A New Bounty System and Possible Athena's Fortune Faction Overhall Based on it.

We have a bounty system. Emmisary.
Raise reaper and go hunting. Or raise Athena and go hunting for Reapers.

@metal-ravage First of all thank you for taking the time to read and respond to the post, I do genuinely appreciate it. As for the points you made I don't fully agree.

Firstly this would "punish" people no more then flying an emissary would, and serves a similar purpose (more money but a potential target on your back). In addition to this, as almost everyone attacks everyone they meet on the seas as it stands, I doubt those with bounties would see significantly more attacks against them. It is also worth reiterating that outside of Emi 5 Athena's, people would have no idea you had a bounty unless they check your ship with the spyglass, at a glance you would look no different than any other ship on the sea.

As for the second point, I can't imagine it would effect people getting into more "feuds" as it stands when a crew is sunk, it's assumed that same crew will try to make their way back to reclaim the loot anyways, particularly during Fort of Fortune.

@sephdafox

My suggestion is to add a bounty system roughly based on systems that other MMO-like games have.

No. Because this is not other games. It is Sea of Thieves.

Ther eis already a bounty system, and it's even opt-in instead of being forced on people. It's called the Emissary System.

@th3-tater Although I disagree I appreciate your response.

The Emissary as it stands is not a bounty system, it is closer to a privateer situation, where you fly the flag of an organization and opposing organization attack you for theirs. Though even that is not a perfect comparison as it currently stands there really are not defined faction lines as at best people will attack regardless of their emissary and sell it to a reapers rep.

Secondly calling a reaper a bounty hunter is like calling a bank robber one. Like yeah they are technically hitting particular targets for their own organization, but that is hardly the same as what I described. As for Athena's you are correct, flying their flag and hunting reapers is their way of setting bounties to make the seas safer, so why not expand on the idea?

As it stands Athena's can hardly do much to "protect the seas" from those not flying reapers, which in and of itself is not a requirement to engage in PvP, plus unlike when being a reaper when there are no emis (they can still progress by attacking pretty much any ship that moves) Athena's have pretty much nobody to fight if there are no reapers on the server.

Yes both can server hop, but the point still stands that as of right now, people are not choosing Athena's to hunt reapers. They are playing as reapers hunting everyone. Rendering the faction as a whole pretty useless out side of lore stuff.

@guildar9194 I sincerely hope you did read past that first part, as I did elaborate. Regardless thank your for taking time to look at this.

You are correct that Sea of Thieves is not another game, but why should that stop it from learning from others, as it has since it was conceived. The game itself was heavily inspired by games like Rust, DayZ, and EVE Online, none of this mentioning the fact that the pirate look and feel has any number of things to draw inspiration from (some of them even ending up in the game as tall tales). Fundamentally, games, like any other creative outlet, are founded on getting inspired and making something your own.

As for emissaries, as stated in a previous response they are different from what I am proposing, as it has a different fundamental purpose.

As for the last point about being forced, you would be no more forced into engaging in the bounty system then anyone on the seas' is currently forced into PvP. As it stands everyone is "forced" into PvP encounters, even when undesired, this bounty system would at the very least give the aggressive party the choice to not fire the first shot.

I do feel the need to add something, as it quickly became relevant in my responses. I used the term "defend the seas" a lot. Fundamentally that is a sentiment that many in the community may not support the idea of, desiring a more open and lawless Sea of Thieves. In other words their opinion on the matter is more closely aligned with the Reapers, which is a valid position to have, however, they are not the only faction in the game with an opinion on the matter. Athena's Fortune as a faction was founded on the idea of keeping the Sea of Thieves a safe place to explore and get rich, a sentiment that many others would agree with, and would also be a valid position. To pretend that only one of the two exists is something I see a lot. If this game does want to go full PvP only the strongest live, that is perfectly ok, but then Athena's have no place in the game.

@burnbacon You've made several solid counter arguments and as much as I do disagree with them I do appreciate them, as it allows me to challenge my own perspective on the issue.

