All Posts by taxguy

No, it is still broken but for different reasons given. First, solo missions are too damn hard. I have had beginner solo missions with as many as 5 ships against me, and I am not kidding! They need to make solo missions easier!

Secondly, there is a HUGE player based that is anti- PVP or only wants limited PVP. This game is as hard core PVP as EVE,which turns off about 60% of the playing world.

Even the PVP has problems as noted in the post above.

Lag is very bad too, and I am playing on a top notch rig with a very fast internet connection.

Thus, don't bother with this game. It had amazing potential that probably will never be realized.

It is obvious from the PVP responders why we need separate servers for non-PvP. Why would any of your PVPers care if there are separate servers where there is just PVE or limited PVP? If you can have servers that are very PVP and those that aren't, everyone gets what they want. This means more subscribers and more revenue for  developers.

I can only think of one reason why you PVPers object to my suggestion: YOu think that most folks won't play on PVP servers! If that is your fear then my suggestion becomes even  more obviously correct.

We are a large, fun casual guild on Permafrost server with a LOT of high end folks in both regular levels and crafting levels. We help out our players great ly with several weekly raids, crafting all items that will be given at cost, and help with quests and epics. We were the first guild to hit level 80 in status on the server...

We are also made up mostly of folks who have jobs, families and a life. Thus, you won't see any cool dudes in our guild. If you are looking for a good raiding,but casual guild, lots of events, mature folks, this would be an ideal guild for you. Just send me or any officer a tell for admission.

Mortel, level 71 Necro, Level 72 Sage

House of Rising Phoenix.

Our guild web site is: http://www.guildportal.com/Guild.aspx?GuildID=75605&TabID=652851

Well, I played the game for the trial period plus 14 days for using a friends number and decided to quit. Here are my reasons:

1. Although ship combat was actually interesting, I found that missions were way to hard for beginners. For example, several of the beginner missions were 6 ships against me. WTF? This happened more often than I care to count too. Now admittedly, I tend to be an idiot;however,many of the missions were just too damn hard to solo. 

2. Manual combat, especially combat after boarding, was absurd. You would get a lot of dumbfire crews fighting the other crew where it was almost impossible to determine who was who. They absolutely should have adopted Sid Meir's approach in Pirates where there is a duel with the opposing captain. That was both clean and fun.

3. PVP isn't totally avoidable. There are about 90 or so ports. ONly about 4 are PVP free. Even if you don't flag yourself for PVP, you can go to a port and ,due to it suddenly being in contention, you can get caught in PVP. It really isn't totally avoidable as with other PVP game such as Eve.

4. The tutorial for both game play and for the economy really can use improvement. Honestly, there is a strong learning curve to this game ,which has its pros and cons. Having a super good tutorial would have been really important. Sadly, the tutorial is horrible.

5.The game isn't that solo friendly: You REALLY need to join a society if you want to progress in the game.

6. Lag was a real problem despite having a 2.4 ghz computer with 2 gigs of Ram and a very recently upgraded video card.

Overall, I really wanted something different from the usual dungeons and dragons, hack and slash type of game. This game is different. I will give it that. However, due to the problems that I have mentioned, I quit the game. It's too bad because I really, really wanted to like this game.

Yes, this was a "take off" of Sid's Pirate's game. H owever, it is a badly done knock off version. Had they adopted Sid's design, especially for boarding, it would have been a MUCH better game. Had they made missions a bit more solo friendly, It would have been a much better game. Had they had servers with much more limited PVP it would have been a much better game. Sadly, this was not the case, and the game will retain a very small segment of the MMO audience,which is too bad because it really did have potential.

firefly notes," I cant believe that people want to water games just for the sake of avoiding danger in a game that about interaction with the community"

Response: Believe it! Again, I don't think that most players are totally against PVP. Heck I participated in it at WOW, however, that was a controlled environment with surprisingly very little ganking.. In EVE and possibly here, ganking is the norm because most PVP players are COWARDS/

Yes, let me call them what they are. I was a warlock in WOW ,which is a strong PVP class. RARELY has anyone taken up my challenge . However, they they can get three on me or attack me when engaged in RVR, they would gladly do that.

Another problem with PVP servers is balance. There are always complaints about classes being overpowered,which results in nerfing,which I HATE.. If PVP doesn't occur much, there need not be that much worry about overbalanced classes.

Originally posted by alyndale

HI taxguy,

 

Yeah PvP is pretty much been the realm of the young boys since they got bored of their FPS on Xbox and PS2.  However, for MMO's it's rather simple isn't it?  We are mostly from democracies.  Gives us a choice, right?  Developers can give the PvPers their servers and the majority of us may use the other servers for roleplay and PvEers.  It's truly not "rocket science" just provide the appropriate choice for the tastes of the individual player.

For the life of me, I can't see why developers don't have these options.

Frankly, I would provide servers that have very limited PVP , as found with WOW with the exceptioni of consensual PvP and a few, and I mean few, zones for PVP. Some servers can be very PVP oriented. This way everyone gets their wish.

Frankly, I can't see why folks like PVP. If it were one on one with an honorable duel, I wouldn't be against it. However, more ofen than not , it becomes cowardly combat with six ships taking on one ship in a gank fest or you would see higher level ships taking on lower levels. This is honorable or fun?

