Revised Rules of Engagement for the Open Seas

Yer rules sound real nice for a gentleman's navy, there. How about I give it a go with a bit more pirate flair...

1. Keep your head on a swivel, pay attention a little.
2. A lantern blinks: "here's treasure, please sink."
3. A warning shot is fine to adjust range and line.
4. Shoot first and fast to be the ship shooting last.
5. I'll dock when it's free, guns'll make room if need be.
6. Your best pirate friend is the one at rope's end.

@mostlyjustokay I understand it isn't a very 'Piratey' theme. Though I did add very obvious and exploitable loopholes into the rules, I feel compelled to repeat the purpose of these Rules. I want this game to last a while, and as such, I feel as if this game requires an etiquette. The Rules listed above are the rules that my own crew and I follow, including the loopholes. I thought it logical to share our own etiquette with this fantastic community, on the off chance anyone wanted to adopt our RoE for their own crews. It should also go without saying that the loophole in Rule 8 pretty much says do what you want to get what you want.

nah, no rules. plunder them all.

@lordloharrtalem Trying to establish a carebear etiquette is only going to make it harder on folks to deal with getting blown out of the water. And, if you're successful, just makes it easier for that to happen - if people expect courtesy they are much easier targets.

Be friendly sailors if you want, but it's probably better advice to tell people to expect pirates.

@mostlyjustokay I understand that you don't particularly agree with what I wrote, and I'm fine with that. People have their own opinions on the same topics. But if you look at the last sentence in Rule 8, I basically said if you want to be a pirate, then go ahead and be a pirate. If that wasn't very clear, then I apologize. I thought it was very clear myself, but evidently not.

Now as for the rest of the rules, pirates didn't just go and attack every ship they saw. That was a fast way to get sunk or killed.

While I do understand that the entire point of this game is to be a pirate, but there is no need to be so into that, that you come across as a jerk to everyone else you see.

Additionally and finally, if you refer to the paragraph above the first RoE, I also say that I don't expect everyone to abide by the RoE. If they want to follow the RoE, that's awesome, and if they don't still awesome. This is a game after all, and people are free to play it as they see fit.

If you deem it fit to sail around sinking every ship you see indiscriminately, then do it. Who am I to stop you?

@lordloharrtalem The only thing I disagree with is labeling people as a jerk if they are sailing for combat in a pirate video game, which "rules of etiquette" do implicitly (though you've just done it explicitly).

Play nice if you want, that's fine. But everybody that doesn't follow these rules of etiquette that shoots at you isn't a jerk and doesn't deserve the label - they're just a pirate.

@mostlyjustokay I know they aren't jerks, but its the ones who spam kill the same ship over and over. I've seen it happen to others, and it happened to me. I'd rather not see that happen as much.

@lordloharrtalem said in Revised Rules of Engagement for the Open Seas:

In my previous post, I noticed a lot of people saying the fact that this is a pirate game. I know. So I have taken that into account as I have revised the current rules, and added a few new ones. Enjoy.

Also, I know the pirate code exists and they're basically the guidelines. Think of these as additional guidelines, and I don't expect everyone to abide by the RoE. If you want to, awesome. If you don't, still awesome. I just want to help establish an etiquette for this game, which is incredibly fun.

1: If the cannons be raised high, no cannonball shall fly.

-Players with their cannons raised have no desire to fight, but don’t expect them to sit back while they get holes blown through their hull.

2: If a ship be acting sly, across their stern a cannonball fly.

-If you feel a ship is getting too close, fire a warning shot to let them know you mean business. If they persist, refer to the next article.

3: If a ship be seeking violent condemnation, then teach them the Davy Jones Locker combination.

-Don’t fire unless fired upon first. Try not to mistake a warning shot for a hostile shot.

4: Lantern light flashing bright across the sea, requesting a parley they be.

-A major part of pirating society, Parley’s are temporary pacts in which the captains of two or more crews agree upon terms to come to an agreement. Don’t trust every parley immediately, there may be a few people aiming to find a few easy targets. Perhaps refer to the first article while parleying with other crews.

