This is an accessibility issue

  • ReliableWren
    Sailor

    Well, I tried sending this as a support ticket under "I would like to submit a request for a new Disability or Accessibility feature" but was told to post on this forum instead. I think that is strange, that they would have the option to file things under a support ticket just to tell me to go elsewhere. I also think making a disabled person share their experiences to everyone rather than just support staff is frustrating at best. But here we are I guess. This is what I said in my support ticket:

    I love this game, I really do. But I will play with my friends for hours, just for someone to come along, sink us, laugh at us and mock us in chat, and undo all of the hard work we've done. Me and my friends are autistic, and this causes all of us a great deal of distress, recently to the point of panic attacks. Sadly, this means means we've decided we can no longer play this game: something we love dearly, and have spent our money and significant amounts of time on. We want to keep playing, but we can't with the current state of the game. We get overwhelmed easily, we're sensitive to the taunts of other players, and our motor skills aren't the best, meaning we rarely stand a chance when it comes to combat.

    Please - and I know you've heard it all before - can something be done to let us play in enforced peace? Be it PvE-only servers, some sort of alliance-esque flag that means we can neither deal or take damage to and from other players (though then we'd be unable to stop individuals simply taking loot, I suppose) or something that serves the same purpose. I know the concept is that 'players can find the issue in a game, but rarely know how to fix it', so I won't pretend to have all the answers, but these are suggestions.

    This is a genuine accessability concern for us: we cannot play the game in it's current state, because of our disability. I hope you can take my comments to heart. I know it would help plenty of other gamers out there with Autism, poor motor skills, and similar conditions.

    I hope I can return to the Sea of Thieves soon.

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  • Schwammlgott
    Champion

    @reliablewren you can mute other crews, but PvE servers or passive modes WON'T HAPPEN
    I don’t know, why they sent you here, because PvE requests and kinds of this will be locked...so I just say...In b4 lock

  • Lem0n Curry
    Vanguard
    Insider

    @reliablewren
    You can mute other crews and I suggest you turn in more often: don't sail around with more loot than you care to lose.

  • Lackbarwastaken
    Marauder
    Insider

    Haha PvE servers are an accessibility issue! I love it. "the current state of the game" Also known as the game.

  • ReliableWren
    Sailor

    @lem0n-curry

    As for muting, I still regualrly get people taunting me with emotes after killing me, or after blowing up my ship with a barrel on the ferry.

    Tried fort of the damned yesterday, were attacked by 3 ships before we could even get the treasure onto the ship, it's not an issue of turning in more often. Sure you could argue "don't do FotD" but the same issue goes for all world events too. And at that point, it's "don't play a large chunk of game content".

    Plus I've been randomly attacked and sunk while fishing, while doing tall tales, serveral times after having just loaded in. It's less painful than when we have lots of loot, but it's so frustrating. I feel like I'm being denied from playing the game.

  • ReliableWren
    Sailor

    @lackbarwastaken

    Thank you for your input. Your comment was incredibly insightful and helpful. I hope laughing at a disabled person has brightened your day.

  • ReliableWren
    Sailor

    @lackbarwastaken Thank you for an actually useful comment, I'll have a look into it. And it's ok to say disabled, BTW, it's not a dirty word :)

  • CallMeBackdrafT
    Vanguard
    Insider
    Founder

    @reliablewren

    Be a good sport. Sea of Thieves is a pirate game, and stealth, stealing and battles are all part of the fun. All pirates on the seas accept that, but be a good sportsman in both victory and loss.

    Source: https://www.seaofthieves.com/code-of-conduct

  • Lackbarwastaken
    Marauder
    Insider

    @reliablewren Just play a game that fits your abilities instead of going to a game and demanding it fundamentally change. Play deep rock galactic.

  • ReliableWren
    Sailor

    @lackbarwastaken I'm not asking for a game to change, simply to add something that would make my experience better as a disabled person. Aside from the effort it would take (I'm no expert on the matter) I don't see how it's different to asking for subtitles, colourblindness options, key rebinding, or other accessibility features. I don't want them to get rid of or change PvP, that would be detrimental for everyone. People don't tell amputees not to take part in sport, they make it so they can join in. I just hope for the same grace with my own disability.

  • Lackbarwastaken
    Marauder
    Insider

    @reliablewren The game has rewards, all the shiny cosmetics, and risk, yarr there be pirates. By even giving an option to have one without the other you destroy any tension in the game. Most new pirates after getting dumpstered and losing their epic 2 sea fort haul would opt in to the hugfest and the game would just turn into a pve game. What you are asking for fundamentally changes the game. That's why all these pve server threads are locked. The matter is settled in Rare's opinion.

  • ReliableWren
    Sailor

    @lackbarwastaken
    I fail to understand the issue. Are you saying that if there was a PvE mode, people would only play that? That sounds like people would be very happy with the change. My experience is that plenty of people would still go for PvP, since it seems many people enjoy that. Then people could do what they each wanted. People who want to PvP can fight each other, and people who don't want that- or fundamentally struggle with it- can be left to their PvE.

