After the launch of Season 17 in Sea of Thieves, the game has become almost unbearable and frustrating to play. I’m not even going to start talking about the number of cheaters — that’s a whole other issue. The Smugglers’ Season introduced the completely unbalanced Smugglers’ Keg, which has made gameplay absurd. This ridiculous item can sink a ship within seconds, and its explosion radius is ridiculously large. On top of that, even if you’re far from your ship in the water, your mermaid often doesn’t appear to return you — yet another long-standing problem. The game has turned into a pointless chase for these kegs. By adding them, you’ve effectively reduced the importance of player skill by about 40%. Now, in Sea of Thieves, around 60% of the outcome depends on randomness and luck rather than actual skill or strategy. Imagine sailing to a Skeleton Fleet (world event) on a brigantine with your crew — after clearing the second wave and nearing the final one, suddenly a Skeleton Galleon (not part of the event) appears with a Smugglers’ Keg aboard, a Megalodon spawns, a storm rolls in, and to top it off, a player sloop shows up. What happens next? The sloop steals the keg, boards us in the middle of the storm, and sinks our ship instantly. Fantastic! You are destroying the motivation of players who are genuinely skilled at this game. These mechanics are ruining Sea of Thieves, and if nothing changes soon, the player base will continue to decline. Personally, with each passing day, I feel less and less desire to play Sea of Thieves.
Unbalanced Smugglers’ Keg, which has made gameplay absurd
it’s just another tool and it works fine. All the issues you raise are relevant to how the player handles these situations (clearly, not after the fact) and thus relate to building up the relevant strategic skill.
Many a time has a skeleton boat brought us kegs in the midst of player battles - both parties can potentially use these options according to their skill.
Hardly a reason to change an iota, sir
I have been sank many times carrying the Smuggler Keg so the inherent danger of having one makes it balanced.
It's a treacherous comfort blanket for the solo slooper and rewards staying on one server, not diving.Adapt how you play :
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Don't slavishly track the path of a runner.
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If you are multicrew in a big ship doing a stationary event have the ship moving or at least look out for rowboats approaching.
Sounds like you were outplayed by the sloop that took the keg in this particular situation.
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After the launch of Season 17 in Sea of Thieves, the game has become almost unbearable and frustrating to play.
For some it seems.
This ridiculous item can sink a ship within seconds, and its explosion radius is ridiculously large.
Isnt it great? As a solo...you have a 50/50 chance on taking down ships now with little effort.
The game has turned into a pointless chase for these kegs.
Sadly, I havnt seen many players collecting these, But that just the thing. Season is built around these items...By next season pretty sure they gonna nerf the amount you find.
By adding them, you’ve effectively reduced the importance of player skill by about 40%.
Right...because cheaters make up of skill? Not to count in the server stable issues, Connection speed and who has better cannon ball types than you. All equals skills :P
Now, in Sea of Thieves, around 60% of the outcome depends on randomness and luck rather than actual skill or strategy.
I like these odds.
These mechanics are ruining Sea of Thieves, and if nothing changes soon, the player base will continue to decline.
oh boy....here we go with "This will kill the game!" talk.
I feel less and less desire to play Sea of Thieves.
Old saying: Game wasn't built for your needs, dont play it and ruin it for those who enjoy it.
The game was built around not having instant kills and any time they have introduced an instant kill it's a problem. One blunders are gone, spears are only a one hit kill at full charge and suck to aim. This keg is no different. There is almost no way to defend against it and regardless of what any player says about how you are "supposed to" be able to recover on a sloop, they're just outright wrong. About 50% of the time I sink from black kegs regardless of how fast I try to return, and that's assuming the game doesn't bug, forcing me to not be able to offer. I offer instantly, run to and through the door instantly, and even then I very often get a forced long black screen and have to watch a spinning wheel until the game has respawned me at an island.
@potatosord said in Unbalanced Smugglers’ Keg, which has made gameplay absurd:
There is almost no way to defend against it
Yes there is - be observant of approaching threats and folk have grapple gunned them out of my grasp.
@pc-monkfish I more meant after it has already gone off. Any other keg doesn't do enough damage to sink you in 15-17 seconds.
