Please Admin, fix it

[Edward Canaday]

I'm beginning to find that this is an illogical circular loop.  There's not enough PVP because there are no players.  There aren't enough players because there's not enough PVP.  Doomed, I'm with you somewhat, but I am really starting to believe that there's just not a driving force that makes people want to play the game...like REALLY play the game.  I play throughout the week (usually not long week nights but I at least log on for a few minutes).  Population spikes on Friday and Saturday (mostly friday night) and a drive for hostility (through PVE only) to schedule a Port Battle for Sunday.  POrt battle occurs (usually uncontested), everyone rejoices.  They then all log off.

There is no driving reason for an average player to play this game.  I play because I enjoy sailing, and I enjoy random encounters with people.  But there's no plot mechanism, there's no real driving force.  Conquest was a brilliant idea, but with no strong motivating factor for taking a region (I can only think of two or three regions I'd really fight for) the only people currently taking regions are those people that want to "win" by taking uncontested land.  That same need to win causes ridiculous alliances that make the biggest nations impossible to beat.  This was a game that was originally designed as a fun but ultimately meaningless way to experience Age of Sail naval combat.  Now it's on the cusp of becoming a self-contained world with National Politics and meaningful interactions between players.  

However, a combination of both players and Developers seem stuck on the "PVP is GOD" concept that requires everyone to be able to immediately engage in PVP.  I love PVP.  I think it's an amazing mechanic in this game that can be used to drive the "story" of this world forward.  But it's not the ONLY mechanic.  Create meaningful purpose for players to get out and sail, and PVP will happen.  

Create real political purpose.  Give envoys the ability to sail into a capitol port and post messages about why an alliance with their nation is beneficial.  Make Nations matter!  Right now the clan mentality outstrips any real National pride.  The voting mechanic is there, apply it to more than just war/peace.  Vote for National leaders that can appoint ambassadors to other nations.  Create a strict limit on alliances to ensure war still occurs (two allies per nation max, for example) Putting a message board in the capitol city of each nation allows people to get their voice heard to all members of the nation (this would help in both leadership and alliance voting).  

I'm clearly ranting at this point, but the ultimate point here is that there are many things that can be done to make the game great.  PVP isn't a problem, PVE isn't a problem.  The problem is Purpose.

[Jean Ribault]

1 hour ago, Edward Canaday said:

...

I'm clearly ranting at this point, but the ultimate point here is that there are many things that can be done to make the game great.  PVP isn't a problem, PVE isn't a problem.  The problem is Purpose.

 

This post shows some good insight.  I don't really think pvp or pve is necessarily a problem either.  With a critical mass of players actually logging on, both of these work right now.  But I agree, it's actually giving that critical mass a perpetual reason to log on, that's the key.  What is the solution though?

[Sir Texas Sir]

On 11/16/2016 at 8:29 AM, Hodo said:

Damn you are spot on with everything.

I suggest a reduction of the tag timer to 10sec.  If you cant get out in 10sec you should be tagged.

The second ring should not, I repeat, should NOT draw in AI ships.

The pirates are a broken faction, and NEED to be worked on ASAP!

If you are sailing around in a 2nd or 1st rate alone, you are a target, and thus an idiot.  

"Gentlemen, when the enemy is committed to a mistake we must not interrupt him too soon." - Horatio Nelson

I do think 20 secs is way to long.  You can be half way down the cost that long and in a bad spot from when you started it.  20 secs is actually a very long time if you been in actuall fight before.    10 secs does seem  like a good middle ground to go with. I don't mind the little and big circle. I actually watch how I hit ships even AI better now cuase of them.  My issue is why are there so many SOL's on the OW?   Those should be rare if your going have AI fleets they need to be more trader and frigate levels.  So even if they get int he fight they aren't going to make the tide turn majorly.   Every time I pull in an AI fleet and it's not shallow it's all ways a bunch of SOL ships that I have to get the trader fast and hope they don't get to me before I finish the board of AN AI NPC SHIP.  Now lets make this a player ship.  You kno they are going to go towards there AI help so it's pointless you turn away and hope for a better day and that your not going to get ganked like crazy when you leave the battle or just log out in the screen.  These things are what hurting PvP in the game.   That and I'm so sick of the guys that have to bring AI's every where they go and on top that they are getting AI fleet helps in there water.   I don't want to remove AI fleets, but I think we need to get a bigger hit some how on them if they have them or they get no OW ai help fhtye have fleets.