Safer Seas

  • DangerSchone
    Seafarer
    Insider

    Hello, just want to say I'm really enjoying Safer Seas, it's nice to visit an island and go to come back to my ship and it's still there. I will never go to high seas again! I see other post about people complaining about the 30% pay but I'm good with the pay cut, I just wish I could still use my Captained ship and use the Sovereigns, they don't have anything to do with other players so I don't see why we can't have the option, I also think it would be great if friends could also join in their own ships using guilds.

    Those are the only two things I would change if I could, other than that, me and my family absolutely love the game and have been so excited since Safer Seas came out.

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  • Phantaxus
    Legend
    Insider
    Founder

    This has been the answer from the Devs for these posts.

    The game design and intent for Sea of Thieves is a shared world adventure, and it always will be. Those who wish to play in the confines of Safer Seas will always have the option but we will not bring the rewards and activities in line with those of High Seas when many of the restrictions are in place due to the risk vs reward factor that is inherent in Sea of Thieves - removing any risk means rewards must be balanced accordingly.

    Safer Seas will act not only as a safe space for our Tall Tale players but also for families with children who just want to pirate, for people who want to play the game but learn the ropes and it will organically feed into Adventure mode, keeping the player pool there healthy and upskilled as they've learned the mechanics.

    This is not only useful for new players but families, players with accessibility needs - the whole game suddenly become available in a way it hasn't before, letting them naturally progress to High Seas and being a Pirate Legend. SoT has grown a huge amount in 5 years and it can be fairly overwhelming.

    The borders put in Safer Seas mean that to experience the full depth and breadth of the game you will have to hit the high seas BUT if you're playing with your family you don't have to, you can just enjoy the game and have fun as a family.

  • Magus104
    Captain
    Insider
    Founder

    @dangerschone Yea there's literally no point in playing the game if you can't progress milestones. I think the major issue is how guilds and captaincy are tied together now so allowing 1 into safer seas without the other is hard. Though honestly without emissaries in safer seas no reason to not let guilds play in there too. Since guilds can't just sail as a fleet to form a whole server. When the whole point of the game is playing with friends whether in high seas or safer seas not sure why you would make safer seas more of a solo player space. They could have just made solo sloop servers on high seas instead.

  • BloodyBil
    Legend
    Insider

    @magus104 said in Safer Seas:

    @dangerschone Yea there's literally no point in playing the game if you can't progress milestones.

    I don't know, personally I find the game pretty fun and enjoyable no matter the payoff and progression, to me the fun lies with finding treasure, solving riddles and puzzles and battling stuff on the sea more than running up and down the pier with stuff in my hands.

    That's why I have a hard time understanding people saying SS is worthless and they can't enjoy it with their kids and stuff because the % cut is too much etc, I mean why do people even play the game in the first place if they don't enjoy the things you do in it unless they see big numbers popping in the corner of their screen?

    I do think just having access to our own ships without progression would still be cool though.

  • OtherFanboy
    Legend
    Insider
    Founder

    @bloodybil not you but this is for all those who claim they can't enjoy SS because of the gold&Rep. in the words of the Pirate Lord Ramsey "It's not about the gold it's about the glory"

  • a10dr4651
    Commander
    Insider

    I wouldn't be surprised if Captained ships are allowed in Safer sea's in the not too distant future. It's heavily requested and doesn't really take anything away from High sea's if progression isn't made and even then I don't sail in the high sea's to progress ship milestones, they are just a natural background tally.

    As long as the balance is struck where High sea's still offers the original vision of a shared world where all kinds of organic encounters can happen and the high sea's offers greater rewards for playing then I'm all for that. The main worry amongst the longer term playerbase is Safer sea's detracting from High sea's by removing the risk/reward balance.

  • Shadow XLII
    Castaway
    Insider

    Yes I agree 100% me and my son can now enjoy the game. We're happy to take the pay cut in rewards. But I do agree with you that some things should be bought into the game such as your own ship, items and decor. That's not going to make a scrap of difference also to sail with friends/guilds ships. You should be allowed to go to 50 in alliances also. If that player wants to put in "a lot" of hours to get to that level allow them too. It would be easier and quicker in HD obviously so allow the player to choose.

    Hopefully the Dev's will listen to the SS community. Since coming back to play SS I've spent rl money in game so this shows SS is going to be a good income for the game with returning and new players that's aren't interested in the pvp of the game.

