Constructive input on the new meta (aka HERMAGERD DAMNED!)

[RyuujinZERO 122]

So, like most people we logged in today to the horror of the ghost armada annihilating our neighbour's dockyard/base/fleet and our immediat kneejerk reaction 'OMGWTFBBQ this is the worst thing evah!'. Having had time to think on it, this is actually an interesting meta development. The problem is less that ships can attack ports, it's more that the counter-play to it is presently broken, combined with the fact the change came out the blue and blindsided us all, thus inflicting massive damage.

So, quick breakdown of play and counter-play and what this means and what the devs should change (IMHO) and what we the players, need to change about how we approach the game.

 

Safe Harbour

The first big thing is that the Damned wreck ships and even bases while we're offline. Easy kneejerk response is to shout 'Damned shouldn't even come near land!'. But, we actually already have counter-play to this behavior, it's just none of us, especially on the PvE servers were likely utilizing it: Cannons, shore fortifications and NPCs/large companies

These together, combined with suitably defensible coves and harbours should actually be enough to keep our boats safe while offline; and they already exist. The problem, and why none of us were using them, is because such defences need absurd amounts of gold and metal to build and maintain. 

THE FIX: Devs added treasure, so the gold problem has probably fixed itself this update. Metal however still remains a huge problem, there isn't nearly enough metal in the map right now to allow people to arm their ships and shore forts, or often even themselves!. It's rather difficult to operate an armed fleet or defensible shore fort without metal to build cannons and ammo.

 

The Curse of Ghost Pirate LeChuck

The next big problem is the hyper-aggressive ships of the damned themselves, which are so numerous and so hyper-aggressive that nobody is willing to set to sea, and for damn good reason. They're fast, they're deadly, they're aggressive. Again, if we had cannons and ammo; which needs metal, we might have a fighting chance; but we don't. There really isn't a counterplay to these guys right now and THAT is a problem.

THE FIX: Ships of the damned cannot be detected in advance of them seeing you, nor escaped once aggroed. These guys need to move slower and more deliberately, and you need to be able to spot them, before they spot you. I would suggest making it so that the spyglass can see their green shimmer on the horizon, long before you see them yourself and can plot a course around them; similar to how Golden Age temples emit a shimmer visible to the spyglass, but not to the naked eye. Secondly, they should still be slow enough so that small, fast, barely armed ships like schooners and sloops can escape them if they are running with the wind. They need to provide a serious hazard, not a full-stop to your adventure.

 

Cooperation

Most of us have been approaching this like ARK (Especially on the PvP servers I imagine), but the game is designed around the concept of land barons and taxed residents. People who own land should be less hostile to the idea of having people build within their land, and providing taxes, while those who don't, should approach the larger companies about the idea of finding space to moor your ship and store stuff.

By consolidating ports and resources, it is possible to provide the materials and manpower needed to maintain significant permanent shore fortifications and keep your fleets safe from overnight raids by the damned. This part is on us, the devs designed the game that way, but we're all still trying to play manifest destiny, and claim land for ourselves, everyone else be damned, when there are now threats too big for any lone player to deal with alone.

THE FIX: Stop thinking selfishly and think about the bigger defensive picture, work with your neighbors, and if you are a loner, consider working with a company to obtain safe harbour in exchange for your services!

 

Build Order

For those who do own land, we all probably built our ships and docks with no regard to defensibly, ESPECIALLY on PvE servers. We wanted to get out on the high seas and adventure. Docks and docked ships are vulnerable now. We need to go back and retool our bases and planning to account for this; crafting and storage needs to be sited inland away from potential shore bombardment. The shore need fortifications with cannons etc. This is the new meta now and, honestly I'm rather excited for it. But we do need to remember now: An undefended harbour isn't a harbour. Get those defences up early!

 

/end thoughts 

Edited December 27, 2018 by RyuujinZERO

[Boredaholic 39]

7 minutes ago, RyuujinZERO said:

So, like most people we logged in today to the horror of the ghost armada annihilating our neighbour's dockyard/base/fleet and our immediat kneejerk reaction 'OMGWTFBBQ this is the worst thing evah!'. Having had time to think on it, this is actually an interesting meta development. The problem is less that ships can attack ports, it's more that the counter-play to it is presently broken, combined with the fact the change came out the blue and blindsided us all, thus inflicting massive damage.

So, quick breakdown of play and counter-play and what this means and what the devs should change (IMHO) and what we the players, need to change about how we approach the game.

 

Safe Harbour

The first big thing is that the Damned wreck ships and even bases while we're offline. Easy kneejerk response is to shout 'Damned shouldn't even come near land!'. But, we actually already have counter-play to this behavior, it's just none of us, especially on the PvE servers were likely utilizing it: Cannons, shore fortifications and NPCs/large companies

These together, combined with suitably defensible coves and harbours should actually be enough to keep our boats safe while offline; and they already exist. The problem, and why none of us were using them, is because such defences need absurd amounts of gold and metal to build and maintain. 

