Vega

As one that remembers well PotBS, I couldn't have put it better. I'd be staying pirate and pretty happy about it. I would just suggest that any big changes to pirates be made before the official release (though I don't think they'll happen, from Admin's point of view), because if they happen after the release, then all hell will surely break loose. I think limiting at least crafted 1st and 2nd rates and getting us restrictions on diplomacy would be a nice start already. I'd rather have those restrictions and some fun perks than be part of a nation, but again thats just me. Here's to hoping, anyway.

The queue I got was out of sync, had random numbers and timers popping up.

Yes, me and three friends are having the same problem. Two of them were in battle and as soon as the battle ended, the connection was lost and none of them cant login. I was offline and couldnt join either.

I didn't check any numbers and might be writing nonsense, but the feeling I had was that it was the rank advance (xp amount) that was too easy from midshipman up to post captain. From there onwards it seems about right. The main point however, imho is to keep the smaller ships useful in the long run (ie. the shallow water battles).

The only concern I have with NA is not about NA per se, but the players, aka x-teaming. If game labs can manage to keep that at a minimum, either through one character per account or any other way, I'm positive itll be far superior.