First Impressions

[Elric]

I'm new to the game, but I thought it worth noting my initial impressions of the game.

 

Very complex.

Not very well documented (not documented is a better description).  I tried following a number of tutorials - and got very confused - maybe because the game has changed appreciably since many of those where created.

 

The game is very intruiging - and sadly at times very boring.  The long runs to wrecks and remote ports chasing obscure materials have resulted in me setting course and walking away to do something for 15-20 minutes...  often to come back and the game timed out...   hmm...  there really needs to be some option to compress time for these long runs.  Some of the other games I've played offered a 2x and 3x speed increase to help with the boredom.  The sad comment came from my wife - she wanted to know where I got the latest screen saver... 

 

The wrecks seem all too predictable, a little gold, a little silver and a upgrade - and hopefully some hours thrown in.  Repeat and repeat - how about some significant variation in the loot type and quantity?.

Edited July 7, 2016 by Elric

[Vernon Merrill]

Not trying to argue stall, because yes, the map is huge. However, many people find this a great feature. I understand the frustration of a new player, but once you build up a bit of gold to open up some new outposts in different areas, it becomes less daunting. And yes, the mechanics are very PvP centric. Good luck and fair winds.!!

[Hethwill, the Red Duke]

It is a game to last, to experience little by little and learn by discovery. It grants liberty for a player to "design" own goals at any pace desired and still is persistent open world.

[The Spud]

Welcome to Naval Action!

 

 

Its good to see the impressions from a new player, as they often experience the game completely different as compared to higher ranked players.

 

The game does lack some information or tutorials at this point, but allot of the mechanics are not fully implemented or don't have their final form yet, so putting time in a tutorial now is a waste of time from the devs part. You'll find some tutorials online, and the Wiki page and the site www.navalactioncraft.com will update their site with the changes in the new mechanics. If you can't find it out there, you will find that allot of players will offer to help you out with any questions, or will even invite you to do some missions to help you rank.

 

Joining a clan is also something I would like to advise when that is something you are interested in. They will help out their clanmates with whatever they need, they will run missions, do PvP, Port battles, etc... If you are doing long sailing trips you can always have some random banter, it makes the trip les boring. The tip about the outposts is certainly a good one, get some outposts in free towns where the action is. It will save you allot of sailing.

 

I believe they are planning on expaning on the sealed bottle drops, as I believe to have read somewhere that they are not yet finished with it.

 

The best way to approach this game is to consider it a sand box game with massive possibilities where there is no real ultimate goal you need to achieve.

They will implement XP for crafting etc in the next months, so you are not realy forced to do follow a certain play style.

I would also recommend trying out the smuggler system, as it gives allot of options to small players to do some fun stuff.

 

Have fun!

[Enraged Ewok]

I recommend opening the ingame help chat. Even if there's nothing you have to ask right away, the questions other players ask and the answers they receive can give you some insight on mechanics, tactics, and so on.

[Jean LaPointe]

You need to sset your own goals. Take it a step at a time and enjoy the journey. Examples would be to get a location your want to operate out of and a building to make resources from. Start small work your way up. Do some crafting and expand your abilities. Look at an ultimate goal, but keep in mind you will be changing course as time and experiences will drive you quest into other thoughts or locations. Learning what resources are available at what port and for how much is just as interesting as a battle can be. Keep notes so you can remember where the best prices are for what resourse your are in need of.

It really is an enjoyable game. I find I can have a conversation with the wife or watch a little TV whie playing the game for the most part. It isn't one where it takes all your attention all the time. It will when you battle because one mistake you make can be capitalized by the person your are playing against to your disadvantage. Other than in a battle, it is a relaxing run to new adventures.

[Sir Cloudsley-Shovell]

Also one BIG thing to bear in mind is that its still in Alpha build,so we are ostensibly still testing the game,Expect minor and major patches/upgrades.

[Elric]

There are a few minor irritants with the game - although I suspect those will get ironed out at the game matures into a full live release.