    I'm frustrated that if this matter is just going to get locked, as people keep saying, that I was told to post here when I tried to bring it up as a support ticket.

  • LordQulex
    Captain

    I usually say "look behind you, a three headed monkey!" but they've not been the mod on duty lately... 😢

    But yes I agree, this is a PVEVP sandbox and there will never be PVE servers or peaceful mode. Turning off in game chat from non-crew is your best option.

  • Lackbarwastaken
    Marauder
    Insider

    @reliablewren Yea whoever told you to post here is ignorant. Any talk of pve servers or any iteration thereof is usually instalocked. I'm a bit of a connoisseur of this forum and don't know why this hasn't been locked with a copy paste response from a mod. Perhaps because you have invoked a disability they don't want to seem insensitive and need to talk to our lord and savior Joseph Neatus first.

    As for it fundamentally changing the game it certainly would. Most pvp players would rather play in a pvpve game. you would change the game from being a pvpve game to being two games a pvp one and a pve one. Imagine if tarkov had a pve mode where you got loot in it.

  • ReliableWren
    Sailor

    @lackbarwastaken
    I'm beginning to wonder if I got an automated response to my support ticket, which is great /s

    I'm unfamiliar with Tarkov, I avoid PvP only games. I guess I need to avoid PvPvE games too. It's sad that a PvP players right to bully someone who just wants to chill seems to trump the rights of PvE players just wanting to play their own way. I can't think of another game like Sea of Thieves for PvE enjoyers. I guess my heartfelt request is just the goodbye letter I feared it would become.

  • Lackbarwastaken
    Marauder
    Insider

    @reliablewren i mean its not a pvp players right to bully its a pvp or pvpve players right to play the pvpve game.

    Yea if you dont like pvp games dont play games that are pvp. That or join the dark side that is alliance servers.

  • LordQulex
    Captain

    @reliablewren said in This is an accessibility issue:

    Tried fort of the damned yesterday, were attacked by 3 ships before we could even get the treasure onto the ship, it's not an issue of turning in more often. Sure you could argue "don't do FotD" but the same issue goes for all world events too. And at that point, it's "don't play a large chunk of game content".

    "My friends and I attempted a highly lucrative endeavor that produces a beacon in the sky when active and many pirates showed up to steal the loot!" Yep, FOTD is second only to hourglass in signing up for on demand PVP. Don't do it.

    Plus I've been randomly attacked and sunk while fishing, while doing tall tales, serveral times after having just loaded in. It's less painful than when we have lots of loot, but it's so frustrating. I feel like I'm being denied from playing the game.

    Such is the nature of a PVEVEP sandbox. I get it, my friends left the game for the same reason. They just want to chill out will cartoonish pirate hijinks and encountered sweats that sink them for LOLs. My only advice is keep at it, this is a numbers game.

    I routinely play the game when on business calls just for something to do, and the number of times this has happened to me versus the number of times I've been left alone is staggering. Most play sessions, easily 80%, I don't even see another ship. Now I understand peak play hours and my experience is not universal, but keep playing, I honestly don't feel this happens every session. It happens, it sucks, we get frustrated and I don't want to share the number of controllers/headsets I've had to replace because I've thrown them against the wall, but most of the time it's good.

    My second suggestion is go look up Sea of Thieves sail guides. They can't attack you if they can't catch you.

  • LordQulex
    Captain

    @lackbarwastaken said in This is an accessibility issue:

    @reliablewren i mean its not a pvp players right to bully its a pvp or pvpve players right to play the pvpve game.

    Yea if you dont like pvp games dont play games that are pvp. That or join the dark side that is alliance servers.

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  • SlickWillyWonka
    Master
    Insider

    Sounds like this isn't the game for you. Everything you've said so far points in that direction. Honestly I don't think it's fair of you to use your disability to try and force change in a game that was designed with unwanted interactions in mind. Perhaps you should take a step back and ask yourself is this really the game I want to play?

  • ReliableWren
    Sailor

    @lordqulex Learned my lession with FotD. Which is a shame, because the process of doing it was really fun. But as I said, if I need to avoid 'risky' gameplay, that's a majority of the game. FotD, world events, mermaid shrines, using an emessary flag, existing within 3 squares of another ship, playing on any server with a reaper's emissary... We literally server hop until we see there aren't any reapers showing up on the map, and this is still an every session issue for us.

  • ReliableWren
    Sailor

    @slickwillywonka I know I can't force anything. I guess I've only been speaking of the negatives because they keep coming up. But I love fighting skeletons and skeleton ships, I love the tall tales and adventures, I love looking for treasure and solving riddles with my friends. I love just sailing around with my friends. I love it. I've spent hundreds of hours in this game.

    I'm not trying to force anything, I'm not trying to ruin anyone's fun. I'm just using what little voice I have to try and tell people that might be able to do something that I'm scared of losing a game I love.

  • BurnBacon
    Vanguard
    Insider

    Disable chat and other crew audio

    There, saved you the trouble you have with being mocked by words.

