Horrible stories, a question and suggestion: Tell Tales and the story of people ruining peoples fun.

  • CyberRose101
    Rogue

    So I have a problem, a question, and finally a suggestion. When the game first arrived on steam my friends and I bought the game. Problem is, whenever we try to do tell tales, people show up and kill us, the pursue us once we respond, and again, and again.
    We try talking to them and their responses is either
    "it sea of thieves, play the [Mod edit] game better" "I don't [Mod edit] care" or "I want your loot"

    every time we log on to do tell tales it happens, and today was the worst one yet.

    We were at maruaders arch fighting garrow and the new ghost ship event spawned. We went to defend our ship and start trying to get rid the ghsot ships when another ship arrived. We raised the alliance flag and they attacked us. One of them got on our boat, we told him the situation and he destroyed us. We ended up having to wait over an hour for them to stop attacking us. they went so far to chase us in a brigateen and a fleeing sloop into the red zone. They just wanted to ruin peoples fun.
    We never have loot, we never have a flag up, so why do they find it fun to just destroy us over and over?

    My question is: Why does the game allow this? Why can't there be a way to do tell tales without those murderous pirates always appearing and ruining our fun?
    Can the game PLEASE find a way to help people who don't want to pvp to be safe?
    I only have 2 friends left that I can persuade to play with me, all the others have rage quit. I just want to enjoy the story, defeat skeleton pirates, and have fun with friends and make new friends.

    Suggestion: So maybe make a flag for tell tales that make us immune to pvp. We can still get attacked by skeleton ships, megladons etc, but not trolls. Kind of like the reaper flag that appears on the map, you can show us on the map, and as soon the tellltale ends the flag disappears.
    Even if we gotta buy the flag again after every use. It just sucks that people who aren't even reapers keep ruining the pve aspect.

    Final thoughts and stuff: Has anyone else had this issue? I honestly wasn't going to post anything but after todays incident i feel aweful and nausious.
    Normally when we get attacked I am able to keep my cool and try talk or flee etc. But they kept attacking and swearing etc that I snapped and called them virgins. Yes I know that not the worst insult etc, but I don't like verbal abuse, I don't like being mean. Now I feel aweful and am really thinking of stop playing, I don't want to turn into a miserable sour person. Plus if people want to pvp so much, why do they not fly as a reaper? or play arena mode?

  • Login To Reply
    66
    Posts
    29.7k
    Views
  • Galactic Geek
    Seafarer
    Founder

    Sounds to me like you had a story worth telling. That's kind of the whole point to the game - to have memorable experiences worth sharing. Keep in mind, though, that not all of them will be good. In a shared world, there are winners and there are losers. If you want to be on the winning side, you need to be able to pay attention and ready to defend yourself at all times, even if... No. ESPECIALLY, if they're friendly. Upon the Sea of Thieves trust does not come lightly. Being a greedy, ruthless, cutthroat, and conniving pirate, though? Oh, that's so much easier.

    Keep your head on a swivel. Nowhere is safe. Don't ever fully trust anyone.

    As for the language, if they're being abusive, that is a reportable offense, so feel free to report them to Xbox Live's Enforcement team, or you can report them to support.seaofthieves.com.

    Finally, to answer your last question as to why they didn't fly the Reaper flag or play Arena - because they didn't have to, much less want to. Not flying the flag means that you can be stealthy, and being in Adventure means that some like you won't be expecting it.

  • CyberRose101
    Rogue

    @galactic-geek That is why I want help. On a 3 man voyage one of us is always on guard, leaving two people to do the tell-tale. that means one person everytime we try misses out on the story because we are paronoid of seeing ships now. We get so paronoid.

  • KlutchxKay
    Legend
    Insider

    @cyberrose101 Good, you should be paranoid. Alsays keep an eye on the horizon, you never know when you may need to run or fight. It's all part of the game, and it happens to all of us, just gotta learn to get used to it, and use your tools available to lighten the situation.

  • Galactic Geek
    Seafarer
    Founder

    @cyberrose101 said in Horrible stories, a question and suggestion: Tell Tales and the story of people ruining peoples fun.:

    @galactic-geek That is why I want help. On a 3 man voyage one of us is always on guard, leaving two people to do the tell-tale. that means one person everytime we try misses out on the story because we are paronoid of seeing ships now. We get so paronoid.

