Vincenz, first there were too few and now too many that the servers couldn't handle it, and you complain about both.  I've got an idea, quit complaining and join us French on Kidd.  The waters fine and were having a blast!

Buegur LaPhew 25th level Naval

Le Cult

Normally when I join a new game i go for a server with light to moderate population to avoid over crowding and server lag.  Nothing worse than having to wait for repops so you complete a mission. 

This game on the other hand really doesn't have most of those problems do to instanting, so other than lag a higher population shouldn't be a hindrance.

I wasn't able to get on till after 1030 pm MST due to Bestbuy.com not sending the retail versions out, in fact they have them back ordered!  I called them and the lady said many others had called with the same problem, which was odd as the stores received their copies.  She said we were suppose to get our copies before the stores did.  She suggested I purchase a store copy and cancel the pre-order one which I did.  Unfortunately my nearest Best Buy is 60 miles away and had to travel through a snow storm to get my copy, therefore the late start.  So I'm sure there will be a influx of people as that situation is resolved.  The store itself had a bunch of pre-order games still that hadn't been picked up and said the sales of the game there was high.

At level 21 I still board most ships, but use a combat move, followed by a defensive,Initative move, distraction, ender move, and add in a balance move when needed.  Theres actually quite a bit of stragety when up against higher level captains or when they have more waves.  Never used a pistol so don't have that experience.  One thing that can make the boarding combat harder is to rush the enemy captain before your troops engage, but can be exciting for those that get bored!

I am French on Kidd.  Our Society is very active on PvP.

Buegur LaPhew 21st Naval Officier

Dimitri Dornet  14th Merchant

Amen Mith you hit it on head.  Vincenz nothing this game does will please you and we all are very aware of that fact, so I guess you'll just have to find a game that does hold your interest somewhere else.  Good luck on finding that game( i really truely hope you do find that game)!

The Avatar combat is used in some mission, and even in ship missions you can board the enemy ships so it can be a big part of the combat.  I like to board some of the enemy ships early in an engagement to take them out quickly, Shoot the sails, Canister the crew, and then board.  Others prefer to blast away and either system seems to work, up to you how you want to approach the problem.  Hope that answers your question.

Wow won't play another on-line game that isn't "finished", well I guess you aren't ever going to play one as none ever published finished!  There hasn't been a on-line game that even attempted that  as the whole idea is to add new content to keep the gamers interest.  I haven't seen a on-line game launch without the slew of hecklers posting on these sites, which includes the mighty WoW.  So it looks like to me each gamer has to make up his/her mind up whether any game is to their liking and try out ones that might be. 

Is this game ready for prime time?  Well I say yes, while others disagree.  Is there any show stoppers, not that i can see.  Biggest problem some will see is slow downs in crowded areas and a memory leak or two when traveling long distances across the open seas.   Things that work and need improvement in my opinion are the chat/tell interface.  Some don't like the Avatar combat but others like me do like it, but it does work in either case. 

I already have a 21st French Naval Officier and a 11th Level French Merchant and enjoy every moment so far.  I have fought against the Spanish both losing and winning and this is what makes the game special, anyone wanting to do meaniful NvN (Nation verus Nation) combat come join the party!  In any case back to the game I go, Peace!

"If this game is gonna sail (yep, like that!) it's gotta be fun OUT OF THE GATES.  Not at level 30 or 20, not only if you PVP, not only if you join a guild.  It can't be fun based on a someday it's gonna be good avatar combat.  It can't be good based on a "someday you'll have treasure maps and exploration" basis.  It has to be good at launch."

I agree fully with you Vincenz, it must be fun right out of the gates.  All your points above I think are fine as they are except for the treasure maps and exploration which aren't implemented, where we disagree is I don't care about that aspect not being included.  Once again just because you don't like how something is implimented or material you feel is left out doesn't make the game unfinished!  Each gamer has to make up his own mind what he/she expects a game to include. If we put five people in a room and asked them what they want or expect a game to be, your going to get five different answers.  This game is as polished and ready for release as any game will ever be, love it or lump it, its finished!

Originally posted by Vincenz

 

Originally posted by buegur

Vincenz you suggesting that SOE is going to gain control of PotBs later on?  Why do you think Flying Lab would allow that to happen?  Everything I've read suggests that Flying Lab is financially sound and has no interest in allowing that to happen, plus I haven't seen a thing that shows SOE was interested in a take over.

