Pirates of the Burning Sea

I'm not here to defend the game or play the fanboi, but after reading a bunch of posts I just wanted to clear up a couple of things.

The reason some servers are showing zero players is because all the players from that nation have already transfered to one of the 4 remaining servers or left the game.

There is no doubt that player numbers have decreased from release, but I don't think its by as many as some people here like to make out (at least on Roberts) there is a high turnover of players though.

Much of the PVE content was cut from the game when SOE (dicks) put the pressure on POTBS to release. 1 end game raid was cut, player run ports were cut and player run taverns, clothes shops and such like were cut. The ability to have skirmish fights, was also cut along with PVP arenas (leagues etc.). this could help explain why its felt that the game lacks content, it does, but it seems much of the missing content will come over the next 3 -5 months.

The economy of the game was damaged because they had to make PvP act as the only money sink. When player run ports and shops/cabins are introduced they can act as a sink, this will mean that the cost of losing your ship will be less and PvP wont suck so much (as you have to grind for money less).

The Skirmish/league system will help give people more balanced PvP rather than just red circle fun (which you all seem to love :-p)

They are introducing a cooldown on ports so that once a Port battle has taken place the Port can't be flipped again for 4 days. the idea is that for the PVE players a port will only stay red for 2 days and then you get at least 4 days to do your missions. This should mean less running through red circles.

AVcom sucks. it was a late addition to the game (the original plan was to be like eve and never let you get out your ship) this explains why not only AVcom sucks but the towns are pretty limited. Although the way they have AVcom designed could make a fun way of fighting when they get it right. They have plans to add a bunch of new towns over the next few patches.

Once again, I'm not trying to FanBoi, just passing on some info. if someone asked me if they should buy the game now I would say no. Wait another 3 months. if they deliver on the stuff they promise, then by then it is ready for primetime.

Good info, thank you.

Fair enough, this is solid stuff and 3 months seem reasonable although the game is bound to be heavily hit by AoC release. Judging on their previous record I doubt they will deliver and even if they do it is still no excuse for the shoddy goods they did release as a finished product.

But let us wait and see, 3 months it is.

You're not the only one that believes SOE had an influence in the game design.....

Tom Chick and Bruce Geryk of the now defunct Games for Windows magazine stated in the April-May 2008 issue that:

"....I'm thinking about that meeting where someone from Sony told the developers to make the game more like World of Warcraft. But when Pirates isn't trying to be more like WOW - in other words, when it's itself - it plays like Sid Meier's Pirates meets Microsoft Excel...."

Originally posted by olddaddy

You're not the only one that believes SOE had an influence in the game design.....

Tom Chick and Bruce Geryk of the now defunct Games for Windows magazine stated in the April-May 2008 issue that:

"....I'm thinking about that meeting where someone from Sony told the developers to make the game more like World of Warcraft. But when Pirates isn't trying to be more like WOW - in other words, when it's itself - it plays like Sid Meier's Pirates meets Microsoft Excel...."

 

Yes, that would really be horrible if it played like Sid Meier's Pirates meeting Excel. I mean what a horror if it wasn't current pseudo WoW in sailing ships. What were they thinking?!

And yes, that was sarcasm, I was one of those that preordered the game expecting something related to SM Pirates + Excel.

SWG sank when they tried to make it more like WoW, oddly enough I don't want game like WoW because if I do I would go and play (you guessed it) WoW.

My base game is LOTRO and no I don't care to discuss its relative merits or lack of the same. I am a casual player with one active char and I want another MMO that I can rotate with my base interest. In three months I will know if AoC will be decent enough or will POTBS manage to get in the working order. If not, I will just wait for the next crop of MMO's to come out.

And I don't think I am an isolated case.

Originally posted by olddaddy

You're not the only one that believes SOE had an influence in the game design.....

"All they ever asked was do you need more time" Rusty said.

As it happens i agree with the op that the game will not be truely ready for another 3-6 months.

Originally posted by olddaddy

You're not the only one that believes SOE had an influence in the game design.....

I have no pity for FLS, because we warned them not to get into bed with the devil.

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I bought PotBS after someone at gamestop told me how fun it is and how he's on X server with X ship owning X players lol

boy was i surprised... where were all the people! played for my month, trashed the box.

If they deliver on everything the OP said, then the game should atleast keep the subscribers they have when the patches come out, but as for getting new subs...