    I've done entire TTs without ever being bothered by anyone. It's basically random luck of the draw. You can increase your chances of success during TTs by getting to checkpoints and returning later, or by sailing during off hours when fewer pirates are about due to much needed sleep. Having someone stand watch shouldn't be necessary - you can complete a TT in about an hour if you're quick and have a pretty good idea of what to do.

    Earlier this evening I soloed TT #7, opened up the Ferryman's sarcophagus to collect the lantern, received the checkpoint, and called it a night. I'll pick up where I left off tomorrow.

    When you switch servers or start a new game, just go to your ship's voyage table, and you can choose which TT's checkpoint you want to start (you get 1 per TT).

  • DiabeuZPiekla
    Seafarer

    First off, grow some skin and ignore verbal insults. Treat swearing as an indicator that the enemy crew is very emotional about attacking you, which means they are at the edge of their confidence.

    Secondly, embrace equal footing for everyone. No special flags for crying people. No +10 damage cannons for people grinding day and night. Put some effort in and learn at least the defensive part of pvp. A turn in the right moment followed by chainshot volley or a successful boarding with explosive keg and you'll see how quickly the tide can turn and attackers become defenders.

    As harsh as it will sound this IS Sea of Thieves. No one will make friends with scared sheep. Get some fight into you and become a fearsome pirate yourself. Start by going to youtube and typing "sea of thieves pvp tips", look for newest videos to match the current game version.

  • TheArgonaut144
    Ship Mate

    Well, welcome to the forum. I'm a new steam pc player too, and people will tell you this is the game the devs want based upon the feedback here and you are likely to get the same responses here as you get on the sea.

    I'm also quite fed up with the 'community' but think the problems are:

    *This is an old game we've just joined. Anyone who had a similar mind to us has got fed up and left long ago and this means anyone left is likely to defend the current playstyle.

    *We are new on PC and easy targets, and are probably making lots of mistakes but because anyone who might have been helpful is gone we are left with the learning curve of getting sunk halfway through every voyage and yelled at. Maybe turning off the cross play might help us avoid the 2 year plus players who target new players.

    *the only way the community is going to get better is when people who are peaceful and helpful stay, and this is the issue with the community. Players who are peaceful are very unlikely to stay in high enough numbers to dilute the experience for new players, and the cycle begins again.

    The real toxicity is yet to come, when pc players get so fed up they go and buy a hack and smash the bejeesus out of everyone with impunity.

    There might be some good news though. In last October update the devs comfirmed there'd be private servers, although whether that's pc players hosting servers for like minded people is what is actually going to happen I have no idea.

    I think Rare, and this forum need to brace themselves for the massive slew of PvE threads that are incoming with the launch on steam, and with steam review bombing being a thing a heap of negative reviews detailing the poor state of the community will eventually damage sales. In fact I suggest you go and leave a review when you get the chance to help prevent other players ending up where we are. I will be urging everyone who has brought the game on PC to do the same thing.

    I'd just like to host my own private server for like minded people. Problem is the suggestion appears to be offensive for a large part of the current player base.

  • Galactic Geek
    Seafarer
    Founder

    @theargonaut144 Private servers are only going to be available for special occasions, like with community events that may require it.

    As for helpful pirates, I've been around since the closed alpha and still frequently help new pirates. In fact, it's in the Pirate Code. The problem is, it's impossible to tell who's new and who isn't. Some veteran Sea Dogs will even make themselves appear new and inexperienced with the sailor look in order to bait others into attacking them.

    1. THE PIRATE CODE
    2. CODE OF CONDUCT
  • Shadow20642
    Marauder
    Insider

    This game isn't an MMO where there are thousands of ships. There There is only a handful.
    So a flag making you immune to pvp wouldn't work.

    I understand you don't want to be sunk. But you must understand there are those that want to sink ships.

    If you don't want that to happen then defend your ship.
    We pirates are pirates. Someone having a hostile play style is fun and should not be changed.
    If you want to play peaceful you have 2 options. Fight or flight.

