Idea for a Solo mode for Sea Of Theives

@m1ke-da-1ke said in Idea for a Solo mode for Sea Of Theives:

So I've been playing Sea Of Theives for awhile now and the most obvious and apparent thing about this game is that it IS NOT Solo player friendly. Trying to play this game solo is next to impossible (unless you're lucky enough to never encounter another crew and never get into a fight with anyone else) and that's been made even more obvious with the new PvP matchmaking that was added. Not everyone playing this game has someone else to play with even with all of the LFG's. There are many players (like myself) who only enjoy playing with friends and when we don't have friends to play with but still want to play the game are unable to play because playing Solo is basically a death wish. I think what this game really needs right now is a Solo mode for Solo players. Now this mode wouldn't put you in a server by yourself, but rather you would be placed in a specific Solo only server filled only with other Solo players. You'd only be able to use a sloop (or Rare could even add a new ship type like a schooner or something that's specifically made for a Solo pirate) and if they need to they could remove the ability to raise an alliance flag while in a Solo only server to balance it. They could bring over the PvP matchmaking or they could not, that would be up to them, but I feel like most players who want to engage in PvP on this game usually find a crew to do so. But I think that PvP would be perfectly fine in this mode since you'd only be going up against other Solo players on the same ship type as you.

So anyways that's my idea and I think it would be a really good thing for the game. Even if they don't add a solo mode perhaps rare could at least release a new ship type that is specifically made for Solo players and can only be manned by a single person and could be made to have very little offensive capabilities but be extremely fast (faster than any other ship in the game) so that Solo players would actually be able to escape crews with multiple people trying to hunt them down and sink them whenever they're not interested in PvP. That or maybe Rare will just add a PvE only mode to the game, who knows 😂

Hourglass matchmaking for solo sloops is against other solo sloops (unless they're champion and want to fight against larger crews/ships).

So I am a bit confused how you use that as an argument when you want solo sloop servers.

Playing as a solo is not next to impossible, you just have to take into account that you can't do everything unless you are very good at PvP. Don't paint a target on your ship by doing world events or a veil voyage unless you know about the risks and how to mitigate them.

I'd hate it when I'm busy and a friend wants to join and have to start a duo-sloop. Besides, in general I'd prefer a mix of ships even when I'm solo, though they could fix the brig vs sloop speed a bit.

@lem0n-curry well that's the main issue I'm having, when I'm chilling and just trying to have fun in regular Sea Of Theives (not the PvP matchmaking) either doing tall tales or just sailing around by myself trying to have fun I'll get attacked by either another sloop with a duo crew or a brigantine that I can't escape and they chase me down and eventually sink me when I'm just trying to chill and have fun and I even have the offer alliance flag up and my cannons pointed into the sky to signify that I'm friendly. It's like these people know that they're not good enough to play the PvP matchmaking or they're just not interested in playing it so instead they play in the open world servers and pick on Solo players who are just trying to vibe and chill like myself. I shouldn't have to leave and find a new server every 20 minutes until I manage to find a server with next to no one in it just to avoid being constantly attacked by toxic pirates who have no respect for the pirate code. That's why I think there should be a Solo only mode in which if you're playing Solo you can join into an open world server that only has other Solo players in it so that if you do run into these types of players you're at least going to have a fair fight and not be at a complete disadvantage that makes it impossible to win (because even just 2 people are more than enough to take down a solo since one can leave the ship to board yours and constantly keep you distracted while the other destroys your ship with cannon fire)

@pumpa-cat I understand what you're saying. The sloop is completely manageable by a Solo player, But that's not the main issue. The main problem I keep running into is the fact that everytime I get into a PvP encounter I always get completely destroyed by any crew that has more than 1 person in it. Being a Solo sloop you're at a complete disadvantage against every other crew on the server that has more than 1 player in their crew (2 man sloop, 3 man brig, and 4 man galleon). Every other crew has a massive advantage over you being that they have more than 1 person in their crew. So I'll be in a server just trying to chill and mind my business trying to level up my plunder pass by doing sea forts or the underwater kingdoms or just island hopping looking for skeleton captains to kill and get their orders so I can get loot and level up my plunder pass, and suddenly a crew will show up and start attacking or chasing me and I'll try and run only to eventually get taken down because no matter how much I run I'm a solo sloop and eventually they will catch up to me no matter what I do and I'll be forced to fight them and I stand no chance against even a 2 man sloop because all they have to do is get 1 person on my ship to fight me and distract me while the other stays on their ship and completely decimates my ship with endless cannon fire that I'm helpless to do anything against because I'm too busy fighting off the boarder. This is why the game either needs solo only servers (in which everyone else in the server is also a solo player on a sloop so that when you do get forced into a PvP encounter you're not getting completely destroyed by the fact that the other crew you're facing has more than 1 person and is able to completely wipe the floor with you because of that) or a new ship type that is specifically Solo only and is extremely fast and nimble (faster than every other ship in the game both against and with the wind) but has very little offensive capabilities (like only a single small cannon like what is on a rowboat that can be turned 270° from port to starboard so that you can still handle all of the PvE encounters like the kraken, megalodon, and skeleton ships). This way solo players will actually be able to play the game without being at a complete disadvantage to every other crew on the server so that if you do get into a PvP encounter you'll actually be able to stand a chance and be able to defend yourself by running away from them since your ship is faster than theirs or you can even choose to fight with the single small cannon that you have if you really want to (even though you'll most likely lose because all they have to do is get a person on your ship and at that point you're pretty much done for no matter what you do).