 

I'm simply suggesting that SOE has a track record of stepping into situations when they think a game is "underperforming" and making it worse.  IMO, POTBS is a niche game...could be a successful one at that...but if SOE isn't happy with a niche game, then things could change in dramatic fashion.

SOE has made some hugh mistakes such as Star War Galaxies, but what they did with Vanguard was an improvement, so they aren't all negative either.  I'm not concerned with SOE meddling with PotBS as they have nothing to do with them except for hosting the game, if SOE tried, Flying Lab could leave anytime they wanted.  Having SOE host the game has the added benefit of an instant audience from all the Station Pass holders such as me, and I know plenty of other Station Pass holders who are going to give this game a try because of that fact.  As to a niche game, isn't all of SOE games bascially that, only WoW went mainstream in my opinion.

I like the avatar combat and you don't, big deal. The point is not everyone has the same idea what is good or bad so posting that it is bad time after time, post after post, really accomplishes nothing.  What do you hope to accomplish by posting this game is bad post after post?  Did this game make you so mad that you feel the need to destroy it?  Just curious as I have played many games that I didn't like, but never hung around those boards day after day to post nothing but hate messages.  Might of said my parting piece about the game but than moved on to next one that took my interest.  There must be some reason your hanging around here even though you dislike the game.  If the game mechanics upset you and you don't have any ideas of how they can fix it so you'll like it, whats the point of crying about it? 

Originally posted by Vincenz

 

Originally posted by buegur

Any developer has to make a decision when to stop adding in new content and polish what they already have implemented.   Vanguard tried to have too many items on their plate and ended up with little polish, I think PotBS has the right amount of content only much more polished.  No on-line game that I seen comes out with all the good stuff at release and I doubt any ever will.  You must make the decision whether you believe the developers will make the improvements stated, to which I feel good vibes from the Flying Lab boys.  In my opinion the game has more than enough polished good stuff to hold my interest so I am playing the game, if you decide differently I would suggest this game isn't for you so just move on to next one that does.

 

and I would suggest that both devs and fans alike stop playing apologist to the complaints about the game and what it's lacking.  If you're proud of what it is, stop it at that.

Apparently neither fans nor devs alike are.

 No game has everything I want or what anyone else wants for that matter, so to expect that from a on-line game at release is just wishful thinking.  Judge the game at release on whether or not it is fun for you with its flaws, and move on from there.  Whats the point bashing a game you dislike day after day on every post posted?   You don't like it fine, post your piece and move on, surely theres a game you like somewhere isn't there?  I don't think Flying Labs invented this game just as an afront to you, and just because SOE produced the game, avatar combat is not to your liking, missions too repetitive for you, etc., that doesn't mean other players have the same perceptions to those issues as you.    

Vincenz you suggesting that SOE is going to gain control of PotBs later on?  Why do you think Flying Lab would allow that to happen?  Everything I've read suggests that Flying Lab is financially sound and has no interest in allowing that to happen, plus I haven't seen a thing that shows SOE was interested in a take over.

Any developer has to make a decision when to stop adding in new content and polish what they already have implemented.   Vanguard tried to have too many items on their plate and ended up with little polish, I think PotBS has the right amount of content only much more polished.  No on-line game that I seen comes out with all the good stuff at release and I doubt any ever will.  You must make the decision whether you believe the developers will make the improvements stated, to which I feel good vibes from the Flying Lab boys.  In my opinion the game has more than enough polished good stuff to hold my interest so I am playing the game, if you decide differently I would suggest this game isn't for you so just move on to next one that does.

Real men play French!!!!  You know you want to be part of the French Gulf Territories (Florida through New Orleans)!   Besides we have the best women, music and all the wine you can drink!

Anything that makes you just stand there and wait your turn to be ganked, especially anything that affects the masses. I would prefer no mass spells. 

Save the fake indignation, no poster here can be offended by such trival or anything else for that matter. If your skin was that thin you would of fled from this board long ago, after all those of us who post here have to have very thick skins indeed! 

