skill and pirates

[Grimrock Litless]

I think there should be an automated mechanic that bans someone's PG account for 1 week every time they complain about "merchants having this or pirates having that, it's just not fair that I can't be the best, have the most, be untouched, wah wah.."

Perhaps then those of you who do so may learn to get over it. If not well.. at least the rest of us would get a week off from the same old tiresome squawking.

I very much disagree with this. Even though strategy is part of it; it is a dependent factor based on game mechanics. If you ruin someone's strategy through constant changes in game mechanics. They do have the right to disagree and complain. Nevertheless you are saying that the game should ban people for voicing their word, which to me sounds worse than suggestion ever made.

Every game community complains about game changes. There has been proposals the Admin has put up before that people thought were too OP for either side and rejected. If we just banned voicing, then everyone who disagreed would just be banned. Great idea (not really). Never the less, why even talk about introducing new features in the game, because if you bring up anything against them, you get banned? Better to just put them in so no one even knows until they get a new "Game Update" in their news.

Recent game changes have harshly nerfed ship stealing. This has gotten to the point where now levis and ambushes are a necessary for any raid. These are very expensive voodoo cards. If you look at the levi price, it has doubled ever since the sink price change. May be you, but some can't afford this new "strategy" you talk about. This "new strategy" is just a burden to anyone's pockets. Now it relies more on the mistakes of the target than the strategy of the pirate as I have observed.

Nah, its just that they get annoyed when people makes argument that could change the game too much.
Or just arguments that could effect them.

If it doesn't effect them, why would they need to care?

If how I see things is wrong, like being good because you can gain something. If I don't gain anything from something, why do?

[Donald Trump]

I think there should be an automated mechanic that bans someone's PG account for 1 week every time they complain about "merchants having this or pirates having that, it's just not fair that I can't be the best, have the most, be untouched, wah wah.."

Perhaps then those of you who do so may learn to get over it. If not well.. at least the rest of us would get a week off from the same old tiresome squawking.

I very much disagree with this. Even though strategy is part of it; it is a dependent factor based on game mechanics. If you ruin someone's strategy through constant changes in game mechanics. They do have the right to disagree and complain. Nevertheless you are saying that the game should ban people for voicing their word, which to me sounds worse than suggestion ever made.

Recent game changes have harshly nerfed ship stealing. This has gotten to the point where now levis and ambushes are a necessary for any raid. These are very expensive voodoo cards. If you look at the levi price, it has doubled ever since the sink price change. May be you, but some can't afford this new "strategy" you talk about. This "new strategy" is just a burden to anyone's pockets. Now it relies more on the mistakes of the target than the strategy of the pirate as I have observed.

Fact is, this is the direction the game Admins wish to take the game, and i do not entirely disagree with them. Sure I think the turn limit bites but it is what it is. Learn to adapt. Ship stealing has become so common that no one with the coin to do so sails the larger ships. Whats the point of even having them around then?

No, a pirate should rely on basic plunder and skirmishing for daily or routine income (we were even given bonus income from techs and sink chance for crying out loud). Ship stealing is and should always be; expensive, difficult, strategic, and an art form that not everyone can accomplish without trial, error, and a brain to change their tactics when required.

A merchant who knows his stuff, has been around forever, and maintains top of the line defense strategy should not lose all his Ship of the Lines because he sails them and any half wit with a Frigate can pull the same old trick to do so.. If you want to take down the big dogs, come up with something new, absorb the cost, and think outside the box.

The game will always evolve, old things go, new things come. Those of us who adapt quickest always remain at the top. Those who do not adapt at all, complain or quit...

This bonus gold you get when you take a level off a ship is meaningless. It is little gold and does not take from the target's wallet. Techs? Hah, try to live off of ship stealing and still care about techs that don't help with ship stealing.

Players should have the right to disagree with admins. I think that admins should not just have their right of way with any suggestion. And a merchant who knows what they are doing should not gain their perfect protection against getting their ships taken. It is a balance that should keep them from being immune.

And being able to take a player's fleet is not as easy as you make it seem to be. Requires much more than meets the eyes.

[Vane]

I didnt say they should have perfect protection or be immune, I said top of the line defense warrants a more difficult time for their attacker to succeed... there should definitely be ways for those with the knowledge, assets, and coin that allow them to defend their prize ships better than the next bloke. (not immune). But their attacker should need to plan better, spend more, and use a stronger ship than the typical frigate at times.

living off of ship stealing is your own fault then...

I never said stealing ships was easy either, I said it "needs" to be difficult... But I'll take your word on "ship stealing" mate,, I am certain you know more about it than I do..

[Stan Rogers]

" Hah, try to live off of ship stealing and still care "

The game is not designed to make a living from ship stealing. Ship stealing only happens at much greater expense than the return usually.

This is where your problem is, you have chosen a profession that is not sustainable over long term play. It's not fair to those merchants/pirates who have adapted their play style to fit the new game parameters.

Being a pirate is good and there are more perks than ever before to ensure their survival. When I started, I wanted to be a pirate hunter and it worked for a while until most of the pirates changed professions. I too had to change my game or starve.

