Upcoming wipe?

[LeeUK]

So yes, I did search for this, but struggled to find anything concrete. I hadn't played for quite a while, since just before the last major wipe, I decided to come back and have another play test, gain some ranks etc and to see how things are going. However I did see someone in chat mention about an upcoming wipe again, I assume this is true as this is the nature of any Alpha/Beta and EA games, I just wondered if there was any rough estimation as to when we would see this wipe.

 

I am only asking because as much as I don't mind the fact there must be wipes and losing progress, I just didn't want to grind myself out of the smallest ships and into frigates again ( or at least close to Frigates ) only to have to repeat the process in a couple of weeks. My play time of games is generally limited/restricted by work, children and other RL things we all suffer, so thought I would be best to just wait before playing again, or at least grinding, if the wipe is very close.

 

Thanks for reading.

Edited January 1, 2016 by LeeUK

[OlavDeng2]

Wipe should come with early acces release some time this month with any luck

[Benass]

ppl say it is mid Jan. Would like to know, if this is the final wipe. 

[Bart Smith]

"Hard wipe" yes, but there may be more "soft wipes" after.

[Jon Allen]

Presumably a wipe comes when the game goes to Steam Early Access. The website says that will happen in January.

 

That's about as specific as it gets right now.

 

I'm of a similar divided mindset, do I play or do I wait? I've ended up playing because right now Naval Action is the game on my brain, I'm obsessed. But the logical side of me is like "No! Wait until the Wipe happens!" But the other side of my brain isn't listening.

[Powderhorn]

While the anticipated plan is this January for the final hard wipe, I think that plan is a little optimistic. Just my gut feeling though, and would be happy to be wrong.

Soft wipes keep crafting progress and ranks, correct?

[Benass]

My opinion ( it doesnt matter) game is not ready for early access.   Ui and tutorials missing.  Very bad. 

 

But then again, don't mind soft wipes.   EXP the only thing i want to keep.  

[Arnaud Arpes]

While the anticipated plan is this January for the final hard wipe, I think that plan is a little optimistic. Just my gut feeling though, and would be happy to be wrong.

Soft wipes keep crafting progress and ranks, correct?

Soft wipes take out items, ships, etc. But retain gold, xp, and rank from what I understand.

[Nathaniel]

Would be nice to hear if mid january is still the target since it's getting close.

[Llewellyn Jones RN]

My opinion ( it doesnt matter) game is not ready for early access.   Ui and tutorials missing.  Very bad. 

 

But then again, don't mind soft wipes.   EXP the only thing i want to keep.

To be honest I like the ui it's not intrusive and does not detract from the game play like most UI's do nowadays it's simple to use as there are not many features that require it. Agreed in the port screens it needs a lot more polish but we seem to forget this is a very small dev team and there is also a lot of other stuff they will be working on right now most of the current UI is Place holder anyways.

I agree with you on the tutorial front though but I would expect that to be in place for EA.

[PrezesOi]

Early access, with such makeshift interface? it would be suicide. These are not the times of the beginning of DayZ, players are much more careful now. The massive customer will not give NA a second chance, so the first market release must be refined. This is not an alpha / beta that attracted enthusiasts.

[OlavDeng2]

Early access, with such makeshift interface? it would be suicide. These are not the times of the beginning of DayZ, players are much more careful now. The massive customer will not give NA a second chance, so the first market release must be refined. This is not an alpha / beta that attracted enthusiasts.

Honestly, the interface is fine, it doesnt look the worst but i have seen a lot worse in early access.

[Jon Allen]

What Early Access players are most unforgiving of is unstable gameplay, not UI.

 

Games that crash frequently, or lock up, often at the worst possible moment. That's when Steam players throw up their hands and write a "it's unplayable" review.

 

So far my experience with this game has been a fairly stable one. In fact I've been pleasantly surprised at how stable, I was willing to accept the odd crash or lock up but that hasn't happened. At the same time no repetitive glitches have been staring me in the face. At the same time the open world mechanics that exist are viable. I'm sure we'd all love to see more features there, but you can sail around, fight and trade, across the entire Caribbean.

 

I'm sure Early access players will roll out the Pros/Cons lists in their reviews. I'm sure a few will choose to hate on it. But I think the kind of player this game is most likely to appeal to, players interested in an Age of Sail game, will enjoy the experience, even just as it exists now.

 

I do think we're gonna get a cons hit on the tutorial front. I think some will be critical of the UI but also note that it's functionally sound once you get used to it. But these are not "it's unplayable" issues.

 

As long as nothing major pops up, like stability issues, or players cheating/grieving somehow in a big way, I think it'll generally get a positive reception.

Edited January 6, 2016 by Jon Allen

[admin]

the goal for early access for all games is to answer unanswered questions. 

UI / Manuals is not an unanswered question - they have to be done and the only reason they are not done is any additional content might require complete rewrite/rework of UI or/and manuals.

[Powderhorn]

How do you mean, admin?  "To answer unanswered questions."  Could you perhaps give an example?

[Ink]

I guess admin meant how the large increase of players in game will affect the current gameplay and server stability

[MikedaBike]

How do you mean, admin?  "To answer unanswered questions."  Could you perhaps give an example?

He cannot answer that question, as the questions that go with unanswered answers is also unknow until it rears itself up and bites ya ass.

[Powderhorn]

That makes sense, Ink. Thanks.

[JimDandy]

I know the upcoming wipe will be for the PVP server but what about the PVE?

I'm starting to really enjoy time spent there.

[Ink]

I think the wipe is the wipe, doesn't matter it is PVP or PVE server

[Brogsitter]

the goal for early access for all games is to answer unanswered questions. 

UI / Manuals is not an unanswered question - they have to be done and the only reason they are not done is any additional content might require complete rewrite/rework of UI or/and manuals.

 

Nowadays the real reason for "early access" is to get money for a non finished project and the opportunity not to worry about any customers crying for refunds, cause the knew it was not ready yet. Nearly every game is available as an early access version these days. About 20 years ago, the developement companies where paying their alpha testers, before releasing the product within a close beta. After 6 month of closed beta there was usually an open beta as a stress test for the servers and if everything went fine the product was release after 4 to 6 weeks after the OB - now you had to choose if you gonna pay for the game or not. Nowadays companies dont have the cash to prefinance the whole developement process, specially not the small ones, like game labs.

 

I am not sure if this is the best way, but personally I am fine with this, if I see a product having some potential - and this game definitly has some.

 

 

I guess admin meant how the large increase of players in game will affect the current gameplay and server stability

 

I dont think so. Server stability is a must have before pushing to early access. On this behalf I think the servers are pretty stable.