The newbie dilemma

[Ligatorswe]

We who love PVP sometimes say that the game is PVP centered.

But it is not. Not yet. At least not for the lower levels (in the open world. they have small and large pattles too, which is good for them).

I have spoken to some new players playing denmark - Norway recently. It was sad. They and their brittish-playing friends are basicly only playing PVE on the PVP server at the moment.

Most other ships are big and there is no, or very little rooom, for new players in the PVP battles of the BIG clans or groups of ships. The only PVP batlles going on close to Christiansted are those against the DRUNK clan (swedes) and they come in groups of several large ships. The first experience of new players are often to be ganged by a DRUNK rennommé while doing a mission. Not until you get a snow or a Mercury is there a small chans to get some kind of PVP in group, against DRUNK or the Brittish.

The Brits are apparently experiencing similar things in Kingston. The new players dont get PVP (more than in large and small battles, not in OW), more than the moments they get ganked by pirates or danes in larger ships,

So the game might be PVP centered but for the new players the focus is PVE in the OW, and/or getting ganked by the big boys.

This is somewhat problematic. How do we make Open World experience better, and more PVP centered,  for new players?

[Long Beard]

Do new players really need PVP in those early stages? Most of my time as a newbie was learning the game mechanics, sailing, weapon types, how to defeat my missions.  PVP was always my aim, but in those early weeks I had more than my hands full with the learning curve.

Only once I was slightly more confident in my own abilities did I seek out PVP. Of course I got owned, but that in itself was a learning experience.

I don't think new players should rush for PVP.

[Mrdoomed]

Im level 7 and still play in the small ships. Privy and snow are my favorite. I never am at a loss for pvp, weather its solo or small hunting group.

New player may have it a little difficult but should figure out quickly to group up to hunt bigger ships.

[_Masterviolin]

I agree entirely with Mr. Long Beard. The first few ranks of XP and grinding in 7th/6th rates have proved to be a learning experience to truly contemplate and understand the game's complex mechanics, and obtaining skill in the art of naval warfare. This process is crucial to begin larger-scale PVP. This is a good thing, as when we have PVP between experienced players who know what they're doing, great things come of it!

[kovah]

Is the Small Battles mechanic from port still a thing?  I did that a number of times for my first 3 "levels" until I got into a Snow.  Also did some missions and chased a few contraband traders to mix it up.

 

The last time I tried a Small Battle it ended up just being my Snow and an npc cutter vs two other player cutters...  Kinda lame.  Maybe up the incentive to use that feature so more of us revisit it?  I can't see a problem with leveling solely via PvP if that's what you want to do from the start.  After the first battle buy some longs for your cutter an YOLO! 

[Urby]

Nothing says you can't sail and set up near a city that enemy traders use to earn profit, get the right ship (Lynx) and you can chase down player traders and earn quite a bit off it too.

[Strake]

You'll find lots of posts on these forums about the difficulty in finding single or double ship PvP opportunities. It can be tough. The OW has lots of PvP chances, but if you're not in a clan or group or are new, more often than not you will get ganked. I've found the Small Battles under the missions tab in port to be a good option for seeking out fair PvP. Sometimes there's no one there and you get stuck fighting an NPC - just cancel out and come back later. You can pick the ship you want to battle with and you'll see the number of players in the battle - not bad. Once you're in the battle, sometimes your opponents will run away, but usually you'll get the opportunity to do some maneuvering and shooting.

You only get half the normal XP in the small battles - its not for leveling up. Its for fun and learning to salil and shoot, and seeing some new players you wouldn't ordinarily run across in the OW.

Edited March 20, 2016 by Strake

[Tennessee88]

Sometime I hop in a cutter and sale up near mortimer town, find new enemy players all to willing to pvp. Sometimes over and over again. Heck, have even used it as an opportunity to teach them some mechanics. One poor chap immediately ran into irons and after a few broadsides I realized he had no idea how to get out of them. So stood the gun crews down and walked him through it. 

 

PVE though is good to start out with until you get the hang of basic gunnery, tacking, crew management, and eventually manual sails. But there is nothing preventing new players from doing just enough missions to set up a new outpost in a free port near hostile waters and having a good time. 

 

However, will look forward to mechanics which encourage pvp and frigate duels.