this post is a bit indicative of how skewed feedback is on this game (and also why we've ended up with a megathread to lock away pve v pvp arguments).
someone is giving their honest feedback on the game and there are a bunch of people attacking and defending like their paid to do so instead of helping someone find the hidden treasure that is in this game.
maybe you don't mean to come off as aggressive as it reads, but the start of this thread reads pretty hostile.
just to break down some of the arguments here:
32 hours isn't enough time... yeah it is. it most definitely is. if someone has put 32 hours into a game to try it out and they haven't found it fun yet, you can't say "just play a few hundred hours more and then it becomes fun". if you watched a season of some TV show and said "this show isn't for me" the correct response is not "well obviously you need to watch until season 6 before you enjoy it". 32 hours is enough time to finish a lot of games. 32 hours is a good go at trying something out to see if it's worth your commitment. most people would have made up their minds long before this.
you're too new, you're playing with veterans... i mean this is probably true. a lot of players have been playing for a long time. but if this is a gate to playing the game then there's a big problem as no new blood means that the game will wither and die. and if all the new blood are being scared off by a hostile environment then that will become an issue. not only that but time spent doesn't always equate to skill. it does help learning the ins and outs, but after a point new players should be as comfortable as old players. is the learning curve too steep? then the game needs to address this. if not then what's the point in saying they're too new?
you're playing it wrong... no. the game allows for single player. if this were playing it wrong then, by allowing it, the game is badly designed. some people are much more helpful and point out that the game is more enjoyable in crews and balances better in crews and that is true. it's also a much less hostile way of getting the point across.
but if a game allows you to play single player and the people playing single player feel massively disadvantaged then there is a balance issue there. and this has resulted in various changes in the game already as the developers understand that some of their events are far too severe for solo sloopers.
you just need to team up... the game is definitely better teamed up, but similar to the previous point - the game allows solo play and a lot of new players will start there to test the water before branching wider. also - not everyone is able to get the time to crew up when they have game time. we all have real life responsibilities that can impact our ability to get into a big long session with friends (and those are the most fun sessions). a small skim of this forum also brings up a lot of issues with open crews and sailing with randoms which we all know can be very hit or miss.
the game can do a lot more to be "new player friendly". originally there wasn't even any intro on how to play. now there's a maiden voyage that at least explains the basics. you can't expect new players to do loads of research on a game to figure out exactly what it is and how to play before they play it. reading the store page is likely the most information a lot of new players will have before trying it out and the game is very much "trial by fire".
now don't get me wrong: i don't think the game is bad - quite the opposite in fact. i think there are some blind spots that need work. i think that there are a few balance issues that could be addressed. it's come a long way from where it was 3 years ago and now and i'm interested in seeing where it's going.
but when someone posts honest feedback about their subjective opinion on something the community should be more supportive. at that point it's possible to win back someone on the verge of leaving by offering help and guidelines. this is a game where sometimes you need to be shown where the fun is to dig it up.
extremely aggressive defence of the game, borderline attacking the OP for an opinion is how you make them nod their head and think "yep. i made the right choice to leave."
i know most don't mean to come off as so critically harsh, but telling people they're wrong for having a subjective opinion is being aggressive. showing them a different way is being helpful. telling them they're wrong is just going to reinforce their opinion. discussing their opinion with them may open them up to understanding why your opinion is different. you're not always going to convince people, but sometimes they'll see things your way if you show them. they certainly won't see things your way if you just shout at them.
i'm glad i didn't find this forum until after i'd been playing the game for a bit because this place can be pretty unfriendly if you say the wrong thing.
to the OP: thanks for your post. i do hope that you give the game another go, especially with the new seasons releasing soon. it sounds like they have a much more goal oriented approach that rewards smaller bursts of playtime and might be more interesting to a solo sloop approach to the game. i understand your frustrations with the game (i often play solo and know how harsh it is sometimes) and wish i could point you to some good guides or tips & tricks. hopefully someone here can if you're still interested.
if you do manage to get a group playing i'd also suggest giving it a go with friends. even 2 people on a sloop makes such a big difference to the game, even if it's just background something to do while a couple of buds have a beer and shoot the breeze. and if those friends have gamepass it doesn't cost them anything to try it.
but i also appreciate that sometimes some games are just not your thing. if you have any major points of frustration that you can identify and expand on, or any suggestions that would have eased you into the game more then i'm sure Rare would love the feedback, and the more detailed you can be the better.
either way, i hope you have fun gaming, whatever you choose to play