[Grimrock Litless]

The key, is profit as I do not believe that there are anyone just playing to ruins anyone's gameplay. Sure, it has happened to me and I see grief plays before. But how long they lasted? 3 days? 1 month? Dunno for more. Heck, I am playing here for 6 years, I can afford griefing more than the griefer can afford.

Ah, grief that's whats happening.

[Donald Trump]

I didnt say they should have perfect protection or be immune, I said top of the line defense warrants a more difficult time for their attacker to succeed... there should definitely be ways for those with the knowledge, assets, and coin that allow them to defend their prize ships better than the next bloke. (not immune). But their attacker should need to plan better, spend more, and use a stronger ship than the typical frigate at times.

living off of ship stealing is your own fault then...

I never said stealing ships was easy either, I said it "needs" to be difficult... But I'll take your word on "ship stealing" mate,, I am certain you know more about it than I do..

Using a stronger fleet warrants higher loses in a raid. If a pirate used an SoTL and defleeted anyone from these bigger guilds, hah, they would have lost their SoTL 15 minutes after the raid. Anyways, it is uncommon and history and now for a pirate to use high-end ships. Just is not right and warrants higher losses.

And the smarter merchants know to not carry anything that is easily warranted to loss. Which is why pirates don't raid them. Pirates raid the people who have not learned yet. No pirate wants to go after some merchant who is geared up with every protection in book, because it costs a lot. You have to manage what is worth it and what is not. A newbie/idiot merchant is usually worth it.

And ship-stealing use to be a decent means of profit. It certainly did not bypass a merchant's profit. But it was much more fun than being a merchant. A decent alternative. Now it is mediocre at best.


EDIT: As for the pictures you have posted. The 1st one is BS. I cast FoJ before the MB. One FoJ was REMOVED under the MB. And I cast FoJ back to put it back. It would have been cheaper than removing the MB and applying a new FoJ.

But then again, why should we start hitting other player's backgrounds? Mr. Garcia-Rothchild-Aubrey-Vane?



Partially edited, 1 warning issued, Cpt Jack

[Donald Trump]

" Hah, try to live off of ship stealing and still care "

The game is not designed to make a living from ship stealing. Ship stealing only happens at much greater expense than the return usually.

This is where your problem is, you have chosen a profession that is not sustainable over long term play. It's not fair to those merchants/pirates who have adapted their play style to fit the new game parameters.

Being a pirate is good and there are more perks than ever before to ensure their survival. When I started, I wanted to be a pirate hunter and it worked for a while until most of the pirates changed professions. I too had to change my game or starve.

Well said. Which is why I and many stopped pirating.

The profession that is no longer self-sustainable is pirating.

In my eyes, there are many different routes and player types you could have in this game. Ship stealing was one of them. And one that was there for a long time.

[Stan Rogers]

" Hah, try to live off of ship stealing and still care "

The game is not designed to make a living from ship stealing. Ship stealing only happens at much greater expense than the return usually.

This is where your problem is, you have chosen a profession that is not sustainable over long term play. It's not fair to those merchants/pirates who have adapted their play style to fit the new game parameters.

Being a pirate is good and there are more perks than ever before to ensure their survival. When I started, I wanted to be a pirate hunter and it worked for a while until most of the pirates changed professions. I too had to change my game or starve.

Well said. Which is why I and many stopped pirating.

The profession that is no longer self-sustainable is pirating.

Actually, I see more pirates now than 1 year ago. They all do not fly the jolly roger but I am sure they earn a decent living from pirate techs and enhanced skirmish abilities.
If your goal is to move forward as a pirate, these things must be taken advantage of and a couple Mil/day is possible.
Admin stated there will be no greater earner than merchantmen/trading but again, the cost to do so also is greater as is the loss risk.

I think you started at the end of an era and was shown a short term way to earn some fast gc. These tactics are more difficult now and impacts your abilities to make money by the way you learned the game.

Change and adapt or go extinct.

[Admiral Nelson]

Careful Dos! Do not want to hurt Vanes feelings, he has a friend in a high place!

[Donald Trump]

" Hah, try to live off of ship stealing and still care "

The game is not designed to make a living from ship stealing. Ship stealing only happens at much greater expense than the return usually.

This is where your problem is, you have chosen a profession that is not sustainable over long term play. It's not fair to those merchants/pirates who have adapted their play style to fit the new game parameters.

Being a pirate is good and there are more perks than ever before to ensure their survival. When I started, I wanted to be a pirate hunter and it worked for a while until most of the pirates changed professions. I too had to change my game or starve.

Well said. Which is why I and many stopped pirating.

The profession that is no longer self-sustainable is pirating.

Actually, I see more pirates now than 1 year ago. They all do not fly the jolly roger but I am sure they earn a decent living from pirate techs and enhanced skirmish abilities.
If your goal is to move forward as a pirate, these things must be taken advantage of and a couple Mil/day is possible.
Admin stated there will be no greater earner than merchantmen/trading but again, the cost to do so also is greater as is the loss risk.

Aye, a merchant's risk could be their valuable ships.