  • Habiki
    Captain
    Insider

    @dangerschone said in Safer Seas:

    Hello, just want to say I'm really enjoying Safer Seas, it's nice to visit an island and go to come back to my ship and it's still there. I will never go to high seas again! I see other post about people complaining about the 30% pay but I'm good with the pay cut, I just wish I could still use my Captained ship and use the Sovereigns, they don't have anything to do with other players so I don't see why we can't have the option, I also think it would be great if friends could also join in their own ships using guilds.

    Those are the only two things I would change if I could, other than that, me and my family absolutely love the game and have been so excited since Safer Seas came out.

    They don't have anything to do with other players directly. But one of the stated goals from Rare regarding this mode is to build folk's confidence so that they eventually jump into High Seas.

    As the dev response provide by @Phantaxus states, rewards and activites are brought in line according to the lack of risk Safer Seas presents.

    You may never go back to High Seas, but others players in Safer Seas may. Captained ships and Sovereigns seem to be two of the activities Rare is using to incentivize a High Seas transition.

  • DangerSchone
    Seafarer
    Insider

    @habiki Only way they can transition me to high seas is if they make it to where all players on the server are on the same size ship as you. There's no point in playing if I'm on an island doing a quest and all the sudden I hear rapid cannon fire and come back to my sloop being deleted by a gallion and I have no way to protect it.

  • Habiki
    Captain
    Insider

    @dangerschone I'd have to respectfully disagree here. A majority of my time in this game has been spent on a sloop, and a good deal of that solo.

    The scenario you described does happen. Just the other day I logged in, went to a shipwreck, and had a galleon on me within 10 minutes. They knew what they were doing and I was sunk pretty quickly. But for each of those encounters I feel like I have at least 10 peaceful voyages.

    And in some instances I'm even able to fight the attackers off. It's just the nature of the game, and those interactions have resulted in some of my most memorable moments/clips that I still bring up with friends like others would a fishing or hunting story.

    Segregating servers by ship type seems regressive to me.

  • BurnBacon
    Vanguard
    Insider

    I just wish I could still use my Captained ship and use the Sovereigns, they don't have anything to do with other players so I don't see why we can't have the option

    Since you have no other players to bother you, you dont need the Sovereigns. & why do you need your Capt ship? Who are you trying to show off your Saved ship set? You can still customize your ship. & you dont even need to buy the captain voyages or buy extra resources.

    I also think it would be great if friends could also join in their own ships using guilds.

    As long they dont get Guild Rep, sure. Why? Risk=Reward, SS has made hoarding loot super easy and since you wont lose it to another player, Guild Rep is easy to earn.

  • DangerSchone
    Seafarer
    Insider

    @burnbacon
    Sovereigns would be nice because as you said, SS makes its easier to pile up the loot so it would be nice to use the efficiency of the harpoons and not have to run back and forth taking one chest at a time to a curtain buyer.

    And who would I be showing off my captained ship too?
    Me of course. I would like to have all the trinkets and customization that captain ships have that I bought and worked for.

  • Super87Ghost
    Commander

    I also hope and wouldn't be surprised if they brough captained ships into safer seas. But for me another reason comes into play: to be able to freely 'design' my captained ship without the threat of being attacked while doing it or holding up a spot on a server while i'm only looking though shipsets and trinkets for a while.

    I think that reason might also be benefitial for the High Seas if people who want to take their time changing their ships looks won't have to take away a spot on a HS server.

    Same if you want to make screenshots with your captained ships etc. (one of the benefits for safer seas according to the devs was to be able to easily make screenshots and clips for video's etc. But i can imagine people want to do that on/with their captained ships, etc.).

  • Merlin MAV K
    Ship Mate

    @dangerschone

    As a long time player I appreciate the addition of Safer Seas for all of the reasons it is here. It was way overdue.

    After playing gobs of time in HS since launch I have no problem at all with the following (and I would regardless probably stay in HS for the most part):

    It's easy to understand the some of the WHY on penalties on rewards but the current implementation of it is excessive, especially when you factor in waddling to each faction leader for individual turn ins. Ease the penalty and maybe it's also past time to put a harpoon on the dock by the Shipwright or Merchant.

    Allow Captained ships in SS. It's simply allowing a reward already (and probably only ever) earned in HS mode anyway and people LOVE their personalized ships. In a custom solo session not being able to have your ship that you've spent a game lifetime creating isn't just disappointing, it pretty much sucks.

    Significantly reduce or adjust the SS penalty for treasure, or eliminate it? Who cares? If it must remain something like a 50% gain is infinitely more logical than 30%, which right now is weirdly scolding and punitive for a GAME. It's all for buying clothes and paint jobs and bits and bobs almost no one else ever sees.

