Just can't seem to get started

[Ahoy H.R. Matey]

So decided to give it a go (again) against my better judgment, while trying hard to ignore the awfulness of the open world.
 

I've read enough to know not to sail the redeemable ships that I got until I have enough rank for an adequate crew (by the way, if those get sunk, can I get them back?).

 

So this leaves the yacht (which I know is replaceable) and the cutter. I have no money so I can't put cannons on the yacht. Cutter it is.

 

I play on the PvE server, so I guess my only way to get off the ground is a mission. Picked up a mission, spent half an hour looking for it. Ended up fighting an NPC pirate with twice the crew and twice the guns of my cutter. I put up a fight, sure (even ruined most of the pirate's armor), but attrition caught up with me eventually, so here I am with 10 guys left, and no bowsprit. And leaks. Couldn't stand watching it and just logged.

 

I know I'll get the cutter back for free. Was I just unlucky with the opponent? Also, are there any ways to practice "instance" sailing without being shot at? I know the basics of sailing (well, more than that, used to sail in real world), but coming to grips with the interface and game mechanics takes time.

[Capt. Rice]

1. Only the yacht is redeemable infinitely but on a 2 day cool down.  The extra ones that you received for closed weekend beta are only once.

 

2. Finding missions you will have to get use to.. even if you lose in a cutter you still get the exp and gold for the damage but not the mission reward due to sinking or retreating.

 

3. Currently the only way to practice is to learn by error in mission or by YouTube guides.

[Aetrion]

You probably picked up the highest ranked mission available to you, which is always one level tougher than what your actual rank is, hence why you got matched against an opponent you couldn't handle.

 

Right now this game is really no good for solo-play. It's way better to just ask around in chat for some people to group with for missions, . You'll have to do a few of their missions, so you don't get the bonus XP and gold for completing those (but you still get participation XP/gold), but overall it will be a lot more fun, a lot safer and a lot faster than trying to run missions by yourself.

 

All that said, yes, getting started in this game is currently a total slog, and not very fun because the game treats getting bigger ships like it's a progression element by making you earn XP for a bigger crew, except once you get there it instantly flips the script on you and goes "haha, just kidding, this is an upkeep element". There is no meaningful progression system in the game right now, which makes all the work you have to do to get a large enough crew kind of feel like wasted time. 

 

Hopefully in time we'll see the devs kind of find their footing and create a better balance between upkeep and progression than what we are currently seeing so that starting at the bottom feels more fun because you can really earn something, rather than just arbitrarily having to work to unlock the ability to use things that are in actuality restricted by their upkeep cost or have other impractical characteristics that make their usage situational.

[Austrum]

Honestly I am just having nothing but bad experiences myself.

 

I take a mission.  Sail to the mission.  Before I enter the mission there isn't one player ship pirate ship anywhere even on the horizon, not one ship near me at all.  I join mission, fire one broadside at the mission NPC ship and all of a sudden not one, not two, but three Player Pirates have entered the battle.  I mean seriously WTF?  There was not one Player Pirate ship anywhere near the mission when I entered so how the hell do they reach and enter my battle??  I am sorry but if the enemy isn't even in spyglass range on the open sea when a battle starts, they shouldn't have time to join my battle.

 

Had this same issue with players in my own nation.  I get into a battle thinking it is just going to be me and the NPC and then a whole slew of people show up entering the battle.  Seriously I understand you should be able to join but the timer should be something like 30 seconds, not 5 mins or whatever crazy level it is set at currently.

 

In any case, I was ready to come back into the game.  After the experiences of my first few hours back....yeah not so much.

[Hyperion74]

I started my re-entry in to the game on the PvE server until I figured things out. I went over to PvP and made a bit of chink on a mission using the cutter and was able to gun the yacht. A midshipman mission is fairly easy, in my opinion. I was on PvP USA and didn't see anyone else, player wise. If other enemy players can enter a battle, which is what I understand from the above post, this needs to be changed. Not experienced that in a mission. Still, this is a complicated game so one needs to learn and practice. The PvE server is great for this. Money or ships do not cross over but experience, both points and knowledge do pass between servers. I really do enjoy this game. 

