A WORLD OF REAL PLAYERS
Sea of Thieves takes place in a shared world, and while you’re by no means guaranteed to encounter other player crews every time you set sail, plenty of fresh opportunities for adventure will present themselves when you do.
Not every encounter will be friendly, but willing crews are free to team up against dangerous Skeleton Lords and other fierce foes, swap tales of their exploits in the taverns and co-operate to earn some of the trickier Commendations.
PLAYING AS A CREW
While it’s entirely possible to succeed as a ‘lone wolf’ pirate, many hands make light work when dealing with life aboard ship. The anchor can be raised more quickly, fetching and carrying becomes easier and you’ll be able to share supplies.
Players who are part of the same crew can hear each other’s voice communications by default, no matter how far apart they are, so it’s easy for crewmates to split up and complete tasks in tandem. Be wary, though – pirates from other crews might overhear your schemes if they’re close by!
CREW SIZES AND SHIP TYPES
There are two ways to construct a crew: selecting an Open Crew will cast the net wide for like-minded pirates to fill slots on your ship, while a Closed Crew will reserve those slots for players from your current crew’s friend lists.
Crew size depends on ship type. Sloops are small, nimble ships meant for one or two players, the bulkier Brigantine is medium-sized and built for two or three, while Galleons are the largest, ready to carry a full crew of four pirates.
You’ll also come across Rowboats, useful for ferrying you, your crew and your plunder from shore to ship. They come in three variants: a basic Rowboat, one equipped with a harpoon and one armed with a single cannon. All can be docked to the back of your ship for convenience or as a getaway option in times of peril.
FINDING A CREW
There are numerous Sea of Thieves-related Clubs on Xbox Live, including the Official Sea of Thieves Club. Each has its own ‘Looking For Group’ tool, making it quick and easy to find crewmates whether you’re playing on Xbox or PC.
Alternatively, the Sea of Thieves community is one of the most friendly and helpful around, from fellow players on the official Discord to fan groups in the Affiliate Alliance. Checking out the official Forums is also a great way to meet some new crewmates.
CREW COMMUNICATIONS
If you have a headset, talking to your crewmates is an easy, natural way to communicate. You can speak with other crews if they’re close by, or pull out your pirate’s speaking trumpet to be heard across a distance.
If you’d rather make yourself understood another way, you can make use of text chat, express yourself using the Pirate Wheel of Emotions, or pick from dozens of context-sensitive phrases that will automatically translate into other players’ preferred language.
HAVE FUN WITH OTHERS
It’s not all about sneaking aboard ships and taking part in sword duels! There are plenty of fun ways to interact with other crews that will prove just as rewarding. You can share a drink in a tavern, play shanties together and even trade treasure to help one another as Emissaries.
If you encounter a friendly crew, consider forming an Alliance using your ships’ flag boxes. Members of an Alliance can see other Alliance vessels marked on the map – and better yet, the Companies will award some bonus gold to all Alliance members whenever a treasure is handed in.
OUR PIRATE CODE
Sinking other ships (even smaller ones), stealing treasure and setting traps is part of the pirate life that crews should be ready to face. However, the buccaneers of the Sea of Thieves do follow a Pirate Code , and we expect all players to abide by the Community Code of Conduct to ensure the seas are fun for everyone.