    As for taunting by emotes, really? That has become a new trigger? Someone using the laugh emote?
    You could just send yourself quicker to the ferry that way they can’t be seen.

    As many have said. No pve servers. It won’t be done

  • Wolff Bringer
    Captain
    Insider

    PvE Server would ruin the fun of this game for most people on the seas. This won't happen.
    But as almost everyone said: Mute all other crews and get quickly to the Ferry of the Damned (Or even just switch server) when being attacked.
    Also as a tip: Have someone look out for other ships on the horizon. If you see a ship sail the opposite way. Look on the map when joining the game if you see any reapers.
    Also, look around all the tables on each company to see if any small boats are placed on there - Most of the ships sailing for a company are very aggressive (especially reapers these days)

    I'm very sorry that you have such bad luck. If I see other players I always try to be nice. Would love to see other players be nice too for once.

  • Captain Coel
    Commander
    Insider

    @reliablewren I fail to see how this is an accessibility issue. It seems your style of game and Sea of Thieves are just different. While it's unfortunate, all games are not for all people.

  • PithyRumble
    Sailor
    Insider

    If you play on xbox, make sure and turn on console/controller preferred. A lot less of the aggressive types. Not 100%, ymmv, but I very rarely get bothered by other players.

    Would also recommend checking into alliance servers a little less tounge in cheek than others.

  • MaximusArael020
    Captain
    Insider

    This is NOT an accessibility issue. Accessibility issues are things that prevent people from being on an equal footing in the game due to disability.

    You currently have full access to everything in the game. Nothing prevents you from being able to access game content. Instead what you have is a personal issue with part of the game. You don't "like" being sunk, you don't "like" PvP interactions with other players. That has nothing to do with accessibility.

    Think of it this way: if a soldier has PTSD from time spent in war, they might find they cannot play games such as Call of Duty because it triggers their PTSD. Is that an accessibility issue? Does it fall on the game developer to make their war simulation game "accessible" to people who have an adverse reaction to the CONTENT? No. Same situation here. You don't have an inability to access content based on your disability. You have an adverse reaction to game content.

    So play a different game. I don't play "Giant Spider Simulator" games because I can't handle spiders. I don't demand that games like Skyrim remove spiders so I can play it.

  • GtotheFo
    Ship Mate
    Insider

    @reliablewren said in This is an accessibility issue:

    @lackbarwastaken
    I fail to understand the issue. Are you saying that if there was a PvE mode, people would only play that? That sounds like people would be very happy with the change. My experience is that plenty of people would still go for PvP, since it seems many people enjoy that. Then people could do what they each wanted. People who want to PvP can fight each other, and people who don't want that- or fundamentally struggle with it- can be left to their PvE.

    I'm frustrated that if this matter is just going to get locked, as people keep saying, that I was told to post here when I tried to bring it up as a support ticket.

    I'm sorry that this has been your experience, but you being right or wrong here really is immaterial. The decision has been made. There's no point debating whether PvE only mode would make the game better or worse, it doesn't matter if it would or wouldn't, the decision has been made to not implement it irrespective. Being asked to take it here on a support ticket is, frankly, bizarre. I'm sorry to say it, but you should at this point look after yourself and not play this game, I would suggest reporting the support ticket and requesting a refund, I think you have legitimate reason to ask for your money back.

  • GtotheFo
    Ship Mate
    Insider

    @lordqulex said in This is an accessibility issue:
    It happens, it sucks, we get frustrated and I don't want to share the number of controllers/headsets I've had to replace because I've thrown them against the wall, but most of the time it's good.

    To be fair, getting angry and frustrated and having a panic attack or worse aren't really the same thing.

  • GtotheFo
    Ship Mate
    Insider

    @maximusarael020 said in This is an accessibility issue:

    Think of it this way: if a soldier has PTSD from time spent in war, they might find they cannot play games such as Call of Duty because it triggers their PTSD. Is that an accessibility issue? Does it fall on the game developer to make their war simulation game "accessible" to people who have an adverse reaction to the CONTENT? No. Same situation here. You don't have an inability to access content based on your disability. You have an adverse reaction to game content.

    So play a different game. I don't play "Giant Spider Simulator" games because I can't handle spiders. I don't demand that games like Skyrim remove spiders so I can play it.

    To be fair though, Call of Duty is very clear that you will experience warfare when playing it. Sea of Thieves isn't 100% clear that you will experience unavoidable PvP to the same degree. I don't think the game should change, but I do think that it should be made far, far more clear in the game's advertising and steam page, and if not there should be a standing option for full refund on that basis irrespective of time from purchase or other normal invalidating issues.

  • Look Behind You
    Vanguard
    Insider
    Moderator
    Founder
    Deckhand

    Ahoy, going to be dropping anchor on this thread as there is a post about Rare's thoughts on PvPvE (including a link to the Sea of Thieves Podcast that discusses it) here: https://www.seaofthieves.com/community/forums/topic/136693/pvpve-the-team-s-thoughts/1

    You can read an article by Joe here in regards to Private/Custom Servers.

    Thank you.

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