Let's talk sharks.

  • Kashaarafall

    So, I don't think there is a person in this game that looks at the sharks and goes "Dang, those are scary and that's ok!" Why? Well, primarily because they are fairly stupid, sluggish and slow. So, I did some experimenting on other games where sharks were present and one game caught my eye. If you have never tried this out, then I warn you that this particular game is one, not for the squeamish and two, it is not easy. The game is known as Stranded Deep, a survival game on the PC currently in early access.

    So, I tried my first playthrough and honestly? The ocean is a terrifying place when you're a business man stranded on a set of islands. You have only your wits and your raft to help get you around and sometimes, it takes diving into the water to do that. This is where my suggestion comes in and what is it you might ask? A complete overhaul of the current shark mechanics/AI to add a more dominating presence.

    The sharks in Stranded deep do not attack immediately, instead, they single you out and circle you, waiting for you to be at your most vulnerable and then they strike. A nibble at first, or a thwap with the tail...however, if theylike the flavor, they go in for the kill. They snag you in their jaws and pull you down further into the water, sometimes thrashing and you have to shake yourself free with stabs of whatever you have in your hand at the time. I was quite surprised and frightened as I watched the water's surface move further away and even after I escaped, he chased me for around 30 minutes, staying right behind my raft at times.

    Now let's look at RARE's shark AI. They approach in a slow manner, slow enough for you to hit with a blunder and reload to do the same. They don't circle, they don't grab/thrash and they stay ontop of you in a "Nipping" fashion which is nothing like a shark does. So, what do you think? Do you think the game would be better with sharks that acted like sharks, or are you happy with the sharks that just swim around goin "Imma nibble that." randomly? Just a question/suggestion!

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  • MrDinglebrry437
    Ship Mate

    @kashaarafall said in Let's talk sharks.:

    Now let's look at RARE's shark AI. They approach in a slow manner, slow enough for you to hit with a blunder and reload to do the same. They don't circle, they don't grab/thrash and they stay ontop of you in a "Nipping" fashion which is nothing like a shark does. So, what do you think? Do you think the game would be better with sharks that acted like sharks, or are you happy with the sharks that just swim around goin "Imma nibble that." randomly? Just a question/suggestion!

    So, when you say 'sharks that act like sharks,' you're basing your idea of behavior off of another video game? Because, if you want the SOT sharks to act like 'real' sharks, you might get bit 1 out of 100,000 times you see them in the water. Sharks are not the mindless eating machines they are made out to be in the movies. In actuality, in the EXTREMELY rare occurrence of shark attacks, most ARE done in a 'nipping' fashion, so I'm not sure where you're getting your information on 'what a shark does.'

    I love sharks and have been in open water within 10 feet (often closer) to galapagos sharks, bull sharks, silvertips, grey reef whalers, blacktips, silky sharks, white tips and......great whites (I was in a cage for the great whites.)
    I can assure you, if you want the in-game sharks to act like real sharks, while in the water with them, you will be fascinated, but quite safe.

    Sorry to nit-pick, but sharks are in danger around the world, and people's continued belief that they are some sort of menace only makes the problem worse.

    If you'd like to see some real shark behavior with humans in the water, here's a video I shot a little over a month ago, while snorkeling at night with 10-12 silky sharks that were feeding on flying fish.

  • Dragonsire2016
    Seafarer

    I like the sharks, freaked me out a few times. Had one circling the ship during a really bad storm, was epic.

  • purplemajic
    Marauder

    I’ll just leave this right here for you. It’s a great watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DCTqz6lTmI

  • Genuine Heather
    Captain
    Insider

    @dingleberrydirk I agree with your comments. I’ve also swam near sharks, although I haven’t had any close encounters. I read somewhere that if you’ve spent any time swimming in the ocean, odds are you’ve been close enough to touch a shark without ever knowing. I’m not sure how true that is, but I know that we’re in their domain. Yet shark attacks are very rare.

    Having said all that, Sea of Thieves is based upon the fictional pirates and stories of novels and film. In the game world, sharks are appropriately cartoonish. They may not be terrifying, but they’re still pretty intimidating, especially in packs. Could they be improved? Sure, I suppose. Do they need to be? In my opinion, no. At least not anytime soon.

    One final point that crossed my mind. I’m not an expert, but I’ve heard stories about sharks being a very real danger to sailors stranded at sea. I presume sharks at sea, especially in packs, may be considerably more dangerous than those found wandering along beaches.

  • MrDinglebrry437
    Ship Mate

    @Dragonsire2016
    Thanks for posting that - pretty interesting.

    @genuine-heather

    Oh, I'm not trying to say that the in-game sharks should be docile or placid for realism, I'm just pointing out that if the OP really thinks the game would be better with 'sharks that acted like sharks', he/she is going to be disappointed.

    As for the tales of sharks being a danger to sailors - yes, if there is blood in the water and lots of thrashing about (the sinking of the U.S.S Indianapolis is an infamous example.) Otherwise, I'd chalk a lot of those stories up to "tall tales of the sea." Most of my close encounters with sharks (including the video above) have been far from populated areas. I'd say you are far more at risk near a beach where the water is murky and the sharks can't see well. That's where bull sharks are dangerous - not out in the open ocean. The vast majority of times, if a shark sees you clearly, and knows you can see it, it's not going to attack unless you are doing something like spear-fishing and have a bloody flopping fish attached to your belt.

    Anyway I'm fine with the SOT sharks as-is.

  • WarOnPants2664
    Master
    Insider

    @kashaarafall They could def be better, but sharks are the best "enemy" in the game IMO. Only thing I really wish was that their appearance was more predictable(like they had a much lower spawn for just being in the water, and a much higher spawn rate for being in the water and taking dmg.). another idea I had was when fishing was added, that you could make chum and throw it in the water to attract sharks.

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