Disclaimer: I like the PvP element in the game, and am in no way suggesting it be removed. Also brace yourself, because it's story time.
I was eager to get back on the seas yesterday, and booted up the game as soon as I got home. Checked around a bit for whats new, got my treasure map, and set sail. (Side note, I was only able to sail solo. None of the multi-crew options worked. Bronzebeard)
The first chest was no problem, I did spot a small, 2 crew vessel (Baby ship) and a Galleon, but they were at a distance, so I wasn't worried. It was only when I got my 2nd map that our story starts.
The galleon was at the same island as my treasure. Foolishly I was hoping for friendly pirates (IKR, what an idiot) and they opened fire on my ship. But here's the thing, I didn't care. There was no treasure on my ship, I had no reason to want to protect it. I jumped off and engaged in a sniper battle with the galleon until I was able to respawn my ship. Then I just went back to the island. This was not fun for me. The sniper battle was a bit. However, it later dawned upon me that the other crew only attacked me for the lulz. I had no gold for them to take. They didn't know that, but they also didn't check for any chest at the wreckage.
Respawn on my new ship, ready to finally go get my 2nd chest of the night. I get back to the 2nd island and meet Baby ship. Again thinking these pirates have something better to do than risk taking on another pirate. (When will I learn) They opened fire on sight. New plan, I'll just wait out the barrage. They were aiming high anyway, so I figure they would run out of balls before sinking me. Eventually both of them board me, and both are killed by me. I take this time to make my escape, without the treasure I should add. But they respawned in time to be in hot-pursuit of my perfect pirate booty.
-Tangent time: W*F is with that respawn time? They can both respawn and set sail in the time it takes me to raise anchor?-
Well their high shots were playing the long game, and sunk me at sea. But they didn't stop to check for treasure, or even to finish me off. Just kept sailing.
I wasn't having fun. I climb aboard my 3rd, and final, this is ending soon I swear, ship and set sail, again, for my 2nd treasure. Surprise! I cross paths with baby ship, going the opposite direction, so I hope they would just ignore me and go sell their treasure. But no. They chase me for, I kid you not, 20 minutes. I was able to shake them when I lead them to the galleon I spotted at an island. The galleon started shooting, but that makes sense, I was approaching at ramming speed. But I just lap the island, baby ship starts chasing the galleon, and I can finally dig up my 2nd chest, sell it for 30g, and log off.
Sorry for the rant, hope you had fun laughing at me. I have fun telling this story, but the same kind of fun you get telling a fail story. Only fun afterwards.
So here is my question to you the audience: Were these guys being pirates, or just jerks?
I can already predict that some of you will say, just sail around them, or go get another map. All good solutions, but that's not the point I want to make.
I would like to mention @SpookyToymaker for their post here relating players camping outpost, something I have experienced in past plays. Does this make the game more fun for everyone? or make the more traditional pirates more likely to stop playing? Leaving the game to just the island campers, who also quit because nobody is selling chest anymore (because they're all camping).
TL:DR Some pirates were picking on me ='(
edit: I think I should also add that I did not have this much of an issue in the tech-alpha. So maybe once some of the newer players get it out of their system, things will settle down.