Improving Solo Player Experience in High Seas by Fairness, Rewards and Ambush Prevention

@psyco798401

What's preventing you from seeing other ships approaching? Can't defend themselves, wait what?? Structurally weaker?!?!? You do realize sloops take the longest to sink, right?
Also, you know you earn 100% gold in Safer Seas yes?

I’m gonna be so honest with you, it sounds like this post was AI Generated, no offence. How can a player be “structurally weaker”?

As a solo sloop player, I often get sunk by ships approaching from behind without any chance to notice or react.

You mean the big ship size doesnt give it away? Or idk...looking around the large open waters.

frustrating experience for solo players, who are structurally weaker and cannot defend themselves effectively when playing alone.

Solo was never a way to play. Sloop was meant to be used for two pirates, never just one. But that why we chose to sail it alone often, turn out it was easy and simple. It also...Hard Mode. Choice not something people want, but it happens.

The introduction of Safer Seas was a good step, but it does not solve the issue for players who want to enjoy the full game.

SS was designed for Families and longer tutorial. Not meant to be a solo experience.

I kindly ask the development team to consider introducing a mechanic that helps solo players avoid completely unexpected ambushes

Looking for Group, hire a player to be your eyes. :/ Or use SS to keep an eye out, learn where to park your ship and face directions most ships come from.

Guys, I didn’t ask you to agree with me, and I certainly don’t want to change the game mode that everyone enjoys. I’m just saying that I play solo because I don’t have friends who play Rare’s title, and on the High Seas it’s easy to run into crews that “steamroll” you even if you’re not looking for a fight. And I repeat: how am I supposed to steer the ship and fire the cannons all by myself?Those who say you still earn 100% of the gold are right, but it’s undeniable that there are limitations in Safer Seas. So don’t get mad — I’m simply saying that playing solo becomes complicated, and you can’t just reduce the discussion to “then don’t play alone.” I should be free to play solo if I want, and it shouldn’t be frustrating.Lastly, to the person who said my message was created by AI: yes, it was created by AI, but only because I had it translated into English from my native language, and since I was already there, I had it polished a bit.

@psyco798401 said in Improving Solo Player Experience in High Seas by Fairness, Rewards and Ambush Prevention:

The introduction of Safer Seas was a good step, but it does not solve the issue for players who want to enjoy the full game. The reduced rewards make it an unsuitable alternative for those who want to progress normally. I personally would like to earn standard High Seas rewards while still having some form of protection when I do not wish to engage in combat.

If you play Safer Seas, you limit the game by not having other crews around, it stands to reason that it would also limit the PvP oriented parts of the game (Reaper & Athena voyages, no Emissary), i.e. the ones where you have a higher chance of encountering other hostile crews.

I kindly ask the development team to consider introducing a mechanic that helps solo players avoid completely unexpected ambushes, or at least provides a minimum reaction window before being attacked. This would not remove PvP, but would make encounters fairer and less punishing for solo players, improving the overall experience without changing the identity of the game.

If you're being attacked by a Reaper, their Emissary flag is visible on the map; other crews also don't appear out of nowhere (unless there is a bug with the diving mechanic that lets them spawn -almost- next to you; but I don't think that happens anymore).

As a crew that wants to avoid PvP combat you need to pay attention to the map, your surroundings (e.g. by using the spy glass) and the server in general; e.g. if your voyage takes you close to a World Event, you might want to consider other options or increase your vigilance.

Playing solo makes it that you can't share those duties, but that is a choice. There is Looking for Groups/Crews/Guilds on this forum and the discord; there is even an Open Crew option in the game, though I've heard that can be a worse experience than getting sunk as a solo...

I think there are enough tools.

@psyco798401 Maybe a ghostly companion, that offers random irrelevant commentary for company and moral support, but will also call out "ship sighted" so long as you are on your ship to hear it?

@europa4033 Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't trading company progression capped at 25 in Safer Seas? You also cannot use emissary flags to increase reward multipliers....

That is hardly the "same rewards" as High Seas, since gold is ultimately pointless, and most of us have millions of unspent gold on our pirates.

@boneheart1237 Seems pretty straight forward to me... When examining the structure of crew vs solo gaming, a structure of a solo game experience is weaker than a crewed game experience. (structure doesn't always mean physicality, it also applies to organization of a system)

This question is going to sound like I'm being snarky but I swear that is not my intention. I am asking as someone who has not played that many video games and is genuinely curious if you have a recommendation. What video games are there where one player can go up against four working together, and still have a decent chance of winning (i.e. better than they do on Sea of Thieves)?

This isn't saying you're wrong. This is just my personal opinion on how the game should work. Being outnumbered should be difficult. Being attacked by a fully manned galleon as a solo sloop should be brutal; it should feel unfair; you should be fighting tooth and nail from start to finish, and be pretty certain you're not getting out of this alive. In my experience there is no quest, or voyage, or commendation that beats the high of sinking a bigger ship and bigger crew that saw you as easy pickings. That can only happen if the bigger ship and bigger crew has the much better chance of winning.

The opportunity, to (very very occasionally) come out on top when all the odds are heavily stacked against you is part of the game's identity.