  • Galactic Geek
    Seafarer
    Founder

    @daringclarky said in Horrible stories, a question and suggestion: Tell Tales and the story of people ruining peoples fun.:

    If you want to play peaceful you have 2 options. Fight or flight.

    Actually, you have 5 options:

    1. Fight back
    2. Run away
    3. Freeze in terror
    4. Hide somewhere else
    5. Surrender to your assailant(s)
  • KlutchxKay
    Legend
    Insider

    @theargonaut144 DO NOT go leaving bad reviews because you bought a game assuming it was something it wasn't. That is going to kill this game just because of your failure to do research/dedicate time to understand the game that you bought.

    "This game is bad because I wasn't expecting there to be Pirates on this open world ruleless sandbox game"

  • DrMachetefinger
    Castaway

    @klutchxking518 said in Horrible stories, a question and suggestion: Tell Tales and the story of people ruining peoples fun.:

    @theargonaut144 DO NOT go leaving bad reviews because you bought a game assuming it was something it wasn't. That is going to kill this game just because of your failure to do research/dedicate time to understand the game that you bought.

    "This game is bad because I wasn't expecting there to be Pirates on this open world ruleless sandbox game"

    That's a pretty strong argument to be making coming from somebody who said paranoia was 'part of the game' when negative reviews for products taken negatively is very much part of life.

    The reality is he's partially right. Annoying, stupid, obsessive players get obsessed with griefing, or attempting to, anyway. When I kick somebody's teeth in nine or ten times and they keep coming, it gets tedious when I want to focus my energy elsewhere.

    When it's literally the same player or players repetitiously making themselves a nuisance because there is zero risk with death/sinking for nuisance players, there is a fundamentally broken mechanic at play.

    PvP fights are a highlight of the game, but when a person is acting obsessively and theoretically should have effectively 'died' the first time you killed them, you end up being actively punished for winning fights and actively rewarded for losing.

    That is, again, a fundamentally broken mechanic. If I bought a game and it had other mechanics that rebound my keys at random or recorded losses where I won or any other broken mechanic, any person would be justified in burying it under bad reviews. Why should another broken mechanic that rewards dying and punishes winning be any different?

  • KlutchxKay
    Legend
    Insider

    @drmachetefinger You make it sound as if none of these things are advertised. But they are, loud and clear. Devs have said many many times, forums have said even more, even trailers haved said that nowhere is safe, and anything can happen at any moment.

    So you're saying you want to leave a bad review because you failed to read the description of a game or do your research before buying it? Don't make the game look bad just because you messed up on your own part.

  • DrMachetefinger
    Castaway

    @klutchxking518 said in Horrible stories, a question and suggestion: Tell Tales and the story of people ruining peoples fun.:

    @drmachetefinger You make it sound as if none of these things are advertised. But they are, loud and clear. Devs have said many many times, forums have said even more, even trailers haved said that nowhere is safe, and anything can happen at any moment.

    So you're saying you want to leave a bad review because you failed to read the description of a game or do your research before buying it? Don't make the game look bad just because you messed up on your own part.

    Why not? I've advertised many times that I'll leave bad reviews if I have a bad experience.

    You're saying I shouldn't leave a bad review because you failed to read my description of what I'd do?

  • wagstr
    Master
    Insider

    @theargonaut144 said in Horrible stories, a question and suggestion: Tell Tales and the story of people ruining peoples fun.:

    Well, welcome to the forum. I'm a new steam pc player too, and people will tell you this is the game the devs want based upon the feedback here and you are likely to get the same responses here as you get on the sea.

    Because in the main part this is true, let's not get away from that fact.

    I'm also quite fed up with the 'community' but think the problems are:

    *This is an old game we've just joined. Anyone who had a similar mind to us has got fed up and left long ago and this means anyone left is likely to defend the current playstyle.

    There is not a 'current playstyle', people play the game how it was intended, they have adventures and fun.

    *We are new on PC and easy targets, and are probably making lots of mistakes but because anyone who might have been helpful is gone we are left with the learning curve of getting sunk halfway through every voyage and yelled at. Maybe turning off the cross play might help us avoid the 2 year plus players who target new players.