Dear Developers:

I am constantly amazed that MMO games get developed with a strong emphasis on PVP. Frankly, i HATE PVP. Not that I am aginst one on one, which is somewhat honorable,but usually PVP turns out to be a gank fest of 6 on one or it starts after a player is engaged in RVR,which is also unfair..

The most successful MMORPG game in history is WOW. Why not adopt their strategy? Have some servers with very limited PVP unless consensual and some with wide open PVP except for starting areas. This would appeal to everyone.

Also, as with WOW, instead of forcing folks into PVP, you can have a few ( and I mean a very few) zones that are PVP oriented and give some good rewards. Thus, you would be using the carrot vs. the stick approach. You can even have special PVP events found in "arena" types of zones.

If you are going to put PVP in all servers, then at least make it painless with cheap insurance or little penalty for ship destruction,

If you want to maximize your player potential and therefore profitability, you will adopt my suggestions.

If I were to choose pirate, am I always PVP no matter where I go?

I had my setting on max and I have a high end bvideo and sound card. When I solo, I don't have any lag problems.HOWEVER, when I get around a lot of other players ,such as with raids, I have to turn down my graphic setting due to severe lag.

Badpuppy1, I fully emphasize with you. POBS is really a PVP game masquerading as a MMORPG. It is a PVP game. The end game right now is ALL PVP. Personally, I find it unfathomable that the developers didn't understand that most MMORPG players don't want PVP or want it as solely an option. However, this is the current status of the game. I suspect that there will be MANY more people besides you who will leave the game  due to the reasons that you noted.

The folks here who say to you "good riddence" don't understand that if most people who try this game stop playing, this will kill the game!

Let me add two more reasons why POBS enrollment will be limited:

1. End game is ALL PVP. Yes, I haven't gotten to the end game. However, it seems that the only end game available is to participate in port raids. Thus,t he end game is all PVP. This is just plain wrong. There should have been other alternatives such as RVR raids etc.

2. It is NOT solo friendly: Like it or not, most MMORPG players want to be able to solo and solo alot IF they choose. This is NOT really a solo friendly game.

3. Chat communication: This may be a small thing ,but chatting is much more complicated and involves a lot more key strokes than a simple tell. Why they didn't use the chat system found in most MMORPG is also odd.

Some of you think that I am wrong since this game is only one month old and cite the success of EVE. We shall see who was right. If POBS doens't get a lot of folks staying and playing, you will know I was right. It is currently  Feb 2008. Never let it be said that I didn't call it.

First, let me note that I LOVED Sit Meir's Pirates,which is the basis for this online game. However, there are a number of unfathomable decisions made in this game that will preclude it from becoming successful , and I will give you a hint: ....it has little to do with the gold spammers.

1. It is UNFATHOMABLE that FLS made this game primarily a PVP game.  Yes, there are proponents of PVP,but it only attracts a limited number of adherants compared to non PVP games. POBS should have allowed plahyers to either completely opt out of PvP altogether or have special servers where it exists.

Yes, I do understand that PVP flags can be turned off and players can sail around contested areas, but this is a BIG pain IN addition, players can be in a port where PVP suddenly occurs and get caught up in it.  Frankly, it should have been made a LOT more optional. Big port battles still could arise from raiding. There could be strong defenses by NPCs.

2. Too complex: There is a LOT of complexity int his game,which results in a substantial learning curve for beginners. Sadly, the tutorial is mediocre at best. This will turn off a LOT of beginners before then can get  involved with this game,which is a shame.

3. Missions are too damn tough: I was playing some beginner missions and got wiped by several ships at4 once. Missions, especially beginning missions, should  be easily doable. They shouldn't involve 3-6 ships shooting on me at the captain level!

4. Bording should have followed the Pirates game. Having all of these dumfire crews is stupid and franklly makes it harder to figure out who the enemy is. They should have had a duel with the camptain and maybe one other  for the captured ship , as they did in the game Pirates. Many reviews of POBS agree with this tool

Overrall, I like the game. However, this game will be doomed to serve a small niche market when it could have been HUGE.

I was reading that if the pirates "take" the wrong ship, they trigger the PVP flag and pirate hunters. What ships can they, therefore, take that won't trigger the PVP flag and pirate hunters?

I was playing my first mission. which was assigned by some rich guy to defend the town. When I went out in my ship , I was against 4 ships! Needless to say, they handed me my " hat" plus when I boarded, I kept losing.

HELP. I need some tactics. Also, how do I buy from the auction house or anywhere alse some ammunition and smelling salts? Every time I make a bid, I get told that it is too low yet I bit more than anyone else has on that item in the past.  HELP.

Is there anyway for me to determine what my chances are of beating an opposing ship? for example, if I click on the ship, will it show what level it is or whether I am stronger?

I must be a complete idiot,but I don't see any tutorial option. All I see is the button to "Play." Once this is clicked, I am in the game without a tutorial. Can someone help?

I haven't started yet. Can you recommend a good, strong, helpful society that is taking newbies and what server they are on? Please post their website url for further info.

"Thanks

I had some questions about this game and would appreciate your input.

1. I LOVED Sid Meir's Pirates,which this game is based on. I don't like PVP. Can I play this game to level 50 without ever participating in PVP or is some PVP inevitable?

2. What is the best class for solo play in terms of leveling, "safety" etc.?

3. Can someone recommend a good, strong guild on a server that is still taking newbies?

Thanks