I want to play your game..but I can't.

[Cockeyed Callaway]

I want to play your game, I do, I really do, but you have made it impossible for me to do so. I do not want to bad mouth your game, I don't, I really do not, but you have made it impossible not to.

Two sentences and I would like to approach each on its own if you will indulge me. Sentence one "I want to play your game." The question is, why do you make it so difficult? Not difficult in the challenging sense, difficult in the gaming sense. I get that you want realism. I get that a portion of your players wanted this realism. What I don't get, is your willingness to see your game tank because of this minority. What I don't get, is your willingness to see your vision negated, diminished and consigned to oblivion because of those diehard few. Realism is fine, but realism at the cost of playability is bad game design. Let me be brutally honest here, your open world is "players driven from the game" dull. Your navigation system is frustratingly player unfriendly. Your missions are mind numbingly repetitive. Your port battle system might as well be conceived by a blind man throwing darts at a moving car. You have made an unplayable, dull, repetitive, baron wasteland of an open world.

Before any of you defender of dullness chime in, allow me to say, I too am enamored with this era. I have 1000 hours waiting for this game to mature. I want to play this game, I love the graphics, I love the feel of being at sea in these sailing ships. I want this to succeed, I really, really do, but this is not the path. This is clearly not working. This is not going to work and I am as sorry about that, as you are. Developers don't get defensive please. This game still stands a chance of success, just not in the direction you are heading.

Steal as much as you can from Pirates of the Burning Sea (POTBS).) They got so much right when it came to open world port battles and movement. Call them, they are struggling just like you. maybe an accommodation can be found. Their port and character system with your ship battle system would be...amazing...dare I say...playable. 

Now on to my second opening sentence, again with your indulgence. I do not want to bad mouth your game, but you leave me no option. Am I to say to others this is a great game? For the above mentioned reasons I can not. Am I to say it is a game that will become great? Again, because of the afore mentioned reasons I can not. How can you expect honest players to dishonestly assess the playability of your game, if they do not find it playable? I would love to bring new players to your game. I have in fact done just that. Sadly they are languishing in an empty world and I feel responsible for placing them there.

Here's the part that you developers are going to have a hard time with...'you need to get your stuff together.' Sop listening to the player base that is making your great game die. Enough with the realism, it's real enough. Stop blaming your players for your bad decisions...you made the program, own up to it and you will be empowered to fix it. You screwed it up, you can fix it. Stop blaming the players for your bad reviews, you left them, you left me, with no choice.

Edited August 19, 2017 by Cockeyed Callaway

[Jean LaPointe]

Personally I like the game the way it currently is. There have been many changes in the past two years with this game and the current version, IMHO, is excellent.  It takes time for, a solo player like me, to build up a fleet, docks, mats, XP and rank. I have enjoyed this game much over the past two years.

What is it that keeps you from going in and developing your own sand box?

What, exactly, are you alluding to as missing?

Please refrain from examples of POTBS and EVE as I and a few others here have never played these games and when someone says it should be more like, or have this like that, tells me absolutely nothing. 

 

Thanks

[Macjimm]

The game is not hardcore.  The mechanics are not realistic.  The images are beautifully realistic.  The teleports, time lapse, no damage from collisions or shores, waves or wind, the  lack of darkness at night, doesn't smell of realism.  There are no wages, food or medicine required to keep a crew, no ship maintenance.  No detailed sail adjustments to maximize speed.   No currents or wind drift.   Navigation is so easy it is almost automatic.   The game looks good but ship handling is pretty basic.

When players complain it is too realistic I think they may be expecting or hoping for some arcade type of non stop action.

I tryed a couple of the game generated missions and openned a couple of bottles but the best missions in game are created by the players. Determining what goods, resources or materials to trade, where they can be found, where they can be sold and to whom for the best price and when the best time to sail and who is willing to provide escort for what price and can the escort be trusted or are they an agent or spy for the enemy is complex puzzle that is fascinating and complex.  Seems some players are blaming the game when the enjoyment in game is really whatever the players are prepared to accept from it.  The auto generated  missions seem to be just quick temp stepping stones while we are learning how the keys work and meeting and getting to know other players.