    This is simply not true, one or two griefers who persistently attack can easily make it seem like it's everybody. You share a big old server with no more than five other ships, it's easy to avoid them. Stay away from forts or world event beacons (ghostfleets etc) in general if you are new because everybody will head towards these.

    *the only way the community is going to get better is when people who are peaceful and helpful stay, and this is the issue with the community. Players who are peaceful are very unlikely to stay in high enough numbers to dilute the experience for new players, and the cycle begins again.

    There is truth in this, there are three types of people in this game imo, the type that just want peace and quiet PvE, the type who like PvE and also to fight but like to drink grog and play shanties with other pirates if they are no threat to them and then the ones who just want to sink everyone and everything and nick their loot. If all the first category all leave en-masse then those in the first and the second categories both miss out on some interesting and fun encounters. We do need to water down the psycho's, agreed. It's really good fun hunting down and sinking them though btw!

    The real toxicity is yet to come, when pc players get so fed up they go and buy a hack and smash the bejeesus out of everyone with impunity.

    There might be some good news though. In last October update the devs comfirmed there'd be private servers, although whether that's pc players hosting servers for like minded people is what is actually going to happen I have no idea.

    I think Rare, and this forum need to brace themselves for the massive slew of PvE threads that are incoming with the launch on steam, and with steam review bombing being a thing a heap of negative reviews detailing the poor state of the community will eventually damage sales. In fact I suggest you go and leave a review when you get the chance to help prevent other players ending up where we are. I will be urging everyone who has brought the game on PC to do the same thing.

    I'd just like to host my own private server for like minded people. Problem is the suggestion appears to be offensive for a large part of the current player base.

    I warned of a slew of PvE threads a week before the Steam release. Remember there are a lot and I mean a LOT of people who follow the pirate code and will help patch up another ship if they realise they are on a tall tale or new to the game myself included. Don't give up and keep yer head down!

  • CyberRose101
    Rogue

    I'd just like to host my own private server for like minded people. Problem is the suggestion appears to be offensive for a large part of the current player base.

    Same

  • CyberRose101
    Rogue

    Thanks for all the posts by the way, and everyone is actually pretty chill.
    But there are a few things I think people have misinterpreted.

    1. it not just 2 or 3 people per game. It is 2-4 people per ships. WE often save and log off servers and restart on a new one, to find another ship or two waiting to kill random people for fun.

    2. I don't mind pvp. When BOTH ships can a)fight b) both want to attack eachother and c) not trapped in the middle of a ghost event that spawned on top fo them and now they are bucketing like mad lads and en enemy ship sneaks up on them.
      (that last one has happened multiple times sadly)

    3. I dislike abusive people as it reminds me of real-life. So me calling someone a virjin today mad me have flashbacks of how I have been msitreated in real-life. Yes this is a bit dark but I play games to escape reality, not to find a mirror image in a game.

    4. Yes the game was advertised to have a pvp element. What they did not advertised was people who been playing for months and are now bored going around ruining peoples fun. I once spent 2 hours sailing and doing anchor turns to try and shake people. People literally strategizing on where you going to hide was not advertised. People verbally abusing you for wanting an alliance was not advertised. People swearing at you because you want to follow the pirate conduct, was not advertised.

    5. I wanted to play pve, and once I felt confident I was going to do areana. Might not now though as there is plenty of pvp in the story mode.

    Anyway thanks everyone for commenting so far. Also what does people think about the flag idea? or a more passive way for dealing with the problem? So far people have been saying fight back or get tougher skin. I want a peaceful idea. Like the private server idea was good.

  • wagstr
    Master
    Insider

    @cyberrose101

    I've no idea why you are so unlucky, as stated in several posts previously it is not uncommon for me to go an entire session without even seeing another player ship, let alone being attacked by one..

    Because of the nature of the game it's easy to start a 'final boss battle' immediately if you wish to. This would not be advisable in any game and avoiding them is not hiding. There is plenty of other stuff to be doing to cut your teeth and get some much needed experience before you jump in at the deep end..

