[Implemented] Skirmish

[Roberts]

For demographics we will need a solution as most goldsmiths will try to avoid putting their fleets there. Perhaps we should remove the entries. Although there is room for deception there.

Goldsmiths general, will need to conduct strategy plans in order to limit losses in Skirmish.

Yes label each fleet xx so then , that player would have to attack 20 trade fleets which is impossible via skirmish...

As in my opinion 20-30 trade fleets is what the average player will have in his life time... And now my caps lock is broke...Says its on when its not... Could be more bad news on the way!

[Most Lee Harmless]

No, I dont think that is necessary : with some lateral thinking, there is a player-led solution to the demo page showing the fleet name ; I notice some have already adopted it, maybe not for that initial reason but it works for this purpose too.

if there is one aspect of the skirmish that concerns me, its the fact its asymetrical for plunder : a win is capped at cargo value x2 : a defeat is calculated as a 'normal' loss, so its the full-on amount, capped at 250k : that makes skirmishing uneconomic for anyone who needs a larger purse; for cashflow into a GS, for example, or to cover higher value fleets.

I noticed this because one player skirmished a guildmate and gained a few 1000 gcs plunder : they skirmished me, lost the fight and it cost them 120k : it does make the risk/reward ratio a bit silly unless you are a small fleet pirate who rarely carries more than 50k anyway...

[Roberts]

A guildmate and gained a few 1000 gcs plunder : they skirmished me, lost the fight and it cost them 120k : it does make the risk/reward ratio a bit silly unless you are a small fleet pirate who rarely carries more than 50k anyway...

Hint hint... I think that last bit was aimed at me

[Captain Jack]

if there is one aspect of the skirmish that concerns me, its the fact its asymetrical for plunder : a win is capped at cargo value x2 : a defeat is calculated as a 'normal' loss, so its the full-on amount, capped at 250k : that makes skirmishing uneconomic for anyone who needs a larger purse; for cashflow into a GS, for example, or to cover higher value fleets.

If I understand it well, you are concerned about the incomes/profit of those conducting Skirmishes?

[Psychodad]

-Edited out - 1 warning for harassment, Cpt Jack

ok...I get it and thanks for proving my point. If I speak out against an unfair policy, then I'm harassing. If I carefully set up my merchant ships and plan the route, BUY (spend money to support the game) voodoo to protect them and then others steal from me, that's perfectly OK. Heck of a system (ooh is it okay to say "heck"?)

What if I have merchant ships with no cargo, parked in a port, (That of course is no protection because why should I be safe no matter what I do) and some poor, underprivileged pirate uses his freely given skirmish points on my empty ships, how much does he get then?

BTW, sorry Synster, hope you're ok

[Most Lee Harmless]

reply to CJ:

No, done properly, a small fleet pirate can make some useful coin daily, and occasionally, hit the jackpot. their small purse will minimise losses in event of a defeat so, on balance, it works fine for them.

I was commenting that the asymetrical nature of the plunder calculations makes it a high risk/low reward sport for anyone who needs to carry a larger purse, and thus will suffer a higher loss if defeated.

For that reason, I wont be skirmishing much at all : I skirmished 2 times : one escaped, the other got me less than 10k : then one 'normal' hit on a lit fleet : total 18 danger : a return hit on my now lit fleet cost me 70k : I have been skirmished twice : one I evaded, the other I won 120k : seems to me, the math says best practice for me is to not hit but keep getting hit and I'll do fine

[Synyster]

I'm fine, good thing alkie took 90% of my offensive voodoo.. btw lemme give u a hint to minimize losses.. on second thoughts.. nah, some things u need to figure out yourself..

[Captain Jack]

reply to CJ:

No, done properly, a small fleet pirate can make some useful coin daily, and occasionally, hit the jackpot. their small purse will minimise losses in event of a defeat so, on balance, it works fine for them.

I was commenting that the asymetrical nature of the plunder calculations makes it a high risk/low reward sport for anyone who needs to carry a larger purse, and thus will suffer a higher loss if defeated.

For that reason, I wont be skirmishing much at all : I skirmished 2 times : one escaped, the other got me less than 10k : then one 'normal' hit on a lit fleet : total 18 danger : a return hit on my now lit fleet cost me 70k : I have been skirmished twice : one I evaded, the other I won 120k : seems to me, the math says best practice for me is to not hit but keep getting hit and I'll do fine

It is as you describe it.

We do not expect players like you (meaning your current strategy) to use the Skirmish feature. For players who do not use their skirmish points at all, we could give some other usage at some point. This possibility has already been discussed in the suggestion topic.

Skirmish is a very weighted feature. There can be no major surprises.

[Psychodad]

I'm fine, good thing alkie took 90% of my offensive voodoo.. btw lemme give u a hint to minimize losses.. on second thoughts.. nah, some things u need to figure out yourself..

Well good. Glad you're ok...after all, pirates need to be protected and uplifted, that's how one sided fixed games work right?.

You'll be happy to note I have emptied all my fleets of cargo and parked them..probably sell them all off soon. End of my merchant days...Captain Jack doesn't like merchants, so no more trading for me. I will just make gold bars and not sell them, just wait for the next update that allows pirates to seize whatever they want.

Unicorns and Rainbows to all of the skirmishers...so happy I could provide so much pleasure to all of you. I will spend my money elsewhere now.

[Francois le Clerc]

You'll be happy to note I have emptied all my fleets of cargo and parked them..probably sell them all off soon. End of my merchant days...Captain Jack doesn't like merchants, so no more trading for me. I will just make gold bars and not sell them, just wait for the next update that allows pirates to seize whatever they want.

Unicorns and Rainbows to all of the skirmishers...so happy I could provide so much pleasure to all of you. I will spend my money elsewhere now.

AYE!AYE!CAPTAIN!