 

• Message prompts about leaving port without cannons on a cargo ship you can't arm with cannon...
• Message prompts every time I want to convert my caught fish into fish supplies.
• Not having the Long/Lat on the main screen - but having to keep toggling to the map to see it.
• Not being able to set timing on the 'double-click' port/starboard keyboard controls - it frustrates to have the ship spinning out of control....  I really thing it would be better to use a couple of different keys for the 'keep turning' commands.

[Jean LaPointe]

Count your blessings. Up until this last patch, there was no Long/Latin on he map and your position in the OW was guess work. At least now your navigator can provide a relative position instead of just using dead reckoning.

[*]Not having the Long/Lat on the main screen - but having to keep toggling to the map to see it.

Count your blessings. Up until this last patch, there was no Long/Lat. on he map and your position in the OW was guess work. At least now your navigator can provide a relative position instead of just using dead reckoning. Edited July 8, 2016 by Jean LaPointe

[Elric]

Second impressions - I've been playing 10 days now.  Already got bored of the PvE server and moved to PvP.  Certainly more going on.  The trading is much less predictable (that is good).  You really have to search around and use the whole map to find what you need. 

 

The combat mode is confusing at first - lots going on.  I REALLY like the combat.  The fact that is is hard work to sink another vessel is great. 

 

It would be nice to see wind strength - both on OW and in combat.  It would also be nice to see the wind information while in town.  There's been a couple of times I've loaded up material, left port and found I would have been better off going in a different direction with a different load.

[Hethwill, the Red Duke]

Ah ! Great that you made a change.

 

Wind strength is constant. Yes, having wind direction information in town could be very useful

[angriff]

Just astounded how UnFUN Port battles are 

[Vernon Merrill]

They CAN be.... If you have an experienced group who's fought together before. Line fights can be a good time if you have a commander who's understands tactics.

[angriff]

I am sorry but you are wrong wrong wrong.  If all this game is about is Port battles then this game is doomed.

[Skully]

Why play the Port Battle then?

Personally I like the brawls going into and out of Port Battles much more.

[angriff]

Why play the Port Battle then?

Personally I like the brawls going into and out of Port Battles much more.

The game is designed about Port Battles.  Port Battles are the only player attractor mechanism.  That is a device that bring players together in conflict.  After that it is endless sailing through miles of empty ocean with no idea where the enemy ships or players would be.

[Serk]

We should have land in PB soon, with real forts instead of odd towers in the middle of nowhere. Personally, most of my recent PB's were un defended, which sucks, but the new mechanic should fix that. Hopefully, addition of land and forts will provide a better role for frigates and mortar brigs too.

You could also try large battles in the duel room.

Edited July 16, 2016 by Serk

[Bach]

The game is designed about Port Battles. Port Battles are the only player attractor mechanism. That is a device that bring players together in conflict. After that it is endless sailing through miles of empty ocean with no idea where the enemy ships or players would be.

That is not true. I haven't hardly bothered to PB in the last two months. I find plenty of PvP and other things to do without it. I find clues and methods to predict where enemy ships will be.

What is that you would like to do that you are finding difficulty doing or is it that you want to do port battles but find the current mechanism unfun?

Edited July 16, 2016 by Bach

[Elric]

Third Impressions - as I learn more about the game, the more I realize how complex and involved the game is.  Starting out, most of the early days were spend fishing or going from port to port exploring the map.  Followed by a few missions to grasp the combat skills and most recently getting involved in PvP battles.  My overall impression as very favorable - I think the game is addicting.  There are a few things that concern me.

 

Some of the most recent posts hit on one item I think is unfair or at least poorly thought through - port battles.  The fact that the opposition can launch attacks when few people are around is frustrating - and once they take a port, you can't get it back for a couple of days - why?   Then the level of the person acquiring the flag is limiting - if you don't have a senior person around, you cannot launch a port attack... 

 

Leaving port - you have no visibility of what is immediately outside or even in the same port that can leave immediately after you.  It would be nice to see some view of the area outside, and what players / ships are active in the same port.

 

The combat timers need some work.  Several times I've been fairly close to opponents and they vanish.  There should be a requirement about being outside of gun range before they can disappear.