I really don't see how the Devs wrecked the game.  

I  like it.

[Skully]

1 hour ago, Macjimm said:

I really don't see how the Devs wrecked the game.

Underestimating the work that is required to line up community expectations.

[Fargo]

On 19.8.2017 at 6:42 AM, Cockeyed Callaway said:

I get that you want realism. I get that a portion of your players wanted this realism. What I don't get, is your willingness to see your game tank because of this minority.

What people want or like now is not important. The game was defined as "hardcore and realistic". Either you support this direction, or you should keep out. Players buying NA are expecting a game like it is described in steam. Our task is not to constantly question this, but to help devs to deliver that specific game. 

Can you name any example where too much realism is restricting gameplay? Its the opposite case, realism is often refused without any good reasoning. 

2 hours ago, Macjimm said:

I  like it.

And i can exactly tell you why the game is messed up, based on what it was supposed to be and the potential it has. Liking it now means you either have low expectations, or you dont support the original idea of NA.

18 minutes ago, Skully said:

Underestimating the work that is required to line up community expectations.

Thats just not possibe. But they are unable to make sensible decisions themselfe and to filter sensible expectations.

[Skully]

15 minutes ago, Fargo said:

What people want or like now is not important. The game was defined as "hardcore and realistic". Either you support this direction, or you should keep out. Players buying NA are expecting a game like it is described in steam. Our task is not to constantly question this, but to help devs to deliver that specific game. 

Can you name any example where too much realism is restricting gameplay? Its the opposite case, realism is often refused without any good reasoning.

Wikipedia has a perfect description for a hardcore gamer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamer#Dedication_spectrum
Does it fit your description of hardcore as well?

As for realism, this game is totally unrealistic.

Combat is too fast. It doesn't last hours. Tacking goes too fast, firing too fast. There was only a single 1st rate in the Caribbean during this time period and pirates were never a majority. A certified flight simulator is realistic, not this.

However combat is fun, engaging and maneuvering feels good without becoming hardcore and realistic sailing.

In essence playing these cards to counter good gameplay options never works unless you want to satisfy a couple of re-enacters.

The game must cater to gamers, else there is no game.

[Fargo]

2 minutes ago, Skully said:

Wikipedia has a perfect description for a hardcore gamer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamer#Dedication_spectrum
Does it fit your description of hardcore as well?

As for realism, this game is totally unrealistic.

Combat is too fast. It doesn't last hours. Tacking goes too fast, firing too fast. There was only a single 1st rate in the Caribbean during this time period and pirates were never a majority. A certified flight simulator is realistic, not this.

However combat is fun, engaging and maneuvering feels good without becoming hardcore and realistic sailing.

In essence playing these cards to counter good gameplay options never works unless you want to satisfy a couple of re-enacters.

The game must cater to gamers, else there is no game.

Im not talking about hardcore realism. Its a hardcore and realistic game, not a hardcore realistic game. Were aiming for the best compromise, maximum possible realism, not maximum realism. Realism in general is important cause it makes a game immersive, what is probably the main reason people play games like this.

Maximum possible realism means if we refuse realism, there needs to be a good gameplay or resource related reason. In terms of time/speed and battle size there obviously need to be lots of compromises. But thats mostly it.

Take cannon performance vs. ship strenght for example. We know how realistic penetration curves look like, we roughly know ship/wood thicknesses, ship HP is totally artificial, and cannon accuracy/handling is necessarily a compromise. Why dont set realistic penetration curves and thicknesses, and do the major balancing with HP and accuracy? 

 

"Hardcore" is a different take, and i cant tell how devs understand it. But i can tell about extremes. How many firstrates around would make grinding a first rate hardcore? We can have different opinions, but with first rate only battles its definitely not hardcore and as unrealistic as it can be. When 90% of the population is max rank, not hardcore and very unrealistic too. Maybe devs intend it to be like this, but its highly unlikely to me. In terms of game design nothing is currently providing any long time motivation.

[Hethwill, the Red Duke]

Hardcore Realism = Fully laden silver Indiamans convoy would take 40 days from Veracruz to La Habana, taking from the numerous accounts.