  • DiabeuZPiekla
    Seafarer

    @cyberrose101

    [mod edited] what made you think it's a good idea to play a game about pirates stealing things from each other where often stakes are high and it's no surprise that not everyone will keep their cool all the time?

  • Genuine Heather
    Captain
    Insider

    @cyberrose101 said in Horrible stories, a question and suggestion: Tell Tales and the story of people ruining peoples fun.:

    We were at maruaders arch fighting garrow and the new ghost ship event spawned.

    This is one thing I think we all could see coming, and a really legitimate problem. People here know I'm not in favor of any "PvE mode" because I believe the threat of PvP is a big part of the game. There's a definite learning curve. One must learn how to avoid entanglements with other ships by keeping an eye on the horizon, having a plan of action, etc. There's always a chance another vessel might spot you and decide to attack. But you could manage that risk by keeping a low profile.

    The new ghost ship event put a giant red bullseye on this crew's hull. The ghost ships are a PvP magnet, so it's no surprise they got ganked. They were in the middle of a big battle of their own. Flameheart really trolled these people hard in this case. There's nothing basic about the ghost ship battles. But now in some cases it's unavoidable, if you want to complete your basic voyages or Tall Tales. I don't think that's exactly fair.

    What's the solution? I'm not sure, honestly. Maybe we need an extended map, with extra islands where Flameheart's fleet can take over without causing people to lose their voyages or TTs.

    As for the basic complaint of PvP and Tall Tales...I'm sorry, but it's all part of the game. Sea of Thieves is a game of skill, and sometimes you will lose. Tall Tales are somewhat safer now that there are checkpoints, so you don't lose all your progress if you happen to get sunk. You can even leave the server now, if necessary, to get away from especially persistent crews (being polite). So don't take it too hard. Just get back out there and try again.

    I'm totally sympathetic about getting ganked by Flameheart, though.

  • LucianSanchez82
    Legend
    Boatswain
    Founder

    @cyberrose101 Sorry to see you're having a hard time, this game is by design very brutal, despite it's cartoonish look.

    I think firstly you need to appreciate the focus of this game. It's a shared world in which the real threat comes from the possibility of being attacked by other players. That really is the point of it - put a bunch of crews in to the same space, and let them forge their own piratey adventures, unaware of the other crews intent. With that in mind, you should always expect to encounter other players at any time, and not always on your terms.

    My advice, coming from someone who played the game from before it released, and long before things like Tall Tales were available. You and your crew should consider setting the Tall Tales to one side and spend some time better learning the mechanincs of the game. Go out and intentionally seek to fight others so that you can learn and gain experience in combat (both ship to ship and player to player), learn more awareness, and generally have a better handle on the games mechanics.

    Bottom line is, this is a shared world game. Designed to have a constant threat of encountering other players at any time you're in it, whether you like it or not. That being it's foundation, should never change in my opinion. It's something we accept every time we press set sail.

  • wagstr
    Master
    Insider

    @genuine-heather

    My most frustrating moments have been getting gunked by PvE on the way back to an outpost and sinking losing all my loot to Meg and and the Skloops then water goes black and the ultimate griefer joins in.. Much more infuriating and happens more often than getting robbed by players which I can accept..

  • Genuine Heather
    Captain
    Insider

    @wagstr said in Horrible stories, a question and suggestion: Tell Tales and the story of people ruining peoples fun.:

    @genuine-heather

    My most frustrating moments have been getting gunked by PvE on the way back to an outpost and sinking losing all my loot to Meg and and the Skloops then water goes black and the ultimate griefer joins in.. Much more infuriating and happens more often than getting robbed by players which I can accept..

    I understand. Those threats can all be managed with practice. But the ghost ships surrounding the island you happen to be anchored at...that's pretty bad. :)

  • wagstr
    Master
    Insider

    @genuine-heather

    On the contrary I find the ghost fleets much easier than the unholy trinity of Meg, Skloop and Karen all at the same time...

  • CyberRose101
    Rogue

    @wagstr I actually can help you with that problem! :D I am very good at that.
    Megladons only attack if your ship is too slow, or if you in deep water. To not get attacked if the music happens, sail towards an island, it will make the megladon leave. Also Krakens spawn only when there is no events in the sky (the ship cloud, skel fort, etc.) So only sail in open water when you know what the event is.