Firstly I'm not exactly sure how you can get tricked into shooting someone with a cannon or gun, but to each their own. As for your opinion on the matter although I disagree I can respect it.

As for you saying that there is no such thing as an unprompted act of aggression, please explain to me how a sloop with no treasure unattended over a mermaid shrine is acting in a manor to instigate aggression?

As for stealing and theft, an argument could be made that those should qualify under aggression, but to lump it in with actions such as combat and sinking is misleading. Frankly this is the Sea of Thieves, not the Sea of Murder or the Sea of Sinking. most pirates aren't some kind of Orc clan looking to drink the blood of their foes, they're thieves looking for an easy score and there are times where the best and most clever option is to sneak aboard, load a rowboat with treasure and undock that thing for you to grab. Not every encounter has to be a dm fest. And yes there will still be times where sinking something is the best option, but not automatically as it is now.

The commendations and achievements ARE the encouragement for sinking ships.

Good guys becoming the bad guys is an interesting point and leads to the concept of moral relativism, which in and of itself would be an interesting wrinkle to add to the idea of Athena's Fortune. From the perspective of Athena's side of the war that hourglass is trying to depict, yes it would be justice to hunt down those who are not keeping in line with their perspective on what the sea should be, which the keepers of the flame would see as further proof of the power that the trading companies have atm and all the more reason to rebel. What you've described is not a reason to avoid this, but a reason to EMBRACE IT.

As for your last point, I do believe the PL said that, but Ramsey also used an invincible metal to make locks for (almost) every treasure chest we find in game and was originally intending that he would have the keys to open them. Forcing everyone to go to him should they want them opened. So it seems that the PL's perspective on freedom isn't exactly consistent.

@burnbacon I can understand the concern for new players, though this potential system would actually function as a way of a small amount of protection for them until they gain the confidence to engage in PvP.

As for the other groups, why exactly is it a bad thing for toxic players to be "targeted" for their hyper aggressiveness? Wouldn't that just deter people from behaving in a toxic manner, since now those actions have some amount of repercussions? In a game that has a rightly or wrongly earned reputation for being a toxic cesspit, reducing toxic behavior would be a good thing for the health of the game. It seems odd to not do something in order to cater to a part of the playerbase Rare itself is trying to remove.

As for trolls, that's kinda just the cost of doing business isn't it? You started stuff, now you gotta deal with that. Just like taking the burning blade, or flying an emissary, you want the rewards be they financial or entertainment, prepare for people to react to that. Or since actions like theft are not in and of themselves an action that causes a bounty, just change your tactics, there's plenty funnier ways of trolling people than sinking ships.

Lastly I can see the perspective you are approaching the issue, it is true that yes in a way we all have some manor of price on our heads, be they our supplies, or the loot we've gathered, or even just the cost of our logbook. So what's the harm in adding to that system in a way that makes it more dynamic?

Also I do want to point out that the "repercussions" facing people who start PvP fights, would be the opportunity to get into more PvP fights, so I really don't see the issue. Like it would literally just increase the total amount of PvP for that crew, which based on their aggressive actions, is what they want in the first place.

@sephdafox

Targeting (aka Witchhunts) is frowned upon by the code.

Which roundabout....is what you're asking for.
Marking a player/crew for attacks that spreads beyond you.

No matter how you spin it, this is what you're asking for.

Bad idea.

@th3-tater By that logic the entire emissary should be scrapped since it also leads to "targeting". What I am proposing is an expansion to the idea, one that would fit in with the established rules that we've seen with the emissaries. As well as make Athena's Fortune as a faction actually feel present on the Sea's they are claiming to defend.

Not attempting to "spin" my perspective on this and I am sorry that what I am saying is coming off that way. What I am attempting to do is defend my position and hopefully help clarify things that people are worried about.

@sephdafox

The current bounty system doesn't give you a specific target.
It's opt in so you can't trick/force it on people.