THE FIX: Devs added treasure, so the gold problem has probably fixed itself this update. Metal however still remains a huge problem, there isn't nearly enough metal in the map right now to allow people to arm their ships and shore forts, or often even themselves!. It's rather difficult to operate an armed fleet or defensible shore fort without metal to build cannons and ammo.

 

The Curse of Ghost Pirate LeChuck

The next big problem is the hyper-aggressive ships of the damned themselves, which are so numerous and so hyper-aggressive that nobody is willing to set to sea, and for damn good reason. They're fast, they're deadly, they're aggressive. Again, if we had cannons and ammo; which needs metal, we might have a fighting chance; but we don't. There really isn't a counterplay to these guys right now and THAT is a problem.

THE FIX: Ships of the damned cannot be detected in advance of them seeing you, nor escaped once aggroed. These guys need to move slower and more deliberately, and you need to be able to spot them, before they spot you. I would suggest making it so that the spyglass can see their green shimmer on the horizon, long before you see them yourself and can plot a course around them; similar to how Golden Age temples emit a shimmer visible to the spyglass, but not to the naked eye. Secondly, they should still be slow enough so that small, fast, barely armed ships like schooners and sloops can escape them if they are running with the wind. They need to provide a serious hazard, not a full-stop to your adventure.

 

Cooperation

Most of us have been approaching this like ARK (Especially on the PvP servers I imagine), but the game is designed around the concept of land barons and taxed residents. People who own land should be less hostile to the idea of having people build within their land, and providing taxes, while those who don't, should approach the larger companies about the idea of finding space to moor your ship and store stuff.

By consolidating ports and resources, it is possible to provide the materials and manpower needed to maintain significant permanent shore fortifications and keep your fleets safe from overnight raids by the damned. This part is on us, the devs designed the game that way, but we're all still trying to play manifest destiny, and claim land for ourselves, everyone else be damned, when there are now threats too big for any lone player to deal with alone.

THE FIX: Stop thinking selfishly and think about the bigger defensive picture, work with your neighbors, and if you are a loner, consider working with a company to obtain safe harbour in exchange for your services!

 

/end thoughts 

i like this

[Mr. Sleepyhead 1]

Looks like you've put some thought into this.
But good luck changing the mindset of the players and how they approach the game. That's the devs job. 
Forming big companies is a good idea, but everyone wants their own company and their own land. So wishing upon a star for people to be better than they are is a horrible solution.
The devs should encourage cooperation more. How? no clue. 

 

[strawman 114]

Good thoughts, I just went into a lawless zone and saw them for the first time... cool looking but the place is just swarming with NPC ships now, there's no way this is balanced

[Teron Gray 13]

From how many I saw on the trip to meet up with some friends from the Freeport, there might be a bit of an overspawn issue.

It's like certain surprise apex creatures in Ark.  One random wyvern wakes you up but isn't the end of the world.  A swarm dropping on your base is a bit of a headache.

[MagpieOAO 18]

Free ports with some degree of protection could help immensely for people just getting their feet under them: 

 

 

In an expanded suggestion, I'd recommended having 3 major NPC port cities scattered around the map. Tortuga, Singapore and Port Royal. Players should be able to dock here under the protection (And cost/taxation) of the port town if they don't have a place with defenses erected. 

That said, there should be an intermediate solution to hiding your ship or small port at sea which has a fair chance of avoiding offline destruction by players happening across it or NPC's spawning and aggroing near it. Some form of camouflage for now but ideally at some point having caves and coves to pull into that would make your ship more difficult to spot let alone attack without facing concentrated defenses. 

[SoloHan88 23]

15 minutes ago, MagpieOAO said:

Free ports with some degree of protection could help immensely for people just getting their feet under them: 

 

 

In an expanded suggestion, I'd recommended having 3 major NPC port cities scattered around the map. Tortuga, Singapore and Port Royal. Players should be able to dock here under the protection (And cost/taxation) of the port town if they don't have a place with defenses erected. 

That said, there should be an intermediate solution to hiding your ship or small port at sea which has a fair chance of avoiding offline destruction by players happening across it or NPC's spawning and aggroing near it. Some form of camouflage for now but ideally at some point having caves and coves to pull into that would make your ship more difficult to spot let alone attack without facing concentrated defenses. 

Yeah I was thinking something along these lines earlier. It could be how garages or apts work in GTA online. Everyone has one, but only you can access yours. Could have 1 per zone even, and the risk you take is when you are actively online. That to me would make it more PVP and not PV(offline)P

Edited December 27, 2018 by SoloHan88