    There is already a HS-only treasure bonus available via Emissary. Keeping Emissary in HS and not in SS should be enough of a division, not a further penalty on top of that. People that would rather play in SS are not going to spend time in HS to "flex" their shirts or boots anyhow (a weird thing some HS only players worry about).

    Increase the number and type of PVP-oriented rewards for people preoccupied with such things. If you can only get them via PVP isn't that enough of a separator?

    Special event bonuses (i.e. community weekend, bonus treasure, pop up plunder, etc.) only ever on HS.

    The list can go on. There are ways to make it work that don't make SS pointless for the people that would rather play there. There is nothing wrong with loving the game and not wanting to play the fully featured PVP mode of it. Just because that sounds boring to some it could be heavenly for others, and you'll probably never see them anyhow.

  • Felix Ashur
    Seafarer
    Insider

    @dangerschone said in Safer Seas:

    Hello, just want to say I'm really enjoying Safer Seas, it's nice to visit an island and go to come back to my ship and it's still there. I will never go to high seas again! I see other post about people complaining about the 30% pay but I'm good with the pay cut, I just wish I could still use my Captained ship and use the Sovereigns, they don't have anything to do with other players so I don't see why we can't have the option, I also think it would be great if friends could also join in their own ships using guilds.

    Those are the only two things I would change if I could, other than that, me and my family absolutely love the game and have been so excited since Safer Seas came out.

    Agreed 100% on this one. :)
    Honest, the 30% pay cut seems rough on paper, but it's not nearly as bad as it looks. The only real thing I can see that would be needed is the captained ships (don't need the progression from them), and I don't even really need the Sovereigns either (though I wouldn't mind having the perks of selling to them)

  • PithyRumble
    Rogue
    Insider

    Harpoon rowboat.
    Put all your loot in it.
    Harpoon drag yourself to a centerpoint for the merchants.
    Who needs sovereigns!

  • knurd9369
    Commander
    Insider
    Founder

    FWIW I have no objection to captained ships being used on safer seas, so long as ship and pirate milestones cannot be earned there.

    No objection to sovereign use either. Makes no odds to me whether or not someone can sell their stuff in 2 mins vs 20 mins

  • Jon Sea Nah
    Master
    Insider

    @dangerschone said in Safer Seas:

    Hello, just want to say I'm really enjoying Safer Seas, it's nice to visit an island and go to come back to my ship and it's still there. I will never go to high seas again! I see other post about people complaining about the 30% pay but I'm good with the pay cut, I just wish I could still use my Captained ship and use the Sovereigns, they don't have anything to do with other players so I don't see why we can't have the option, I also think it would be great if friends could also join in their own ships using guilds.

    Those are the only two things I would change if I could, other than that, me and my family absolutely love the game and have been so excited since Safer Seas came out.

    Here we go again 🤦🏼‍♂️

    I liked the first part of your post. If SS is your jam, by all means get yo grind on.

    The problem is it starts with can I have my captained ship? Whom does it harm, it would be a nice addition.

    Ok so running an emissary would be excellent, for the rep ya know.

    Annnnnd the sovereigns would be a really great addition for the harpoons, it doesn’t hurt anyone, it would just reduce time.

    Ok so can I just have a PVE server????

    See that evolution? It’s meant to be quite limited and in my opinion should stay that way.

  • BobayBobay
    Rogue

    @bloodybil You nailed it. I bought the game in early 2022, before Soveigns and Captaincy, and quit after a month. Recently I've started to play it again. I like the new features, especially the ability to sell the loot faster, and I am playing more become of these updates. Less time on transactions means more time enjoying adventures; doesn't matter if that adventure is PVP or PVE, solo, or with teammates per Rare's game design goal for shared world adventure. The more enjoyable the game is, the more people play, which in turn makes the game more enjoyable in any mode. SS is great for learning or for family friendly mode and could still be multiplayer, just turn off player generated damage.

  • Merlin MAV K
    Ship Mate

    @jon-sea-nah

    Seems a specious "slippery slope" argument. Something like wanting a Captained Ship in SS, already earned in HS and very unlikely to be earned in SS in the first place, is nothing close to the other benefits listed... It's fairly bizarre to demand that SS has arrived, fully and finally formed and devoid of room for any more improvements based on player feedback.

    At its core, this is about someone playing alone, wearing a shirt they didn't "earn", according to one point of view.

  • Jon Sea Nah
    Master
    Insider

    @merlin-mav-k go back and read the bottom of the Original Post in this thread. He asks for his friends to be able to join him on his server with their own captain and guild pledged ships 🤷🏼‍♂️

    Seems like I just took longer to connect the dots, ya know as an example of sorts.
    All these posts end up being “…….And I’ll Take My PVE Server Now”

  • DangerSchone
    Seafarer
    Insider

    @pithyrumble said in Safer Seas:

    Harpoon rowboat.
    Put all your loot in it.
    Harpoon drag yourself to a centerpoint for the merchants.
    Who needs sovereigns!