[Aetrion]

Weirdly enough the way the game works right now it might actually be harder to start out on a new server if you have high experience, because as you go up in rank the missions offered to you get harder as though you automatically have access to an appropriate ship, which obviously you wouldn't have.

[Mighty Bouff]

Honestly I am just having nothing but bad experiences myself.

 

I take a mission.  Sail to the mission.  Before I enter the mission there isn't one player ship pirate ship anywhere even on the horizon, not one ship near me at all.  I join mission, fire one broadside at the mission NPC ship and all of a sudden not one, not two, but three Player Pirates have entered the battle.  I mean seriously WTF?  There was not one Player Pirate ship anywhere near the mission when I entered so how the hell do they reach and enter my battle??  I am sorry but if the enemy isn't even in spyglass range on the open sea when a battle starts, they shouldn't have time to join my battle.

 

Had this same issue with players in my own nation.  I get into a battle thinking it is just going to be me and the NPC and then a whole slew of people show up entering the battle.  Seriously I understand you should be able to join but the timer should be something like 30 seconds, not 5 mins or whatever crazy level it is set at currently.

 

In any case, I was ready to come back into the game.  After the experiences of my first few hours back....yeah not so much.

 

 

Where are you sailing (and what nation are you)? I've done countless missions and never had a player join. AFAIK the timer is being cut to 2 mins from 5 minutes.

 

As to why you couldn't see the pirates it is possible they exited a battle (sometimes not all battles show if they have been going on a long time) and had invisibility when you looked.

So decided to give it a go (again) against my better judgment, while trying hard to ignore the awfulness of the open world.

 

I've read enough to know not to sail the redeemable ships that I got until I have enough rank for an adequate crew (by the way, if those get sunk, can I get them back?).

 

So this leaves the yacht (which I know is replaceable) and the cutter. I have no money so I can't put cannons on the yacht. Cutter it is.

 

I play on the PvE server, so I guess my only way to get off the ground is a mission. Picked up a mission, spent half an hour looking for it. Ended up fighting an NPC pirate with twice the crew and twice the guns of my cutter. I put up a fight, sure (even ruined most of the pirate's armor), but attrition caught up with me eventually, so here I am with 10 guys left, and no bowsprit. And leaks. Couldn't stand watching it and just logged.

 

I know I'll get the cutter back for free. Was I just unlucky with the opponent? Also, are there any ways to practice "instance" sailing without being shot at? I know the basics of sailing (well, more than that, used to sail in real world), but coming to grips with the interface and game mechanics takes time.

 

What nation are you? I'd advise joining a clan (BWITC are recruiting if you are British) and grouping up with other similar level players to do missions. Once you are level three grab a navy brig or a snow and crack on. As with every game there is a learning curve (or cliff for EvE), you have to get over it and suddenly the game opens up. I'd advise sticking with it as this game is great (I've got 150 hours on record since it hit EA and I was away for one weekend!).

[Ghroznak]

If on the PvP server there is a fairly long timer where others can join your mission. It's getting reduced though to prevent ships that are far out of your sight from sailing over and entering.

 

With missions take missions that are same rank as you or lower. You can do one rank higher, but that requires good sailing, accurate gunnery and a decent ship of your own. Or you can bring friends.

 

Optionally, just capture trading ships like Trader Lynx and Cutter (neither has weapons) and sell until you get better ships. Keep in mind that Trader Brig has rear chaser carronades, and Trader Snow has 3 x 18 pndr Carronades along each broadside.

[SeaMist]

I found the midshipman mission difficult too. I think it was a privateer. I had badly damaged it but I was gone for all money and tried to get behind it for one last hoorah when I got stuck on the back of it, tried to push it out of the way, whereupon it tipped over and sank. I couldn't believe my luck. So no, for beginners the mission is not easy.

However in the PVE server there are quite a few trader Lynx's around with contraband. You can attack any of them as well as Lynx's from another nation. It's the easiest way to get started. Don't be surprised if you can't catch it the first time or two. You have to get your pre battle approach right. There is a timer you have to beat with a shot to the Lynx. Use chain shot on it's sails until you can comfortably get near it. It is unarmed so you can then practice your gunnery without the distraction of being blown out if the water.