Hardcore Realism = 4 months cruise of a Spanish squadron around Lagoa de Terminos, Ruatan, and surrounding areasm without sighting a single enemy or pirate ship to fight.

[Cockeyed Callaway]

Let me give you guys some hardcore realism...no one is playing. There hasn't been a port battle for a week on Global. EU server is posting as many players as Global does and Global has always been at a quarter of what EU was. Each country averages 12-18 people per play period I'm on. You know what? That's probably quite real for the actual period, but it isn't going to realistically end with the game succeeding. Which is what we all want.

[Skully]

51 minutes ago, Cockeyed Callaway said:

Let me give you guys some hardcore realism...no one is playing. There hasn't been a port battle for a week on Global. EU server is posting as many players as Global does and Global has always been at a quarter of what EU was. Each country averages 12-18 people per play period I'm on. You know what? That's probably quite real for the actual period, but it isn't going to realistically end with the game succeeding. Which is what we all want.

I can tell you why I stopped playing: 

 

On 8/19/2017 at 6:42 AM, Cockeyed Callaway said:

I want to play your game, I do, I really do, but you have made it impossible for me to do so.

What has made it impossible for you to play?

[BetaVape]

Only action on Global is the east US coast being perma ganked. Something needs to be done soon.

[Skully]

7 hours ago, BetaVape said:

Only action on Global is the east US coast being perma ganked. Something needs to be done soon.

Have you tried joining the British? The Free Empire has a huge west coast for PvE and safe rebuilding.

[Cockeyed Callaway]

16 minutes ago, Skully said:

Have you tried joining the British? The Free Empire has a huge west coast for PvE and safe rebuilding.

Ahhh...great idea, only one problem...yet another hoop to jump through. If you want to change nations and you do not have the transfer papers, you must start from scratch. Basically, if you're a new guy (post wipe) and are miserable because your country has no ports or is under constant threat of ganks, you have three options.

1) Stay and overcome the obstacles if possible. Of course if you're just a trader, part time PvPer or lone wolf, that may be asking a lot. 

2) Change nations and loose all of your progress. I'm sure flushing countless hours of grinding down the toilet and starting from scratch will be worth it...maybe.

3) Quit the game because it is not fun and you feel you have no good options. Nawwwww...no one would do that...or would they?

[Skully]

7 minutes ago, Cockeyed Callaway said:

Ahhh...great idea, only one problem...yet another hoop to jump through. If you want to change nations and you do not have the transfer papers, you must start from scratch.

Yup, the hoop does not need to be effortless, but it must never be impossible.

Some see it as traitors jumping ship, but I see it as casuals without options.

[Aglos]

+1 op

[Mrdoomed]

On 8/20/2017 at 1:56 AM, Macjimm said:

The game is not hardcore.  The mechanics are not realistic.  The images are beautifully realistic.  The teleports, time lapse, no damage from collisions or shores, waves or wind, the  lack of darkness at night, doesn't smell of realism.  There are no wages, food or medicine required to keep a crew, no ship maintenance.  No detailed sail adjustments to maximize speed.   No currents or wind drift.   Navigation is so easy it is almost automatic.   The game looks good but ship handling is pretty basic.

When players complain it is too realistic I think they may be expecting or hoping for some arcade type of non stop action.

I tryed a couple of the game generated missions and openned a couple of bottles but the best missions in game are created by the players. Determining what goods, resources or materials to trade, where they can be found, where they can be sold and to whom for the best price and when the best time to sail and who is willing to provide escort for what price and can the escort be trusted or are they an agent or spy for the enemy is complex puzzle that is fascinating and complex.  Seems some players are blaming the game when the enjoyment in game is really whatever the players are prepared to accept from it.  The auto generated  missions seem to be just quick temp stepping stones while we are learning how the keys work and meeting and getting to know other players.

I really don't see how the Devs wrecked the game.  

I  like it.

I agree this is in no way a hardcore game. In fact its about as far from hardcore as they get.

I think people confuse hardcore or realistic with time consuming or repetition.  This game ( to me) became sim ant with ships and i couldnt stand it any more but hardcore or realistic it was not.