@pumpa-cat that's not what I'm doing. I understand how the game is supposed to be played, I'm trying to point out the fact that there's a significant skill gap between a solo player and even a 2 man sloop. No matter how good you get a crew that has 2 players can easily take you down by simply getting 1 person on your ship to keep you distracted fighting while the other person destroys and sinks your ship and you're helpless to stop it because you're too busy fighting off the 2nd player who's boarding your ship. That is why I think there needs to either be solo only servers or a new Solo ship type that is faster than every other ship in the game with very little offensive capabilities to balance it out and bridge that gap.

@m1ke-da-1ke said in Idea for a Solo mode for Sea Of Theives:

@lem0n-curry well that's the main issue I'm having, when I'm chilling and just trying to have fun in regular Sea Of Theives (not the PvP matchmaking) either doing tall tales or just sailing around by myself trying to have fun I'll get attacked by either another sloop with a duo crew or a brigantine that I can't escape and they chase me down and eventually sink me when I'm just trying to chill and have fun and I even have the offer alliance flag up and my cannons pointed into the sky to signify that I'm friendly. It's like these people know that they're not good enough to play the PvP matchmaking or they're just not interested in playing it so instead they play in the open world servers and pick on Solo players who are just trying to vibe and chill like myself.

The Hourglass is not even two months in the game while the game is coming up to its 5th birthday ... Attacking other ships has always been part of Adventure. PvP is not exclusive to Hourglass / Sea of Bones.

Keep an eye on the horizon so you have an earlier option to sail away from other ships that appear to be hostile.

While putting up your cannons and flying an alliance flag might have an appearance for a ship to be peaceful, those can be used by people who want to lure others into a false sense of security ... besides pointing your cannons up gives you a disadvantage in a fight as it takes time to position them for an attack. Don't make them think you're an easy target.

I shouldn't have to leave and find a new server every 20 minutes until I manage to find a server with next to no one in it just to avoid being constantly attacked by toxic pirates who have no respect for the pirate code.

If they are toxic in their language you can report them, just attacking you is not toxic behaviour. What part of the pirate code are they breaking ?

That's why I think there should be a Solo only mode in which if you're playing Solo you can join into an open world server that only has other Solo players in it so that if you do run into these types of players you're at least going to have a fair fight and not be at a complete disadvantage that makes it impossible to win (because even just 2 people are more than enough to take down a solo since one can leave the ship to board yours and constantly keep you distracted while the other destroys your ship with cannon fire)

I've encountered quite a lot of solo sloop players who are far more able to win a fight than brig or galleon crews. Thinking fighting against just solo crews will give better results in PvP is incorrect. Try some Hourglass fighting and you'll change your mind within a few battles.

@lem0n-curry when I said toxic players I meant players who use very vulgar inappropriate language in game chat. They make sure not to type anything and only say it verbally as well to not get banned when they get reported. I can record game clips, but I'm not a streamer so I can't include their audio in the game clip for proof that they were using toxic language and saying things that they would get banned for if they typed it, and I've run into many toxic pirates like this while playing this game. Those that type the things they say I report and they get banned, but very few ever type anything and almost always say it verbally rather than type it because they want to avoid getting communication banned. This also doesn't stop them from playing the game unfortunately, just prevents them from communicating in game chat so they're unable to use any of this language in game chat during the duration of their suspension. Regardless this has nothing to do with the main reason why I made this post. The main reason I made this post is because there is a significant skill gap between solo players and every other crew that isn't solo and the main reason this skill gap exists is because there isn't a Solo only ship type or servers. I think that Rare needs to add either a Solo only ship or solo only servers to balance this out. Just because some YouTubers who are extremely skilled at this game (more so then a majority of the player base) are able to take out some very low skill crews who aren't very good at the game doesn't mean that Solo slooping is easy or not difficult. Watch these YouTubers and streamers and you'll see that once even a mildly competent 2 man crew comes at them they lose the fight or they call in backup because it's extremely difficult or even near impossible for them to win against a 2 man crew when the other crew has any kind of competent or decent players. This is why the game needs a Solo specific mode or ship type, to fill this skill gap and balance the game. Not everyone has the luxury of being able to make a LFG post and get someone to join them. Not everyone wants to play with a total stranger they've only just met and have never had any kind of experience with. There are a lot of players that would play this game much more if there was an option for Solo players to actually be able to play the game on equal grounds as everyone else.

