.seaofthieves.com/code-of-conduct:
"Its core concept has always been players creating stories together, and since the game’s unveiling at E3 2015 we’ve loved seeing the community grow with us."
"Our positive community is a testament to our players and the way they’ve embraced our vision for a welcoming and inclusive multiplayer game"
Not everyone considers PvP welcoming or inclusive, and players can create stories via PvE as well. If PvPvE is indeed the ‘core concept’, things can be done to encourage participation in the PvPvE mode. Nerf the rewards in PvE compared to ‘normal mode’. Limit achievements/commendations/cosmetics to the full game mode.
You get Ri/Re with Reapers and Emissaries, that's how you avoid interaction
Incorrect. I've had a reaper chase me for almost an hour across the map. I did not have an emissary flag up, nor did I have any loot. Informing them of this did not get any kind of response, they just kept chasing me to try and sink me.
No offense intended, but you are coming across to me as someone who doesn't want anyone playing if it's not played the way you want. Are you going to quit playing because there are players who would rather play PvE modes?
Assuming you are a dedicated PvP mode player, how is adding a PvE mode going to affect you and your play? If someone is strictly a PvE player and never joins PvP mode, you are not going to interact with them, which is the same end result as them never picking up the game because of a lack of PvE modes.
I think the mix of PvPvE is pretty good in the game as it is now, but I also believe that a dedicated PvE mode can expand the player base and potentially add more people to the PvP parts once the PvE experience 'gets old'.
Rare is a games company, and their aim is to make games and money. To do that, they will need to keep adding more cosmetics, in-game content via adventures, and increasing the size of active players (especially with the xbox side being on game pass) who buy ancient coins for the cosmetic items, regardless of the mode they play in.
I just do not see how adding a PvE mode would negatively affect the game in any way.
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