Players appearing in Battles

[MacHopper]

So from what little I know, the subject of people being able to join "your" battle and ruin it for you (sinking or taking the enemy from you) is long established and well known. That is why I have generally ignored and avoided targets being attacked by someone else or one with too many ships nearby

 

So I was incredibly confused and irritated to find that when I attacked a French Trader's Brig in the middle of nowhere with no one around I had two human players in there from the start/countdown. These players then, surprise surprise, sank the target rather than taking it. Even after the battle they were nowhere to be seen, even after invisibility should have worn off...

 

So can anyone explain how two human players got into "my" battle when they were nowhere near and vanished afterwards?

 

Thanks for any help.

 

Mac

[Admiral 8Q]

Was the visibility really poor? Like a squall or fog perhaps?

[MacHopper]

Nope, beautiful Caribbean day

[kitsunelegend]

Those were AI I think...has happened to me a couple times this past week....don't know what conditions make it happen, but it does happen and its a little bit annoying to be honest....

[Tindahbawx]

Perhaps they were still invisible after a fight prior to joining yours, or they had recently undocked?

[MacHopper]

Perhaps they were still invisible after a fight prior to joining yours, or they had recently undocked?

 

Well, its certainly a possibility but I thought I was quite some distance from a Port - though it is feasible. Just incredibly annoying as I leave the mobs scrambling to screw each other out of a target around the big deep sea ports to their own devices and thought that was good enough.

[Admiral 8Q]

Well, its certainly a possibility but I thought I was quite some distance from a Port - though it is feasible. Just incredibly annoying as I leave the mobs scrambling to screw each other out of a target around the big deep sea ports to their own devices and thought that was good enough.

They also could have been at a camera angle that you weren't looking at prior to the battle. Keep in mind also that in OW ships move at warp speed.

[Admiral 8Q]

I've gotten into the habit of looking 360 degrees before engaging in a battle.


(Oops sorry, meant to edit my last post, not make anouther one.)

Edited February 18, 2016 by Admiral 8Q

[Bert Beard]

Had this happen to me too.

Tag a contraband ship by myself and before the battle closes other players join in and sink the ship you demasted and are in the process of capturing. 

[John Quilliam]

Happened to me yesterday. Two sea urchins joined while I was attacking a trading brig. They were no where to be seen before I hit attack but 2 minutes in they joined. Rammed me off during boarding and took it.

They mocked in chat.. I was so close to becoming a pirate. They demasted and graped me.

Edited February 24, 2016 by Captain John Quilliam

[Capt. Rice]

yea the circle of attack brings in more then i thought would  and you have to keep your head on a swivel...

[Admiral 8Q]

Also npc ships can join in.