    I didn't even know that was possible until now. That actually would help a lot.

  • PithyRumble
    Rogue
    Insider

    @dangerschone said in Safer Seas:

    @pithyrumble said in Safer Seas:

    Harpoon rowboat.
    Put all your loot in it.
    Harpoon drag yourself to a centerpoint for the merchants.
    Who needs sovereigns!

    I didn't even know that was possible until now. That actually would help a lot.

    You can do it with the ship too, but you run the risk of it despawning...

    Enjoy your shenanigans!

  • Valhalla Sky
    Seafarer
    Insider

    @super87ghost Yes! If I'm painting my house the last thing I need is a bulldozer crashing into it. Plus dressing up the ship in SS will appeal to my wife which increases the odds I can get her to return to the game 🤞

  • Valhalla Sky
    Seafarer
    Insider

    @jon-sea-nah My own experiences with online pvp/pve games is apparently different. I've only ever seen one mmo, with pvp, mostly abandon that for pve but it's still there. I've seen a battle royale game add a casual mode with bots. My commitments online include multiple mmo types and for one of those I own 3 dedicated servers, but all of the games have pvp, pve, and pvpve options. Some of the 'pve' options aren't safe from clans getting 'insided' so pvp still finds a way. My point is that I'm confident that Safer Seas isn't a threat to SoT, not in any way. My willingness to see SS progression nerfed isn't about getting people to switch to pvp. It's a nod to the old school who did it before it was easy, and hard work should pay better. However, even if pve got all the progression it wouldn't hurt the game because pve'rs will be better fighters at the end, and the pvp side can't die because it thrills for worthy foes. At worst the game shifts some, but everyone still wins. Please forgive the length.🎄

  • Valhalla Sky
    Seafarer
    Insider

    @bobaybobay said in Safer Seas:

    @bloodybil You nailed it. () SS is great for learning or for family friendly mode and could still be multiplayer, just turn off player generated damage.

    Like so many pvpve games already have as an option.

  • Jon Sea Nah
    Master
    Insider

    @valhalla-sky said in Safer Seas:

    @jon-sea-nah My own experiences with online pvp/pve games is apparently different. I've only ever seen one mmo, with pvp, mostly abandon that for pve but it's still there. I've seen a battle royale game add a casual mode with bots. My commitments online include multiple mmo types and for one of those I own 3 dedicated servers, but all of the games have pvp, pve, and pvpve options. Some of the 'pve' options aren't safe from clans getting 'insided' so pvp still finds a way. My point is that I'm confident that Safer Seas isn't a threat to SoT, not in any way. My willingness to see SS progression nerfed isn't about getting people to switch to pvp. It's a nod to the old school who did it before it was easy, and hard work should pay better. However, even if pve got all the progression it wouldn't hurt the game because pve'rs will be better fighters at the end, and the pvp side can't die because it thrills for worthy foes. At worst the game shifts some, but everyone still wins. Please forgive the length.🎄

    Look I’m not saying you have to PVP by all means be the most peaceful pirate out there. I personally helped a dude get PL yesterday with Merchant and Order. I’m not that dude just toxically hunting fresh spawns.

    I like the idea of SS. I just don’t want THAT to become the game when that IS NOT a good representation of the game.
    A beautiful part of this game is meeting people from all over! You lock down private PVE servers and it’s gone.
    I sail with a dude from Amsterdam mainly and the guy I helped yesterday was from the UK. I’ve been sailing with the guy from Amsterdam for 2+ years.

    This game can truly bring people together. I look at the toxic young bots like people in the gym on Jan 1. Is it super annoying? YUP! But they’ll get bored and leave.

    All I am advocating for is don’t make SS so comfortable that people just stay in a sheltered existence. I’m not trying to be political at all here actually APOLITICAL. GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND MEET PEOPLE!!!

    I have learned soooo much about different cultures and views and concerns from simply playing and talking with people. I have met so really great individuals in this game!!!

    Why do I have this I only pvp and hunt everyone stigma when that’s not the truth at all.

