Frequency of the Skeleton Ships in Solo seems to be greater than in co-op, is it random?

@furgawdsake the spawn rate is just random.

Regarding the difficulty it is mainly practice and if you get the hang of it sinking should be limited to the times you make a big mistake. It does take a moment to take them out especially solo and that can interrupt your plans a bit. That is the beauty of the sea.

Supplies are a key aspect now a days. When low or a fairly safe approach use the hit, stick with them and bucket method, all water you can get into their ship helps especially solo.

@furgawdsake said in Frequency of the Skeleton Ships in Solo seems to be greater than in co-op, is it random?:

I seem to be attacked by the Skeleton Ships more frequently when playing solo than in co-op ( maybe I sail more when solo ). Certainly there seems to be very little chance of surviving with the unlimited number of cursed cannon balls available to the skellies. and the sturdiness of their ships - leveling the odds of survival or decreasing the frequency of attack would help or perhaps just make them less aggressive, like the megladon. Currently this is a real frustrating element of solo play. I get that PVP ships will come after a solo and I accept that, there's no controlling it - but the host of the game, the NP ship, should not be as eager to annihilate the solo sloop.

my wife use to love this game solo now she avoids it like the plague . shes a pirate legend but has uninstalled due to the cancer of running a solo sloop.

@cotu42 how long does it take to fill a skellie with the bailer? I recently watched a youtube video and it seemed to take an hour to accomplish that. I am sorry but that’s not going to make for interesting gameplay. I could do that once or twice but ... man i don’t want that to become the game and it seems the skeekton ship is the most constant feature.

@furgawdsake combine it with some cannon fire when you split up, takes me solo about 10 to 30 mins based on how the fight goes for the ones that spawn on me. Less if they have a keg waiting to pop inside (really funny when that happens).

My code for skeleton crew is the following:

• Don't get knocked off! Positioning is key, due to those pesky snipers.
• Don't die, watch out for cannonballs (one shot you)
• Don't Sink, keep an eye on the water you are making!
• Don't get broadsided if possible, sometimes taking out a couple of cannon skeletons is useful based on naval position, if you cannot avoid a full broadside, they will spawn again but stops the current / soon to be incoming barrage.
• Place your sails at a height that you can stay near and turn quick into them enough to avoid the above.
• Watch your ships positioning compared to them, turn back into them when you split up for a ram or some cannon fire! (sometimes a split is initiated by me, especially once their hull is full and we are moving to upper deck as my cannon fire will be more effective)
• Steer it so that you maximize the time able to bucket, stick to them.

Sidenotes:

• Have a good start! Start moving the moment you hear that song. Get in a couple of shots at the start below the water line! 2 to 4 good ones is possible based on where you want to fight (next point), as you have a moment before you have to steer for a ram.
• They follow you, so if there are good fighting positions for you maybe navigate that fight there at the start. Small islands, Rocks, Shallows anything for them to bump into or crash on.
• Use Cursed Cannonballs to speed up the process. They are to be used after all. (Ba-last balls are king!)
• Bucket water when ever you have the chance, keep a full bucket on you and throw it out before going down again (on them if not in dire need), holes in your ship can be useful just keep as many open as you feel comfortable with. I tend to leave one the left or right side at the front open due to ramming (at a minimum). No need to board the one you keep opening up yourself.

I don't know if this is the most effective way to do it, so if you have any advise feel free to share.

I don't burn through a ton of supplies, while minimizing the amount of time it takes to sink and is the best way I can think of on how to approach these battles. The amount of supplies used is important to me due to being on a Merchant, Gold Hoarders or an Athena's voyage based on how long I am planning to play solo and don't want to feel the need to supply up each time I have a battle. I even attack the ones patrolling if I notice they already took on some water for a quick buck.

@cotu42 Thanks very much for this advice, looks to be very useful!