In this post I'll be discussing my opinion of the Beta Release of the game, as well as additions and changes that I feel could make the game explode even more possibilities. Feel free to skip ahead to my actual ideas, and please comment and converse!
When I saw game play of Sea of Thieves for the first time off of Vertigo's channel, I was blown away. I'd never seen a game with such realistic and in-depth sailing mechanics, and the waves... oh my god the waves. I had to convince myself I wouldn't spend another $60 on a video game, but I caved very quickly, within an hour in fact. So I pre-order, push through the challenges of accessing closed-beta, and suddenly every effort was worth it. I was in the game- no: I was in the world. I've always loved the ocean and boats and pirates, and I've always been on the lookout for games with sailing. Until recently, somewhat satisfied with the use of imagination was the best experience I could get. With Sea of Thieves how ever, I wasn't just satisfied, I had found the game I'd been wanting my whole like. A game where you have to manage the sails and anchor realistically, a game which depends on a crew (or being an absolute legend which I have found I am not), a game where you can crash over the waves, see the spray, and be a bloody pirate! Assassins Creed IV was the closest I'd ever gotten to that feeling, and even then over time it became boring and too easy. Rare, you have truly outdone yourself with this game, and I have no doubt that the effort and time you've put into this work of art is going to attract a huge audience of gamers. This is my third day in the game, and I've already convinced about five other people they have to check out the game, and now they can't wait for release either. I have very high hopes for what Sea of Thieves will become, and as the sun sets on my little window of experience with it so far in closed-beta, I can only think of what I'll find on March 20th. A mug of grog to you!
Things that could drastically improve the game
That being said, after playing I've noticed a few places where there is a huge opportunity to add on to this already amazing world.
Rowboats
I've been finding a lot of people who both support and don't support this idea. Many of those against it argue that they'd be redundant since we already have human cannons, and the sword trick to slide across the water. However, rowboats aren't just about getting somewhere, they're about getting something somewhere, and by this I mean treasure. We all know how much of a hassle it can be to carry our loot back and forth from our ship, especially with sharks nippin' our toes every second. Whenever I have to do it, I always get the impression there should be an alternative, such as rowboats. The ability to load chest into rowboats, and more or less safely get it back to the ship would fill this gap, and save us pirates a lot of time. It would also mean we wouldn't be beaching our ships to try and get close, because that's simply not what pirates and sailors did back then. There is also the possibility of a new strategy of abandoning a ship, or sneaking up to an enemy boat party using a discrete little boat. I think they'd be better than cannons and swords because neither strategy works with chests, and one is a glitch while the other is funny, yes, but unrealistic. I also know there are people who would consider this as dumbing-down a game that's supposed to be about skill and teamwork, and if done right I assure you this wouldn't be the case. Rowboats should not be a get-out-of-a-shark's-mouth-free card, but would in fact open to door to making sharks even more fearsome. Charging into and knocking over (or capsizing) the tiny boats is one way to make sure that sharks remain a constant threat, and to balance it further they could be shot at to cancel their charge and temporarily prevent tipping over. If a boat does get tipped over, it would then be a game of pushing it so it's up right again, and collecting all of the scattered chests back into the boat. The boat could then be rowed over to your ship, clipped onto a rope, and lifted up out of the water. These features would add a whole new dynamic to island hopping, and more things to worry about, such as a dark figure beneath the waves and the tip of a fin heading straight for your little dingy as you struggle to get back to your ship. It would also open up new possibilities in other areas.
Sharks
Sharks are yet another thing I feel Rare has gotten better than most, and while huge swarms are often terrifying, there's nothing really scary about a single shark, or even two or three. They can be easily gunned down or dodged, and this doesn't really fit with the kind of creatures they are at all. Rather than a hassle during a skirmish at sea, they should be a force that when there fins break the surface, even skilled pirates are afraid to plunge after an enemy ship. The simple solution to this is stat changes, making them stronger, faster, more agile, and harder to kill. This would pair well with the rowboat and the tipping-over mechanic, so that you'd really be afraid of falling in. I also feel like there's an opportunity for sharks to act like true hunters of pirates, and have a behavior that will occasionally make them circle players down in the water below, watching them until they're ready to rush up and attack the player. A move like this could be made into and instant-kill move, and it would add another level of fear if players happened to look down and see 2 or 3 sharks circling below them. Changes like this would make sharks a force to be reckoned with when you're out swimming in their territory, and would make rowboats all the more valuable, and it would makes ships feel like even more of a safe haven in a dangerous ocean. Players would soon learn to fear the fin.