@pumpa-cat The main reason I made this post is because there is a significant skill gap between solo players and every other crew that isn't solo and the main reason this skill gap exists is because there isn't a Solo only ship type or servers. I think that Rare needs to add either a Solo only ship or solo only servers to balance this out. Just because some YouTubers who are extremely skilled at this game (more so then a majority of the player base) are able to take out some very low skill crews who aren't very good at the game doesn't mean that Solo slooping is easy or not difficult. Watch these YouTubers and streamers and you'll see that once even a mildly competent 2 man crew comes at them they lose the fight or they call in backup because it's extremely difficult or even near impossible for them to win against a 2 man crew when the other crew has any kind of competent or decent players. This is why the game needs a Solo specific mode or ship type, to fill this skill gap and balance the game. Not everyone has the luxury of being able to make a LFG post and get someone to join them. Not everyone wants to play with a total stranger they've only just met and have never had any kind of experience with. There are a lot of players that would play this game much more if there was an option for Solo players to actually be able to play the game on equal grounds as everyone else.

@pumpa-cat that's not even remotely correct. 1st of all 4 man galleon is not easy, it's actually quite difficult (which you would know if you even tried playing in a 4 man crew like I have) and it's also the slowest and easiest to sink ship in the game. Yes with a competent crew the galleon is a very formidable fortress of a ship that can take on pretty much any attackers and come out the victor, but it is definitely not easy to do so. Easy mode would actually be playing on a brigantine with a 3 man crew because the brigantine is an extremely easy ship to sail and take on opponents with. It does have a major weakness (it only has upper and lower decks with no mid deck so every hit it takes is a critical hit) but it still takes a lot to sink a brigantine and if you have a competent crew a single brigantine can easily wipe out every other ship in the server with ease. The sloop is also a very good ship and is probably the middle ground in difficulty between the brigantine (easy) and the galleon (hard) if you have 2 people. But the sloop is made for 2 people, not one. Which is why this game needs a Solo specific ship type or a solo mode to balance it out for solo players. You can say "oh all you need to do is get good" all you want, but no matter how good you get if you go up against a crew of equal or even slightly lower skill than you that has even just 2 players compared to your 1 you will lose no matter how good you are. I've been playing this game a lot longer than you have (more than 3 months now) and this has been something that I have always noticed since day 1. This is why Sea Of Theives needs a Solo only ship or Solo only servers, honestly just a solo only ship would probably solve these issues so I'll probably go make a new post suggesting that because I think that would be a better option than Solo only servers at this point.

@d3adst1ck that's the issue, it should have an option for Solo play. Not everyone wants to play with others and having no option for Solo only play makes players not want to play this game where as if there was an option it would bring more players to the game that otherwise wouldn't play it because there's no option for Solo play.

Trying to play this game solo is next to impossible (unless you're lucky enough to never encounter another crew and never get into a fight with anyone else) and that's been made even more obvious with the new PvP matchmaking that was added.

Impossible? Then how have I a Day1 player been able to pull off the impossible.

So what a galleon shows up and sinks me. Move on, tho I have sunk galleon crews by sheer luck and curses :p

And hourglass only affects me if I’m using it. You don’t have to use it.

I mean, solo play is hard, thats why people label it the "hard mode".
Ofc you are on a disadvantage in numbers, but this can be mitigated at least to some degree by good playstyle. Learn the strenghes of the sloop. I highly suggest tutorial vids on cannons/task optimisation and usage of your environment/surrounding. Phuzzy Bond on yt has some good ones, helped me out a lot back in the day!

I play solo sloop mostly, though, when im doing tall tales, I usually switch to the brig nowadays, even when being solo, as i just get less attacked, and im faster in running.

Ofc you cannot expect to be on the same level as 2,3,4 man crews, you are only 1 person. So dont try to be the hero. This game does not have "stats" or "equip" - everyone is equal in dps and HP. Especially when coming from other PvP games you need to get that into your mind. You will never be the big pirate Lord who slays down his foes left and right while laughing (well maybe you will eventually, but then bec. of your skill superiority, and you still will always be only 4 slashes or 1 good blunderbuss away from death).