The most recent subscription count I can find says 66,000.. I rarely ever saw a player

having played my NO to max and dealing with a non existant economy, ignorant pvp combat, less than worthless pve, i could not come up with a reason to pay for another month. with the server consolidation the game is in its death throws, i thought about transferring but its like...why bother, i have tasted the content, and it will not change, small world, small instances, ignorantly thought out  combat.

i mean who makes pvp combat where the groups disapear into nothingness, their own private arena, what happened to open sea combat? i am loathe to give eve any credit for anything but the initial attack phase of the their pvp is spot on (but thats all i give in, grin)

POTBS should have made it so anyone that wants to join can, meaning if friends come to a gankfest it will be a royal gankfest, and if the gankee has friends show up the contest becomes a challenge for the gankers to include gankers becoming the gankees. imagine huge open sea battles, with the option for carebearing to those that want it, i think the red circles killed alot of subs in the economy aspect, but just my opinion there. lol, then we have avatar combat, think keystone cops, nuff said there.

depending on players to run an economy has never worked, EVER. those that jump on the eve bandwagon and say "oh, oh,oh!! eve has a great player economy!" no they they dont, the devs constantly manipulate and fix that economy or it would fall on its face, reasons already well known.

no, POTBS had to many interlinking aspects that depended on players, with lack of those players the game fails, is failing, hence the server merges to try and get those links (*cough* economy) going again. but hey, it was fun while it lasted, and thats all that matters, is the fun, till its not fun, then you move on.

Originally posted by kazamx

I'm not here to defend the game or play the fanboi, but after reading a bunch of posts I just wanted to clear up a couple of things.

The reason some servers are showing zero players is because all the players from that nation have already transfered to one of the 4 remaining servers or left the game.

Most, if not all, of the posters here are aware of the server merger.  Thanks though.

There is no doubt that player numbers have decreased from release, but I don't think its by as many as some people here like to make out (at least on Roberts) there is a high turnover of players though.

It was enough to cause them to close down to only 4 servers.  And, yes, I know they put in too many to start...but, closing to less than half your original number is NOT a sign of growth.

Plus, many of us have read the recent estimate of 65,000 players. ..which we recognize is an estimate.

Much of the PVE content was cut from the game when SOE (dicks) put the pressure on POTBS to release. 1 end game raid was cut, player run ports were cut and player run taverns, clothes shops and such like were cut.

In October of 06, FLS said they would complete avcombat and release around June 07.  They signed with SOE in March of 07.  They delayed the game to Oct. 07, then Jan 08.  Where's the push to release early?

And, again, FLS chose to ADD avcombat in 06...if they thought the other stuff was important, it should have been done before then, or should have gotten their focus ahead of new systems.

I boycott SOE...but even I don't blame them for the systems PotBS released with.  I blame them for the bad marketing and distribution.

 

The ability to have skirmish fights, was also cut along with PVP arenas (leagues etc.). this could help explain why its felt that the game lacks content, it does, but it seems much of the missing content will come over the next 3 -5 months.

From what FLS has said in their recent devchat, and devlog, that 3-5 month estimate is way off.  If lucky, you should have a new way for Pirates to inhabit captured ports by then., and the skirmish system.  If you're lucky.

 

The economy of the game was damaged because they had to make PvP act as the only money sink. When player run ports and shops/cabins are introduced they can act as a sink, this will mean that the cost of losing your ship will be less and PvP wont suck so much (as you have to grind for money less).

This, I agree with.  The question is...will the economy survive for a year (which is how long I expect before at least one of the other "sinks" is in)

The Skirmish/league system will help give people more balanced PvP rather than just red circle fun (which you all seem to love :-p)

 

Yes, the PvPer's need some love.  The PvE folks have had too much reign over this game already.  Look at em all..sitting in their ports, refusing to leave, hoarding all the money.  God, they're just having too much fun!!!!

seriously, though, if the skirmish system removes some of the excessive red-circles, and the gank squads, then it's a benefit.  But, that's a big IF.

They are introducing a cooldown on ports so that once a Port battle has taken place the Port can't be flipped again for 4 days. the idea is that for the PVE players a port will only stay red for 2 days and then you get at least 4 days to do your missions. This should mean less running through red circles.

The problem is, red circles form and stay for quite some time BEFORE a port battle takes place.  A port can be in contention for a while, and, mission wise, your SOL.

AVcom sucks. it was a late addition to the game (the original plan was to be like eve and never let you get out your ship) this explains why not only AVcom sucks but the towns are pretty limited. Although the way they have AVcom designed could make a fun way of fighting when they get it right. They have plans to add a bunch of new towns over the next few patches.

Once again, I'm not trying to FanBoi, just passing on some info. if someone asked me if they should buy the game now I would say no. Wait another 3 months. if they deliver on the stuff they promise, then by then it is ready for primetime.

 

This, I can agree with.  The avcom system took their focus away from the second original design, and didn't bring any benefit to the game in the end.  It's got to be on the long list of fixes....but, your post alone proves, its a very, very long list.

Nice job keeping it civil and positive.  Good work. :)