    Skeleton fleets sadly are annoying, but unless it is the skel cloud, you can either shake them off , or if you cannon them roughly 10 cannon balls they should sink. (at least the ones I verse take 10 cannnon balls.)

  • wagstr
    Master
    Insider

    @cyberrose101

    I know all that thanks, I was referring to them all attacking at the same time.. When you're solo slooping.... Which has happened a few times..

  • CyberRose101
    Rogue

    @wagstr Yikes, you have bad luck with pve, I got bad luck with pvp. Wanna swap? hahaha

  • wagstr
    Master
    Insider

    @cyberrose101

    That was kind of the point of my post.. The game itself and its sometimes wacky PvE can be by far the worst and unfair griefer on these seas. I'll take my chances with a bunch of psychopathic idiots on a Brig any day!

  • KlutchxKay
    Legend
    Insider

    @drmachetefinger So you say that your own mistakes, not the game's, make the game as a whole, bad, and are a reason that players should not invest in it?

  • wagstr
    Master
    Insider

    @klutchxking518 said in Horrible stories, a question and suggestion: Tell Tales and the story of people ruining peoples fun.:

    @drmachetefinger So you say that your own mistakes make the game as a whole, bad, and are a reason that players should not invest in it?

    He also hasn't figured out that it is a very simple matter to rejoin on another server if you are unlucky enough to find a crew like that. There is even a note next to the door on the Ferry spelling it out for you..

  • TheArgonaut144
    Ship Mate

    @klutchxking518 As a customer who has paid money I can leave whatever review I see fit. The Consumer Rights Fairness Act in the US for example, protects a consumers right to post honest and truthful OPINIONS about their experiences. Steam Reviews have been quite a good method of consumers putting some pressure on developers to change their practices or highlight consumer opinion. A lot of positive reviews on Steam for SoT at the moment have less than 5 hours play time, so it's possible the reviews might slowly turn more negative as players experience grief more and more. We'll see what happens.

    @wagstr I have nearly 40 hours and have yet to have a positive experience with another crew. I am still trying to hold out for a single helpful person. In 40 hours. Possibly just absolutely horrible RNG bad luck, but the odds aren't stacked nicely so far - for me at least. Swap servers - same story, servers merge - same story. Sail avoiding everything and everyone to arrive at an island to kill Skelly's for Order of Souls - sunk while I'm on the beach fighting. Nothing on my ship worth having. Same players come by just to sink an empty ship again for grief.

    I even thought I'd spend some time trying to be the nice kind of person I'd like to meet, helpful with nothing on board so there's no reason to sink me. Same story. Sunk over and over again by the same cretins.

    Wait in an outpost hoping to meet new people? Firebombed.

    As for Private Servers... I can hope.

  • wagstr
    Master
    Insider

    @theargonaut144

    I feel for you buddy, that experience is not the same as my own.

    I would advise against hanging out at outposts, grab supplies, do some quick shopping if you need to and then scoot. People returning to outposts are turning in loot and have come to expect the worst from anybody they encounter so generally shoot first..

    You won't meet the same people again and again if you server hop.

  • CyberRose101
    Rogue

    @theargonaut144 I am the same as you, but i have 145 hours clocked. 90/155 achievements, and am athena ranked. Also on steam the negative reviews are starting to grow. I just left my review saying the pro and con of this game.

    I love the islands, the story. But haven't met anyone I can do alliance with. I did find a person once be he just screamed at me to leave him alone, I think he thought I was one those pvp pirates.
    What is wrong with playing a pirate game and working with people to defeat the skeleton pirates. etc.

    until the pvp pirates are fixed I might take a break from the game.

  • CyberRose101
    Rogue

    Also you guys seem to keep saying "just change servers" but people keep saying server hopping doesn't help. Anyway thanks for all the comments on the forum.
    I don't think it really helped me, it kinda helped me realise though how many people have had similar issues though.

  • DutchDeadSchot
    Master
    Insider
    Founder

    @cyberrose101 some of us prefer to be the murderous pirate type, mate

Login To Reply
66
Posts
29.7k
Views
3 out of 66