Ropes
Yes! Ropes! Why have a ship with ropes, but not be able to use those ropes to do things like dock or pull ships together? I basic rope tool would be an amazing addition, and it could work like this: rope is a resource you find in game, and you can tie it to various objects such as a cleat on a boat or dock, or maybe a tree branch. (A possible feature is acquiring rope based on length and not a number of strands, this way you would be limited in how long it could get). Once one end has been tied to an object, depending on how big it is the player can either pull the object to them, or pull themselves to the object using primary and secondary use buttons (left and right click on a pc). This would open a world of potential including perfect docking, that stills requires you to get close enough to the dock to use the rope, it would just finish the job and prevent you from having to unrealistically drop your anchor while in a harbor. If you're standing on the dock with the rope on the boat, depending on how many people are pulling their own ropes, and how big the boat is, you could eventually pull it right up to the dock and tie it up. (I'm into boating myself and I would love to see this very real mechanic added in). The same would be true if the rope was on the dock and you were on the boat, the boat would slowly be pulled in and attached. Rope could also be used to climb down into new cave-like areas without a ladder, or if a grappling hook is attached to one end it could be thrown and used like that as well. This would also pair well with the harpoon gun I've been hearing rumors about, maybe so that once the gun is shot, the rope transfers to the player's hands, and they now can pull or release. This would really add to the need for docks, and coordinated docking (as opposed to just plopping anchor somewhere near the port) would be another aspect require teamwork, or again being a legend.
Doors
I must admit that this would probably be an especially difficult task to achieve, but then again Rare was able to sync waves in multiplayer (@bethesda). I feel like it's too easy for someone to sneak on a ship while a crew is on a nearby island, and have full access to it. If doors and grates could be opened and closed (at least on the big ship), this would require enemies to perhaps lock pick (which takes time and risks being caught ), or shoot the locks (which makes noise and risks being caught), or maybe just drop a gunpowder barrel and blow the door (refer to shooting the locks). Doors should definitely not stop trespassers completely, but maybe just make it more difficult for randoms to just hop on a ship and run throughout without a care in the world. Besides I like the idea of locking myself up in my captain's cabin while my crew deals with a storm outside. I don't feel as strongly about this issue, and I understand the complications involved, but adding doors would just be another brilliant reason to get Sea of Thieves over any other pirate game.
Games
Games inside of a game, why not? It's no secret that a lot of time is spent simply at the wheel appreciating the beauty of Sea of Thieves, but sometimes I'm in the mood for something more than sightseeing, like crew bonding. I won't lie, playing instruments drunk is hilarious and funny as hell on long voyages with crew mates, but it doesn't have to be the only option for passing the time together. Little mini games like checkers, dice, or cards would be a great addition to the often busy deck of a galleon. It would also further Rare's desire to have crews and relationships be personal.
Other Little Features
Ships already have a lot to do and I love it. Yet there are very little intractables to play around with on a voyage. The captain's quarters are beautifully designed, and every time I walk in there I just want to touch things and mess around, but I'm fairly limited. Little additions like being able to sit in chairs and lie down on beds add a lot to the game. Things like bunks in the lower decks would be a nice touch to the bigger ships. I don't have very many specific ideas for this section, just sort of the general idea that filling ships with tools, gadgests, gismos, and secrets would keep voyages interesting. This is why I suggest rowboat lifts, movable doors, and games. Messing around with things is just fun!
Anyways those are some of the ideas that I have for the game. I tend to be someone who pays attention to detail and loves having features added that make me feel more connected with my surroundings. Towns for example could also use so more to do in them along the lines of minigames or other things to interact with. That way it'll encourage players to stop off on land for a night and watch the stars. I'd have to say rowboats remain one of my biggest wishes though.
Good luck to the amazing people and the work they've done at Rare. I can't wait to see what you've added by March 20th, and I can't wait to see what you add after. You've done an amazing job. Thank you.
Once again feel free to comment your opinions, suggestions, and even correct my grammar if you wanna be a little a**e ;D
