A new type of Merchant Voyage.

  • Sikamikanico
    Commander
    Insider
    Founder

    Before the game released, this is what I thought merchant missions were going to be.

    There should be set Merchant routes from outpost to outpost (quickest routes displayed on the map), and missions that are accepted, mean you load say...20 crates of goods to your vessel. Your vessel then has to display merchant colours that notify other players you are on a merchant mission.

    Now instead of like....10 days to complete it, you're given 10 real-time minutes (whatever is reasonably possible to complete the mission in to get from one outpost to another)

    Other players can hunt these routes, PVP for said goods which can then be sold onto the black market (via a new Pirate NPC) for a lesser price.

    Merchants can then choose to team up in convoy with other players for protection against would be attackers.

    Would be FAR more interesting and challenging then the current set up.

    Thoughts?

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  • RustyPyrate
    Master
    Insider
    Founder

    @sikamikanico That would be a nice update! Instead of us getting a list, and have to guess where the animals are (Unless u have a phone and look at an animal map) we could get the fastest route and keep it there in time. But idk how other pirates would know of these routes

  • Sikamikanico
    Commander
    Insider
    Founder

    @cheatingpirate

    They'd be marked via red lines on the map on your ship for example.

    And these missions wouldn't be for animals, they'd be to ship say "20 crates of bananas/wood/cannonballs" etc - that way they'd be sold.

    I for one love the idea and the challenge of either successfully raiding would-be merchants or successfully avoiding/defeating would be pirates.

  • pureatti2ude
    Insider

    @sikamikanico There are a lot of possibilities that can be thought of when thinking about what one could do with, or put in the game. Merchant Alliance could be another. For instance, with more thought than I am putting into it at this moment, but what about Merchant Ships with AI that are not skeletons? A ship which maybe goes outpost to outpost on its own with deliveries. Or point A to B. A Merchant ship that when making these deliveries could be robbed and the ship overtaken, maybe for a short while. A merchant carrying rum, food stock, gunpowder and more. You could use different vessels for the carrying of different goods. Or, maybe one would do a mission to help aid the AI merchant and could board the ship and speak to them like a quest. A non-stop moving merchant ship. I could go on for days with ideas. Thoughts?

  • CptCapybara

    Sounds like a really good idea, especially if there became known trading routes that you could use, however, I wouldn't want it to be just a pvp magnet.

  • Sikamikanico
    Commander
    Insider
    Founder

    @cptcapybara said in A new type of Merchant Voyage.:

    Sounds like a really good idea, especially if there became known trading routes that you could use, however, I wouldn't want it to be just a pvp magnet.

    Isn't that the risk you have to take? No risk, no reward right?

    Obviously the payout for successfully doing a merchant voyage is more the quicker you do it in the allotted time-frame, especially when compared to a Pirate crew selling the goods on the black market.

  • norloc
    Marauder
    Insider

    I will upvote this idea. Im done with merch, but its a cool idea. I think thats the ultimate problem with changing it at this point, a ton have already completed or are close to completing at this point so its a little late in the game i think to change it.

    Maybe they could implement an AI ship that sails a route from time to time, just looks like an ordinary ship (or give it a specific look to not confuse), but you must destroy to get the goods, would be no different than finding a shipwreck except guarenteed/better cargo to trade in. PvP players would more likely get this as those that dont enjoy that game style may chose to avoid it, though it would encourage a more active community to seek out other ships they see. Could have a ship run every couple hours, a little more frequently than forts activate

  • Lefaux2

    @sikamikanico I like the mini-game idea.
    As with all ideas I try to exploit them in my mind to see what could go wrong.
    With only 5 outposts in the game the routes are quite limited.
    Plus the knowledge that such routes exist I'd just camp Cannon Cove, wait for you to approach Golden Sands and hunt you down (with two mates being on the island already).
    So outpost camping would become a huge source of frustration for the merchant because of the time constraint your idea implies.

    Having said that: let's try and figure out a way around these issues to get your rough idea into a polished state.

  • Boldgame
    Captain
    Founder

    Love the idea!

    No need for a fixed route on the map. Just point A to B, Plunder outpost to Sanctuary outpost in X time and you figure it out yourself!

    Maybe even a secundary Outpost spot to avoid possible outpost campers. Ofcourse the money will be reduced.

    When I think of it.... It could also work for two or even more crews! (Put on your race flag) The different crews need to race to bring in the goods. The first crew who diliver there goods gets a bonus. When all the goods are brought in only then both crews get payed out. This to avoid the different crews sink/kill eachother on there way. The later the last crate brought in the lesser the money! (For both crews)

  • WarOnPants2664
    Master
    Insider

    @sikamikanico That's what I thought merchant missions were gonna be in this game. This sounds way more fun and interesting. Merchant missions right now are pure misery...

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