[Fletch]

Took me 4 or 5 missions before I won one. Make sure you upgrade the guns on your free cutter. Buy them from the shop in the port.

Try the 12 Lb carronades. Don't keep range sail right up close so you can't miss and fire those bad boys.

You will soon get the hang of it.

[The MetaBaron]

Sorry bud there is a steep learning curve in the beginning, and honesty I don't see the appeal of playing PvE as it makes any longer term goals apart from grinding ranks not seem to matter much, while removing that element of fear where anything could be waiting for your around that island.

 

Your best bet is to talk in chat and find someone with TeamSpeak and sail/hangout with them so you can ask them all the "dumb" questions as you figure out the game. Otherwise watch a bunch of youtube video's.

[Ahoy H.R. Matey]

I don't play PvP and I don't join clans/guilds on a principle. I play to get away from people, not to get close to them; and I play to chill out, not to have an internet penis contest with someone.

 

Thus, my only option IS solo PvE. I'm not looking to sail a Santissima in five minutes, but I'd be happy if I ever got to Constitution (which is my most favorite tall ship in the world, I think). Glad to see that I'm not the only one who got thrashed mercilessly in the first mission. I did pick the midshipman mission, not a LT mission.

 

Guess I'll just keep trying until I win one (when I can be bothered that is). I know I need better cannons, but without gold I can't buy anything.

[Aetrion]

I understand not wanting to fight people, but if you don't want to interact with other people at all this is going to be a tough game to have any kind of fun in, since right now it's entirely built on the idea of player generated open world content, which means that even on the PvE server all the most meaningful things come out of cooperative play, not striking out on your own.

 

I don't want to be that guy that tells people to play something else, but if you really really don't want to play with other people:

 

Blood & Gold: Caribbean!

Assassin's Creed: Black Flag

Assassin's Creed: Rogue

Sid Meier's Pirates!

Windward

 

And if you want broadsides in space:

 

Rebel Galaxy

 

 

If you want to stick with this game I highly recommend at least talking to some people in your nation chat and asking them for help, and don't just tell them the game they like is bad. You'll see that it gets much easier when you have someone to explain some combat stuff to you and help you through those first few missions till you can buy a 6th rate that has some decent armor and firepower.

 

Also keep in mind, this game is in early access and is very bare bones on content right now. More is in the works and it might be worthwhile just checking back when it's a little further along.

Edited February 17, 2016 by Aetrion

[SeaMist]

The NPC traders give you both cash and experience. After a couple of Lynx go for trader cutters then trader snows. You will get more experience and cash for these than for a mission. Don't board them initially. Just go for the kill. Put plenty of time aside. The second ship I sank was a traders cutter. Took me 2 hours but I am learning.

[Ahoy H.R. Matey]

I don't want to be that guy that tells people to play something else, but if you really really don't want to play with other people:

 

 

Jolly good, now go ahead and take your own advice. If I wanted your opinion on what I should play instead of NA, I would've bloody well asked for it.

 

I'll give a shot to finding and harassing traders. I did manage to win a battle yesterday (one out of three) and bought some long 6lb cannons, though I wasn't as lucky later.

[Aetrion]

Nevermind the fact that I've written several posts trying to give you some advice on how to make this game work for you with no judgement and simply commented on the fact that it's just really not a single player title. 

[Jeheil]

Early on, I would look at doing two or three things, stick with your no-cost, no-punishment 'Cutter'.

 

Ideally play with a mate, if you can't consider, once you have done 2 or 3 missions, hiring a fleet, they more or less pay for themselves and help you get through the early missions.

 

Watch some 'tubes' on how to X, given its early access, they are the closest to a tutorial. I have 3 that are good for starters (first missions, basic gunnery and using a fleet) :

 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAyTtmB_y5mlj8YlUXQEX8vjql7XVjNSz

[Henry d'Esterre Darby]

Locked per request of OP.