Hi! Maybe we've met on the high seas, and maybe not, but there's a good chance if we do I'll probably try to sink you -- but here's the thing, I actually care about your experience in this game. I want to have fun, but I also want you to have fun, too. So here's some tricks / tips to help minimize your frustration with people like me.
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If you're playing solo, don't hold on to tons of loot. Play safe; Sea of Thieves is a marathon, not a sprint, so every piece of loot that makes it from your mission to the outpost is getting you just that much closer to a Pirate Legend! Don't get greedy. Also, as a corollary, if you're in a team that isn't confidant with their PvP ability, limit your outings to just a few locations before you return to an outpost. In other words: Don't get greedy!
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If you're sunk by a particularly annoying band of pirates, simply log out with your party and log right back in -- Sea of Thieves is a server-based game which just a few ships per server, so the chance that you'll encounter those guys again is low if you do this.
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When Raids pop up (the floating skulls in the sky) use them as a cover to get your PvE stuff done. Most of the galleons on the map will want their stab at that loot, and so they won't care about what you're doing. It may seem like it's not safe when a raid is about, but most people will pass you right by.
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Understand when you've lost. If you're spawning only to die again shortly after, there's a good chance the players are actively trying get you to scuttle (there are actually good reasons for this -- they may no longer have any cannon balls and actually be unable to sink you through normal means).
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People can be mean-spirited. Try and avoid the in-game voice chat by selecting mute other crews; some people are cool, but others aren't, and there's no reasons you should subject yourself to their taunts unless you want to.
As someone who loves the PvP in this game, I want to encourage all players who consider themselves strict PvE players to give it more of a try. Being able to take down other ships is a skill, and you won't learn it by not playing aggressively. You may not want to always do it, but by engaging with the other aspects of the game you can learn how best to harass your harassers, turning you into an even better pirate. Unlike most games, there's no reason to not try crazy tactics; as long as you aren't holding onto tons of loot, you should be willing to try any number of crazy things, like shooting yourself out of a cannon to board and drop a teams anchor (they hate that! ;))
In the future I am sure Rare will implement ways to help you enjoy the game more, but they are unlikely to ever make the seas a truly safe place. Take matters into your own hands and through risk-mitigation and experience with the PvP, you can make your voyages safer and more fun for yourself and those who play with you. Happy sailing.
