Have flags on ships to establish rules of engagement when out at sea.
- Pirate Flag (Free to attack and wants to be attacked, as SoT is at the moment)
- Combat Flag (Wants to engage in combat, basically asking to fight)
- Adventure Flag (Immune from player engagement, focusing on PVE content)
These flags of engagement apply to every crew member sailing under the ship with that flag. Anyone who breaks the rules gets eaten by the ghost kraken, who doesn't like rule-breaking pirates.
Rules of the Flags
Pirate Flag
A simple flag for real pirates. This is what Sea of Thieves already is. If two Pirate Flags meet, no problem! They can fight, loot, and do whatever they want, as it was intended, as it always has been.
Combat Flag
Combat Flag for those who don't mind combat but will retaliate if attacked. Anyone can attack a ship and crew with this flag and it'll be fine, let the combat start! But if they start the engagement other than Pirate or Combat Flag, ghost kraken! If they want to start a combat, they need to change the flag to a Pirate Flag. Why? Indicating they are going hostile, showing they are going to start doing some pirate stuff.
Adventure Flag
Adventure Flag is for those who want none of that. Any engagement against them gets ghost kraken'd AND any engagement by them gets also ghost kraken'd. If players with Adventure Flag want to fight, they have to change that flag to the other Flags of Engagement.
Premature Questions
But what about my flag that I want to sail with?
This will not replace the cosmetic-style flag you sail under. Flags of Engagement are more of an additional flag, next to the main one. In real life, it is common to sail under multiple flags to signal for communications or intentions. So why not have it here to serve the same purpose?
What about abusing the Flags of Engagement system?
There are some risks associated with this. It's good to address the possibilities of abuse with this and discuss it. But I think the system would be beneficial in regards to changing and adding depth to the player engagement.
For example, a ship from a distance, wearing an Adventure Flag, can be seen by your crew. Thinking it's safe, you and your crew go to the island to dig up the loot. After taking the loot to the boat, you see the ship with the Adventure Flag closing in. You see on their crows nest they are changing the flag. It's a Pirate Flag now. You and your crew now know they are after your loot!
Sea of Thieves was designed to be a Sandbox gameplay. This would fit in the scenario for switching flags and make it more memorable and special.
One of the few problems that would occur would be switching Flags of Engagement to Adventure Flag during combat. A possible solution to this would be not being able to switch the Adventure Flag during combat. Possibly adding a timer after engagement before being able to change the flags. But I'll leave it for the discussions.
Why this idea in the first place?
The idea stems from what I've seen the players play. The engagement between players is growing and more aggressive, leaving inexperienced and new players less likely to get to know the game. We all know that player who lost all the loot and just quit. Well, most players don't want that, and that includes the developers. Devs want you to play the game. If this happens a lot, then keeping that player's interest will be lost.
Having a system like this would help ease the player into the game, letting them choose how to engage. It would also stop other players from discouraging and alienating that player, making it more likely for that player to continue playing. Maybe one day that new and less experienced player will feel ready for ship combat with players.
And no, Maiden Voyage does not solve this issue. Maiden Voyage is a great introduction to learn the mechanics of the game and interest in the game. A+ on that department. But it doesn't teach how to engage with player ships, especially with experienced players.
It's not 100% perfect, but this is the start of an idea. Since I think this would fit within the Sea of Thieves style of gameplay, it would be cool to see that flags have actual meaning beyond cosmetics. That flags have more power in the Sea of Thieves since this place is magical.
Let me know what you all think of this.
