TL:DR- skip to the list. #5 is the most important.
I was thinking about something one of my victims said while I was taking their chicken coops. It bothered me because it seemed like they and I were not trying to play the same game. Since then, it has occurred to me that I dismiss most of the complaints about behavior some have called 'griefing' and others have called 'piracy' without much thought regardless of which end of the stick I am on, but that comes from my background. Specifically, from Eve online.
Without further ado, I give you the 10 Commandments of SoT, borrowed from the immortal Akita, in true pirate fashion, without permission, from the Eve Online forums and adapted for Sea of Thieves:
• You are not safe at an Outpost. Get used to the idea.
• Never go closer to other ships with cargo you can't afford to lose. Yes, not even to go to an outpost.
• Never sail with randos while holding stuff you can't afford to lose. No exceptions.
• Theft, murder and deception are not only allowed, they are encouraged and rewarded by the game mechanics. Harassment or real-life threats however aren't, and you can get a shiny ban for them. Learn the difference.
• If you lose stuff, it's ALMOST ALWAYS YOUR FAULT. Really, only yours.
• There are always other pirates visible near and around skeleton forts. This may be advantageous if you seek friends, alliances or victims. Or it can be helpful if you intend to avoid other pirates.
• ALWAYS check your crow’s nest before you approach an island and again before you embark. That goes double if you are solo.
• There is no such thing as "a fair fight" or "an unfair fight". There's only "a fight". Circumstances are irrelevant.
• With enough skill and experience, ship size really doesn't matter all that much.
• Just because some character is wearing the sailor set and has white sails doesn't mean he's a newbie. The reverse is also possible, a long grind does not a great player make.
