I like to play both Keyboard and Mouse and sometimes I prefer to use my controller i.e. when I'm on the couch and I love the Hourglass Mode but I think it would be better if there were a method for people who play on controller could only face controller players to balance out the matchmaking a bit or you don't feel like you need to shift playstyles mid-battle and would the mode more enjoyable. Battling friends in a password matchmaking system where we could battle would also be such a welcome addition the game and it would make me play Sea of Thieves a lot more often.
Hourglass - Controller Only Option for Players
If you're playing on PC I'm pretty sure you don't get access to the option to prefer controller players only, that is reserved for consoles.
You would play more if there was a password protected matchmaking system where you can meet with only your friends? That technically wouldn't count as playing. Anything not happening on high seas in normal servers basically doesn't count.
@n64punk Battling friends on a private server is basically already in the works. It is one of the few rare use cases I see for the waste of time/money custom servers they are working on. It will be behind a paywall though. Likely $15 a month? So streamers will use custom servers to host contests. A fad that will die off in a few months. Safer seas will have a fleet option so you could load into a server where you can earn gold but gain no levels..... We have 500 levels with each trade company, gold is useless. So not sure the point of safer seas as a PvE option other than being a training ground for new people which is such an insanely small subset of players.
So yea custom servers where you can't even earn commendations or gold or level up would be a better place to battle against friends. But lack of any form of progression in any mode kills that mode. IE arena. They only updated it once, added new tedious rewards you could unlock but only by wearing the cosmetics from the 1st set of tedious to unlock cosmetics. The reward structure is what keeps the game alive. Putting so much effort into modes that offer nothing is a waste of money and effort.
And like others said controller only is a console option so sadly if you're on PC we don't get that benefit despite xbox basically being a cheaper windows PC anyway. You can use keyboard on a couch easy enough. Mouse can be annoying but you could use the vastly superior track ball. Note that doesn't mean thumb ball, though some people prefer the thumb versions. Though trackballs traditionally haven't been designed with gaming in mind there are some options starting to sprout up. I've been gaming with a track ball since 1998 and honestly find a mouse unusable for gaming.
@potatosord You are correct you don't and I know several players on PC who will never try Keyboard and Mouse. Also about your question on the password matchmaking it wouldn't need to count towards any reputation just wanna have battles with friends I don't want that to have any like HG progression cause I could see that exploiting the game mode i.e. like when Season 8 was first introduced and you had people making 2nd smurf accounts to face themselves on like an Xbox and PC with 2 instances and defeating themselves to get the curse. Maybe the friends could wager gold or ancient coins against each-other. I don't play Sea of Thieves as much as I used too mainly cause I did everything I set out to do in HG mode and my friends don't really play it as much as we used too. I've also heard many complain and say the matchmaking is unbalanced and as I don't agree with that assessment cause I believe it does try to pair you against someone with the same HG level as you, and I believe a lot of the players would have less resentment towards the mode if there was an optional controllers only option for the Players who only play on Controller exclusively or just sometimes.
@magus104 Hell yea! That's actually pretty awesome i'm not gonna lie, I bet cannons off a trackball is mad fun. I'm just pitching this idea out of love for the game and this is just a small shot to see if Rare would be interested in the idea. I just want others to enjoy the game as much as I do and I know some PC players personally who do not use Keyboard and Mouse unless they are on their desktop. I love the competitive spirit Hourglass offers and I don't feel as though PC Players should have to run out and buy an Xbox if they want a controller exclusive battle. I really liked the old arena mode as well but I wanna see what these new servers offer like you were talking about cause I was excited for that when it was announced as well.
@n64punk The pool of players on PC who would pick controller only is too small to make a viable player pool out of. It would actually make it easier to meet up with your friends or alts. You just VPN to a server with minimal traffic and queue over and over with that option on to slim your pool down even more. That, combined with wagering AC would make it possible to make alts, get the free AC from plunder pass, then wager it against yourself, making it possible to farm AC infinitely.
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