  • Valhalla Sky
    Seafarer
    Insider

    @jon-sea-nah said in Safer Seas:

    @valhalla-sky said in Safer Seas:

    @jon-sea-nah My own experiences with online pvp/pve games is apparently different. I've only ever seen one mmo, with pvp, mostly abandon that for pve but it's still there. I've seen a battle royale game add a casual mode with bots. My commitments online include multiple mmo types and for one of those I own 3 dedicated servers, but all of the games have pvp, pve, and pvpve options. Some of the 'pve' options aren't safe from clans getting 'insided' so pvp still finds a way. My point is that I'm confident that Safer Seas isn't a threat to SoT, not in any way. My willingness to see SS progression nerfed isn't about getting people to switch to pvp. It's a nod to the old school who did it before it was easy, and hard work should pay better. However, even if pve got all the progression it wouldn't hurt the game because pve'rs will be better fighters at the end, and the pvp side can't die because it thrills for worthy foes. At worst the game shifts some, but everyone still wins. Please forgive the length.🎄

    Look I’m not saying you have to PVP by all means be the most peaceful pirate out there. I personally helped a dude get PL yesterday with Merchant and Order. I’m not that dude just toxically hunting fresh spawns.

    I like the idea of SS. I just don’t want THAT to become the game when that IS NOT a good representation of the game.
    A beautiful part of this game is meeting people from all over! You lock down private PVE servers and it’s gone.
    I sail with a dude from Amsterdam mainly and the guy I helped yesterday was from the UK. I’ve been sailing with the guy from Amsterdam for 2+ years.

    This game can truly bring people together. I look at the toxic young bots like people in the gym on Jan 1. Is it super annoying? YUP! But they’ll get bored and leave.

    All I am advocating for is don’t make SS so comfortable that people just stay in a sheltered existence. I’m not trying to be political at all here actually APOLITICAL. GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND MEET PEOPLE!!!

    I have learned soooo much about different cultures and views and concerns from simply playing and talking with people. I have met so really great individuals in this game!!!

    Why do I have this I only pvp and hunt everyone stigma when that’s not the truth at all.

    I respect wanting to preserve the original playstyle. I don't mean to imply all pvp players are rabid either. My favorite MMO even in its latest version, has had both kinds of servers pvp, or pve, no transfers allowed between them though, but that was the only restriction, so I guess that is what colors my opinion. The servers were busy too.

    I do think pve progression should be nerfed if transfers are allowed. I also think safer seas would be fine with 5 ships per, though I suspect there is a technical obstacle to that right now.

    I agree about meeting people. I relate. We had folks from everywhere and made a lot of friends. I'm wishing SS was multi-ship and not isolated for that reason.

    I think looking at the conversation we basically agree on most of this.

  • Jon Sea Nah
    Master
    Insider

    @valhalla-sky the main area of friction I think we hit is, I believe there should never be a PVE only server option with other ships and full use of everything in High Seas.

    I wish for SS to remain an extended tutorial and a safer space to learn how the game works at a deeper level before meeting other players.

  • Valhalla Sky
    Seafarer
    Insider

    @jon-sea-nah Fair 👍

    I'm going to throw out a couple examples to consider. Ark SE had both, and no issues I'm aware of. GTA Online nerfed business progression and disabled some missions in the 'safe' instances, and it seemed fine. Conan exiles gives pvp, pve, and a mixed thing called pve combat(?) seemingly with no issues.

    I don't think you are wrong to have your position, but I have a hard time seeing a threat here to the survival of the game. I also don't feel the friction. Maybe we can team sometime?

    Fair seas 🍀

  • Jon Sea Nah
    Master
    Insider

    @valhalla-sky by friction I meant more so in our stance not personally 😁

    I think maybe IF the game started with the options then maybe it’d be different idk 🤷🏼‍♂️ I think now it’s a thing of if SS had everything equal to HS but just PVE, why would anyone wanting to do anything other than just pvp do HS? If all the bonuses and perks were the same why would you ever chance loosing?

    The environment kinda thrives with all things present. The tuckers and thief’s need PVE to steal/attempt to steal from, the promise of gold/safety can cause alliances to exist, pvp lords who care nothing for the loot keep the other two in check. The tuckers/thief’s will usually fight the pvp lords as they do value the loot and that keeps pvp in check. And sometimes during the heat of battle those sneaky PVE lords dip with the treasure.

    If you delete PVE from the environment it turns into HG large map, it just leaves servers empty of truly feeling alive.

  • Valhalla Sky
    Seafarer
    Insider

    @jon-sea-nah
    I think people would pvp for the pure adrenaline rush. I guess it might be different here. In Ark SE, pvp mean't risking weeks, months or even years of hard work. In my case I acquired guilt from perfectly legit things I did to other peoples creations. I like fighting bullies but I didn't want to become one. So yay for SS. I hope it brings people in. 🍀👍

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