5: Lanterns on both day and night, those ships aren't meant to engage in fight.

-These vessels have a high chance of being newer players and may not want to dive headfirst into PvP. Attempt parley if you can but be wary of the second and third articles of these Rules of Engagement.

6: If at an Outpost they be docked, attack them you shall not.

-Outposts are a vital part of the game, as they offer all the shops and access to the Gold Hoarders Order of Souls, and the Merchant Alliance. These should be considered safe zones, for players looking to offload their cargo. About the PvP hungry players (Whom I know will not abide by this article), always make sure your ship can make a quick getaway if trouble comes sailing your way. Additionally, and this is the important part (For the PvP players), being En Route to an Outpost, makes this rule null and void. If you are not docked or parked within at least 2 Galleon lengths of an Outpost, it will be considered “Open Season upon the Open Seas”. Overall determination of distance will be left to the players.

7: If another ship you see in unfair exchange, assist with your own from appropriate range.

-There will be plenty of times when a larger ship will attack a smaller one, and since new players are arriving daily, they will be outgunned and out-skilled easily. In a world where your skill determines your power, this may deter many new players. Offer assistance if you can (or want to, your choice really), then turn towards the wind and return to your task.

8: If a treasure ye see on the open seas, first come first serve is the way it be.

-There are many sunken ships and treasures to be found in them, as well as on islands and beaches. If you spot a vessel collecting the treasures, either parley with the crew or turn and leave. Another way to look at it, a ship like this could be seen as a “Pre-Sunken Ship” stocked with loot. So, I’ll say it again. First come, first serve. Happy hunting/diving/digging!

I think these are terrible ideas. Mainly because you are posting them. What is stop anyone from doing these things to lure someone in? If want this kind of thing to happen you should set up a private forum or discord to discuss these things so that people who really are out there for malicious reasons can not see them and mimic them to hunt people.

@baronstinkbeard That is entirely on their own prerogative. If they want to do that, then they can do that. Falls in line with the last sentence of Rule 8.

@lordloharrtalem Its a pirate game! how about lie, prentend deceive sink and plunder?

@lordloharrtalem

Respectfully disagree regarding outposts. Yes, vital parts of the game....and more strategic at best... I feel that if you have loot and you want to return to an outpost, find a safer haven if you are near potential enemy ships no port is safe.....

what has that ship done on the seas prior to arriving at the port? How many unweary sloops have come in contact and went to the depths? Does he obey the outpost safe haven laws?

You just dont know- and in that case... be weary when you see my ship in the horizon

PERHAPS and just PERHAPS..... all 3 or 4 people on the dock raise cannons, and lanterns and greet the ship coming in should possibly a parley be given. Rum, song.. that kinda thing. Then I can see leaving be..... but you should earn the parley by at least drink and entertainment. (and lanterns) or if you scurry and start a running, you be up to no good.

@mostlyjustokay said in Revised Rules of Engagement for the Open Seas:

Yer rules sound real nice for a gentleman's navy, there. How about I give it a go with a bit more pirate flair...

1. Keep your head on a swivel, pay attention a little.
2. A lantern blinks: "here's treasure, please sink."
3. A warning shot is fine to adjust range and line.
4. Shoot first and fast to be the ship shooting last.
5. I'll dock when it's free, guns'll make room if need be.
6. Your best pirate friend is the one at rope's end.

Now THIS is another way of saying the above with a nice flavor and twist. I do agree...100% that these rules need abiding

@lordloharrtalem nice rules. Personnaly, while on a galleon, I never attack sloops until they shoot first. I experienced being chased for one hour by a galleon while being on a sloop, and it’s really no fun for anyone since I navigate really well and outsmarted them all the time

@lordloharrtalem 9: Full of holes this list be. Do what ye please upon the sea.

-Do whatever you want to do, and understand that others will do the same. Ships can be spotted on the horizon and will at least take a few minutes to get to wherever you are. If you see a ship and don't want to get in a tussle, sail the other way.