@captain-pwnsy said in Improving Solo Player Experience in High Seas by Fairness, Rewards and Ambush Prevention:

@europa4033 Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't trading company progression capped at 25 in Safer Seas? You also cannot use emissary flags to increase reward multipliers....

That is hardly the "same rewards" as High Seas, since gold is ultimately pointless, and most of us have millions of unspent gold on our pirates.

Emissary system's bonusses are there because of higher risks. Reapers are visible on the map all the time; Guild Emissaries become visisble to all when reaching grade 5 and other Emmissaries become visible to Reapers on the map when the Reaper becomes grade 5.

The pennant and flag at the aft are visible from a large distance, signifying to other crews that you might have loot on board and at least have the pennant/flag as loot (desirable because of commendations and its value).

Why should this sytem of gaining bonusses apply on Safer Seas where there are no other crews to raise the risk of flying one ?

What's next ? Hour Glass Allegiance on Safer Seas where you try to sink your own ship from a Fort's cannon tower ?

@psyco798401 I understand where your at. I also am a solo player. Ive learned a few tricks to speed up the sell and such and while I do wish we could use our own ship or perhaps a private ship that ONLY sails in safer seas to progress, not sure if thats ever going to come. If you want a partner to play with sometime Id sail with you. zaknafien2003 is my Gtag. I generally hang in safer seas anymore since all my homies quit and just grind gold.

As a solo player, I like the challenge of playing on hard mode. I dont want them to make it easy. If I wanted easy, I'd play on safer seas. I used to dislike PVP until I started pvping. Now I can defend myself. I was in an Hourglass fight and had a extra boat come in and had to 3v1 on my sloop, which I was able to handle. Is a gally or a Brig going to come after a sloop? Probably because why not...its easier to fight a smaller player number, but that doesnt mean they will win.

Playing solo is a challenge yes, but its not unattainable to do. I do it daily and frankly I'm better at soloing than duoing. I dont deserve for a game to be easier because I choose to sail solo. Keep your eyes on the horizon, eyes on the map, sell as frequently as you want. Don't let your guard down. There's a learning curve to the solo game. I'm not trying to sound mean, I just dont think I should be given anything extra because I choose to play solo.

@psyco798401 said in Improving Solo Player Experience in High Seas by Fairness, Rewards and Ambush Prevention:

Guys, I didn’t ask you to agree with me, and I certainly don’t want to change the game mode that everyone enjoys. I’m just saying that I play solo because I don’t have friends who play Rare’s title, and on the High Seas it’s easy to run into crews that “steamroll” you even if you’re not looking for a fight. And I repeat: how am I supposed to steer the ship and fire the cannons all by myself?Those who say you still earn 100% of the gold are right, but it’s undeniable that there are limitations in Safer Seas. So don’t get mad — I’m simply saying that playing solo becomes complicated, and you can’t just reduce the discussion to “then don’t play alone.” I should be free to play solo if I want, and it shouldn’t be frustrating.Lastly, to the person who said my message was created by AI: yes, it was created by AI, but only because I had it translated into English from my native language, and since I was already there, I had it polished a bit.

You set the wheel, the ship turns by itself, and you hop on cannons. If the turn needs adjusting, you hop off cannons, readjust wheel, and continue on cannons.

Yes, it's easy to find players who wish to steamroll you. Just as you don't owe anyone a fight, no one owes you a pass. Ship defense comes into play here, where you know the intricacies of the type of ship you're sailing on.

You don't want to change the gamemode, while asking the devs to "introduce a mechanic that helps solo players avoid completely unexpected ambushes, or at least provide a minimum reaction window before being attacked," which is changing the gamemode.

Yes, playing solo becomes complicated at times. Yet, this is what and how YOU choose to play. I could've sworn you just said you weren't looking to change the gamemode.

Noticed you didn't answer the first question: "What is preventing you from seeing other ships approaching?"

@captain-pwnsy said in Improving Solo Player Experience in High Seas by Fairness, Rewards and Ambush Prevention:

@europa4033 Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't trading company progression capped at 25 in Safer Seas? You also cannot use emissary flags to increase reward multipliers....

That is hardly the "same rewards" as High Seas, since gold is ultimately pointless, and most of us have millions of unspent gold on our pirates.

Yes. This is because Safer Seas is an extension of the Maiden Tutorial, and not where the main game resides. You can still earn rep up to level 25 (used to be 40), and you earn 100% of gold value (used to be 30%). Safer Seas isn't going to give the "same rewards" as high seas, nor should it ever. With that said, it's still incredibly helpful to newer players trying to earn gold to buy their first ship, not someone looking to escape being attacked because they can't see ships approaching for whatever reason.

I’m reading all your messages, and many of them have given me really useful tips to help me navigate on my own. Thanks to everyone who read, criticized, and advised me. You’ve convinced me that this is the right way to play it adds that extra layer of challenge. Sure, it’s not easy: while you’re sailing you have to run up on deck to check the map, and when you’re at the helm and under attack you need to manage the course, the sails, and even the cannons… but I think that if you all can do it, sooner or later I’ll manage too. Anyway, if someone wants to sail with me, feel free to add me as a friend my Gamertag is the same as my nickname here on the forum. I’d love to experience the joy of cooperative play.