New player here: is playing with random players always this horrible? Or did i just have bad luck?

  • Meldigoth
    Sailor

    Sooo...

    I just played a bit when the game was released ages ago and decided to replay it for a bit. I did not have mates to play with so i just decided to go for "random matchmaking" let's say. And the 3 crew i ended up with were really horrible to play with.

    • First one: We launch the quest that is on the mast, we start to go. None was manning either sails or helm, i basically had to man a gallion alone. One of the 3 guys was litteraly AFK the 2 other just ran around the ship. When attempting to discuss in chat i had no answer...when landing on the island, just une guy was trying to look for the key/chest. Once we are done, i ask in chat what we could do now, no answer, that same quest just gets retagged again...i closed the game out of frustration.

    • Second one: Similar as previous one, no comms. Same damned quest, people +- afk between islands...i did not wait for the quest to end to close the game.

    • third one: People finally talking in chat, we were 3 people we go for some place with a red skull in the skies. Once we arrive it appears another ship finished the world event. We start to "fight" them: Two wannabe pro-gamers spends their time attempting to board them with the cannon. I end up just manning the gallion alone while getting blasted by cannons and repairing. In the middle of the fight a 4th guys arrives and helps me with repairs and man the cannons, but i basically just run around between helm, sail and repairs. No time to fire anything on the cannons. Eventually one of the "pro-gamers" manage to board the ship and drop their anchor. The second "pro-gamer" arrives soon after and we then sink the boat.
      Lots of loot...right...i did not have fun at all doing that. We then proceed to recover loot with the harpoon, which i never used before. I had the opportunity to play with it a bit for about 10sec before "pro-gamer" just drops a bomb on me or wathever, i take damage, which make me drop the harpoon, and "pro-gamer" then takes the spot on the harpoon...
      Since they had a lot of loot it took ages, and the initial crew we sank eventually arrives. They ram us, one oppoents board, "pro-gamer" boards them. The opponent manages manages to kill 3 of us (GG him, he played better). We respaw, ship is sunk. "Pro-gamer" asks where we respawn, i tell him where, he just quit...

    Did i just have bad luck? Or is this kind of stuff common?

  • Login To Reply
    9
    Posts
    6.2k
    Views
    questioncommunity
  • Red0Demon0
    Commander
    Insider

    Horrible luck lol. Random players are a mixed bag, sorry to hear you were paired up with so many. I dislike playing with kids, I immediately jump out of the crew if I find one because they are generally squeaky, loud, obnoxious, self centered, and have the attention of a squirrel.

    As for the taking over the harpoon, I'm guessing the "pro gamers" knew that other ship was coming back, probably not the best time to mess around when you need to load up and go. This was most likely an issue with communication way passed that point, but last resort is usually a blunder bomb to get you off. Communication is important, and sometimes you get paired with some other crew members that don't speak or may not even understand you for that matter.

    As a new player, I recommend you observe and pay attention to what others want. If a player is swinging at you with their swords, they probably want your attention with something or want you to get off something. Look at it from a different point of view, say you're in the receiving end, your doing a voyage and someone messes with the ship, decided to lower sails and go, you're in a hurry cuz ship is coming and new player gets on harpoon but is having a hard time getting loot.

    Regardless, these "pro players" seem bitter, you said they were talking in chat? But they didn't take the time to explain anything to you? As a new player, most of the SoT community tend to help you guys out a lot. It always brings me pleasure to find a new player and show them the ropes, it's refreshing to see a new player react to what the game has to offer. They also seem to be fairly new like you, otherwise I don't understand why they be asking you where they would respawn as they should know by now. Or perhaps were they asking about the exact island that you guys spawned in?

    If they were asking for the island you spawned in, don't take it to heart, they left not because of you but probably because it was too far from the original sunk location to try to retrieve the lost cargo. In many occasion if a ship sinks, players will give up and quit the session or game (Depending on how long they've been playing or for any other random reason).Otherwise, you'd need to go back to an outpost to grab some essentials, which can be a pain.

    For the time being learn the ropes, and enjoy the game for what it is. Observe what your crew is doing, don't be afraid to ask for help or advice on your role or what to do, but don't let others determine how you play either. If your crew sucks, leave, eventually you will find a good or decent crew out there, and trust me, for those moments or experiences, the game is completely worth it

    I'm a bit busy these days but hopefully I get to see you out in the game, it would be nice to play with a new player such as yourself.

  • SankSparrow
    Marauder
    Insider

    I think a votekick option could help with the AFK players, but as for your issues with the other players, I feel like your expectations are too high. These are randoms, you have no idea who you are playing with or what their goals with the game happen to be. You even mentioned that you sunk a ship with them, but then failed against another player who killed 2 of them -and- yourself, so that doesn't seem like it is exclusively a 'pro gamer' issue.

    I would say you should either:

    A: Lower your expectations

    or

    B: Find a crew of like minded players in one of the SOT discords.

  • Karkona
    Commander

    Yeah. This sounds typical of normal open crew game play. The odds of getting a crewmate(s) that are knowledgable, good at the game, communicate, and don't have a trainwreck personality are slim. They exist though. Sometimes older players will open crew because they are bored and won't mind helping new players.

    The game kind of needs a system where new players can be placed with a seasoned crew just to see how things really can be, but sadly not possible so all they see is pure chaos most of the time.

    Meanwhile, solo slooping is a good alternative since it sounds like you actually want to get stuff done.

  • heslashthem
    Legend
    Insider

    @meldigoth a mixture of bad luck and the standard experience of Open Crew. If I were you, I’d look into joining a guild with regular players in it, not only will you be able to sail with them, you’ll feel more connected to the community and build friendships that way. Failing that look into Xbox group finder for your sessions, the SoT discord and its affiliate alliances to get players who actually want to sail together. Hope this is useful.

  • PithyRumble
    Sailor
    Insider

    @meldigoth

    Curate your experience. Most people are not actually chaotic neutral. Do the Xbox lfg or join a crew here.

  • Meldigoth
    Sailor

    Hello again!
    Thanks all of you for your answers :)

    As a beginner i understand that i do things that are foolish without knowing it. In retrospect, i should perhaps signify more clearly that i'm a new player.

    For the 3rd crew, it was more about how rude that player behaved. I get it, he tought i was too slow on the harpoon (i suppose) and wanted to take over. But he could have just asked instead of dropping a bomb in my face.

    As for the more details i would like to give:

    • The player indeed asked more specifically for the island after we sank
    • The players really did not take time to explain things. The guy said let's do "wxcv" (some 4 letter accronym), i answered "i have no clue what it is but i'm in". None explained, perhaps i should have been more insistent about that.
    • When we were killed 1v3 i genuinely think "gg he played better than us" i'm not salty about that, it's part of the game. I sucked because i messed up my controls but hey, that's learning.

    Nevertheless, this was one specific bad experience. This post was some kind of "venting my frustration" in retrospect.

  • heslashthem
    Legend
    Insider

    @meldigoth even us players that have been here since the start (these old bones hurt) still get trolling crews or bad experiences, it’s not exclusive to newer players don’t worry.
    The advice that’s been given by all users here has been useful, but don’t let one instance ruin your entire gameplay experience. Keep at it and enjoy the seas for what they are, not some idiot who’s decided to ruin others day.

  • Vaca Hombre
    Champion
    Boatswain
    Founder

    Wait... you can play with other people in this game?!!?

Login To Reply
9
Posts
6.2k
Views
questioncommunity
1 out of 9