If you know how to, you can even kill a brig or a gally with solo sloop. True story.

Best of luck on the seas.

I hate to break it to you, but it is absolutely possible to defeat or at least sufficiently deter larger crews. If you struggle with pvp, this would still happen in a solo sloop server and you'd soon be requesting matchmaking based on playertime in addition to that.

It's not nice being attacked by larger crews, but as an open sand box game its also not marked as every encounter you have will be fair and balanced. I hope you keep practicing your pvp and trying to get better as it's a great feeling defeating bigger crews. I can't see rare ever changing the fundamental game design by implementing something like this

I believe the issue is simply that solo slooping is very hard. Doable - but hard.
And naturally this will alienate a lot of players, it not meant for everyone.
Some people just want to have fun.
The game is about fun in the end anyway. Its never meant to be a hardcore competitive type of game. But for solo players - this is the reality.
Some people either dont have friends to play with, or simply prefer to play alone.

The wider topic here being that some people simply want to enjoy the game, without having to engage in hardcore competitive situations. As a matter of fact for brigs and galleons, they can avoid fights pretty easy. But sloops? Solo Players? They play Dark Souls on the Sea basically.

I believe there is a reason this topic persists. With every new generation of players getting alienated with this, there are some who think about how to adress the situation. Naturally the ideas range from: Dedicated servers for PvE or Solo Sloops to: new ship types that allow for a relaxed evening even when being solo.
Then the OG crowd comes in and shuts it down argumenting "it has always been this way"...

I am not in favor of PvE servers, I am not in favor of anything in particular.

But maybe it should be acknowledged that the current situation DOES alienate a lot of players unneccessarily. We all want the game to florish after all.
Maybe it would indeed be helpful to find a solution that suits more players, one that suits casual players who just want to have fun. Because lets face it: Its only a small minority who likes the thrill and challenge of solo slooping. Most people have more fun relaxing and not worrying. And thats currently only possible on the bigger ships.

I would even go one step further and say: In the current situation of competitive PvEvP the bigger ships can relax, enjoy and have fun at the expense of the sloop. The sloop is the prey, the easy target you can play around with and to get your fun from.
This coming from someone who started with solo sloop & duo sloop, and only later on went to open queue galleon or brig. So, i want to say I experienced the situation on every ship type, and Galleon is the most chill way of playing the game, by far.
Also I wanna add: When I duo nowadays with my buddy we can sink a galleon (unless they are really experienced). But we had to go through hell for that.
When we started we had a really hard time, we got sunk, we got robbed, always by the bigger ones, we where at a point where we stoppped playing and had 0 fun and hours wasted. We eventually decided we had to really train PvP in order to play the game.
And us both being kinda competitive players with years of league of legends and Pubg experience, we found our way into that.
But i can see its not meant for everyone. Not at all. And SoT is not the type of game for that. Most players, mainly on Brig or Galleon, never experience that.

@wolfmanbush nice words, but isnt that basically just becalming the "toddler", and giving him a pat on the back? Instead of finally adressing the issue with honesty?
You spent some years here, clearly more then me: in the game and in the forums. You must have seen dozen of these threads. Even I have seen a multitude of those in my 2 years, as a beginner I think I even posted some myself.
Shouldn`t it finally be the time to acknowledge the issue and to properly adress it, instead of becalming the messenger and continuuing to ignore the underlying issue.

@wolfmanbush ofc they can do it, but i think that isnt really the issue here.
Thing is, its so much harder and unforgiving. And not everybody wants to play Dark Souls on waves. It simply alienates single player, and i dont think thats a good thing.
I started like that myself, i managed to pull myself through that. But my gf? she abandoned the game. friends? Abandoned the game.
And, isnt the "i started like that myself" not simply "i had to suffer, so others have to suffer too"?, like just because you had it hard and got accustomed to it, things now have to stay this way? Thats what im thinking, not about you, but about the issue.

to be fair, and because maybe new players do not know this:
Many things are significantly easier when slooping/soloing:

• treasure chests dig up is faster
• kraken and meg deal less damage to a sloop then the other ships
• many NPC Ships hit the sloop less often then brig or gally (eg.: Ghost ships)
• as result many PvE missions are significantly easier on sloop
• sloop is the most "tanky", as it runs full of water slowest, and is easiest to bucket
  and two more recent additions from the Devs to further adress the issue:
• blunderbomb knockback on sloop is reduced
• sloop mast takes 2 hits now