The biggest problem I see with the MMorpg boards are fans upset that the game doesn't have what they wanted or implemented in the way they wanted, so they cry on every post listed.  Certainly valid to say what you see as ailing the game in question, but give up some valid solutions so we can discuss those instead of just this games sucks, is sucko, SOE sucks, or avatar combat is the suck.  In the end if you didn't like the game, state your case and move on.  Infecting each and every post is total waste of time which will get you labeled as just another troll with nothing better to do.

Smitty bringing up your concerns is of course valid, but you really should try and offer ideas on how to make those problems better in your mind.  Don't like the missions or avatar combat, than explain what would be a better system.

Vincez no on-line game ever launched finished, nor is it likely one ever will. By its nature the game will never be finished, which most players think is a good thing for continued game play. Game play will change as the game developers/ fan base impliment expansions and improvements.  In a few years the game will be polished into something the developers and fans desired( NGE the exception).  If the ground combat bothers you so much, give the Devs some suggestions for improvement!  Although I don't have a problem with the avatar combat (fun enough in my opinion), others are bothered by it so either give suggestions to the devs or I would suggest play another game instead.  Just fot the record what type of game has the combat your looking for?  The avatar combat is pretty much on par with other MMorpg's I've played (EQ,EQ2,Wow,etc) maybe a bit light but comparable.

I'm in the pre-boarding phase and having a blast!  If your only on for the pve aspect of the game, this game might not be for you!  After all the game is about Nation verus Nation conquest, you can actually win this game!  If one side gets a certain amount of the cities they are declared the winners and the game will start over.  This game is more like DAoC before the Atlantis expansion in that you did pve to get your skill level up enough to participate in the RVR(realm ) warfare.  That said I'm having just as much fun leveling so I wouldn't let the NvN scare you off too much.  The quests are as varied as any I've seen in these on-line games and the ship combat is fun also.  If the combat is too easy for you as one poster pointed out, you can increase the level of difficulty at a NPC located at each dock. Haven't done that myself yet so don't know how much that changes things.  Don't like the boarding side of combat get attachments and character improvements that prevent an enemy from boarding you, you can also get a faster boat and keep out of range.

I agree the video avatar combat looks just like what I fight in the game, don't know why anyone would argue with something that obvious.  The avatar combat doesn't have as many choices for classes as other MMorpg's but is interactive in my opinion.  You engage the enemy and select your actions throughout the combat which make a hugh difference in the outcome of the battle.  Don't pay attention to your balance and counter, you will die a quick death!  Really not that different from most MMorpg's I've played, EQ,EQ2, WoW, DAoC etc.  Want improvement, don't whine here go to the dev forum and ask for something more to your taste. 

Taking a short break from my playing time on Kidd server (level 20 French captain) so wandered over here to see whats up.  I'm having a blast so far and look forward to the arrival of the masses after the pre-launch is over.  You can definetly solo in this game although to do the actual Nation verus Nation stuff groups are much better. 

Some don't like the way NvN works but most people in my experience don't want a free for all some wanted, maybe if you boys ask the dev's they will make a server that does that for you.  If you were looking for newbie ganking that just isn't happening here.  The meat of the game is NvN so I would suggest joining a society and help your side to victory!  Another neat feature is you can win(your side) and than the game will reset the cities to start over again!

Some have complained about the instancing in the game and that isn't your cup of tea this game probably isn't for you.  That said the instancing seems to be very balanced in my opinion, such as some battles that you don't have to worry about people jumping in and bothering you.  The towns aren't instanced as some have stated although their can be missions/buildings in them that are. Towns are bit basic and the devs are looking to change that in the future, but they have everything you need at present.  Ground combat is instanced and I personally have no problem with that.  Sea travel isn't instanced and balanced between time and travel (accelated travel), doesn't feel to long or short to get somewhere.

Many people posting don't like the avatar combat, but to me its not much different then most MMopg fare.  You pick class and then pick from that branch various moves or abilities, nothing too fancy but enjoyable to me.  I understand the devs are looking into this aspect of the game for improvements, so those of you who play the game but want more from this area leave them your suggestions!

This game is a blast so far and I look forward to continued played for a long while.  As you can see some don't like it for various reason while other enjoy it greatly, so do yourself a favor and try it out if your looking for fun and the above problems don't overly concern you. Oh I didn't mention the economics side but most people (including me) like it. Enjoy and hope to see you in game!

Buegur LaPhew