I know this is a hot topic and I have already read so many arguments against it, so I'm not going to have my mind changed, especially as this affects me a lot more than it does people who enjoy PvP. Please don't bother replying if you're going to purposely miss my points, etc.
I bought Sea of Thieves before I knew this, but I have PTSD. I have 201 hours in it and play it with my girlfriend very often. However, I can't do PvP. At all. I can't even practice it. Combat (specifically with other players) sends me into a flight-or-fight mode and my version of that is freezing. With PvE, it's predictable and I am okay with times that I struggle with it. But when it's against real people, I can't do it. I physically freeze and I get adrenalized and begin to shake incredibly hard, I can't focus on the game and have to immediately quit. And it sucks. I know I will get told just to play a different game etc, that it was advertised as PvPvE, and I agree. But it sucks that I can't live the pirates' life, essentially. Pirates of the Caribbean was my favorite film franchise when I was younger and helped me cope with a lot of the awful things I went through. I used escapism as a coping mechanism and even now it helps me a ton. I love everything about PvE. I have gotten good at knowing when certain encounters may happen and the predictability of the PvE makes me feel confident playing a video game, which I struggle with. I love pirates, I love doing the treasure hunting and exploring islands and taking my time, I love sailing and immersing myself in the environment. I enjoy doing voyages for the different trading companies and tackling emergent world events when I feel empowered to do so. There's not a single other game like Sea of Thieves ANYWHERE. Everything else I've tried has left me feeling like I'm missing something. I don't play the game without my girlfriend, who is a pirate legend now and got into the game initially because of me, and has surpassed me in hours. My highest emissary level is maybe 30? And I can't get myself to pick up the game again when I'm so terrified of getting triggered by an unexpected hostile interaction with a real person. It's also frustrating that so many encounters end in me getting called nasty names by people who are obviously kids trying to have fun in their own way. I can't turn off either chat or hearing other people's voices because it risks my girlfriend losing out on experiences with other players, and I usually leave the game for things like that. I'm good on the cannons and my wife does the helm but that's only when I'm going against PvE. PvP I tend to physically cover my eyes and freak out. It's embarrassing and I hate the hurdles in place to just play a really, really good and immersive pirate game. It's like your favorite cake is behind a glass, waiting for you, but you have to except the rotten egg the baked mixed into it in order to even get a lick of the frosting.
I enjoy Sea of Thieves for a different reason than other people and I acknowledge that. You enjoy the adrenalized feeling you get from selling in a high-stress environment, I feel physically sick when I see a boat in the distance and have to quit. I love the slow moments, I love foregoing the diving just to sail to my next experience because it's so fun navigating the world and feeling accomplished when I park the boat with impeccable timing. I am sad because in Safer Seas, I can't use my boat. I can't do the voyages I really enjoy because I'm one level above max. I just want the ability to play the game without risking getting triggered. I know I am responsible for my triggers, and that's why I haven't played the game in a month. But my girlfriend really misses having her swabbie and I miss being able to experience what I consider one of my favorite games.
A full(-ish feature, minus PvP oriented things) would be so nice. I know of a lot of people who have quit the game entirely because they don't enjoy PvP and Safer Seas makes them feel like they're being shamed for not enjoying the combat experience against others. They'd probably be willing to come back and play (and pay!) if they actually got a chance to experience the game in a dignified way. I know it's just a pirate game, but I love pirates!
Also, maybe in place of the PvP experience, Rare could consider adding a "Royal Navy" event or something like that. Add a PvE event capable of hunting you down or something like that, I'm not quite sure! But for me, it's the real people aspect that messes me up the most. I love predictability and enjoy the game that way. If others don't like it, then PvP players can stay playing with others who enjoy PvP, while us Safer Seas pirates could feel free to play our safe little pirate sandbox. Even just the option of a private server for more than just the content creators!
