The 2 minute timer cannot stand!:

[Enraged Ewok]

How can easy access to battles be "much worse"? Something is very wrong here. Indefinite timer with spawn points depending on time is the best so far. The game right now is supporting the narrow segment of players with Mic and TS and time enough.

 

 

Yesterday I played the whole night just to find a big fleet. Joined it. Made it to a PB that was empty. After that I got intercepted by a small brit reno that let my indiaman go after 30 min of standstill due to late hours.

 

I wonder who such a game targets? Compared to other games this one is time demanding and not always rewarding. Since 2 min timer we have lost 75% of players.

 

Get off your damn high horse. You act like big fleet actions are the only reason this game is worth playing, and I'm damn sick of seeing this repeated over and over in your posts when you have no counterargument to bring to the table. You completely ignore players like myself, Hethwill, and untold numbers others who do 90% of their in game playtime solo hunting enemy ships and traders. Your "easy access  to battles" assumes that the only battles you can join are in progress, and you act like starting your own battle would take an act of God. This game is plenty fulfilling for me with 1-2 hours of playtime a night, playing 2-3 times a week due to work and other constraints. WYSIWYG is a huge part of why this game IS playable for the solo player. If all you want are epic battles, then go play World of Warships instead of repeating "No, your argument is not valid because I say it isn't" here.

[fox2run]

Guys like you make me even more convinced in my cause.

Edited September 22, 2016 by fox2run

[fox2run]

It's not who is here but who is not here. 2 min timer killed the fun and wasted our time. Unless you like it empty and slow.

 

Now you need TS just to see a bit action, maybe. Otherwise you have to gank traders or sit it out in front of a Freeport.

 

Something is not working imho.

[fox2run]

It's not who is here but who is not here. 2 min timer killed the fun and wasted our time. Unless you like it empty and slow.

 

Now you need TS just to see a bit action, maybe. Otherwise you have to gank traders or sit it out in front of a Freeport.

 

Something is not working imho.

[jodgi]

Indefinite timer with spawn points depending on time is the best so far.

Ok then, we might just get that. How will you and the other [insert random number]% of players that don't like closed battles react to having open battles but having to sail an hour to get to the fight?

Since 2 min timer we have lost 75% of players.

`

A wild number appeared!

[Enraged Ewok]

How will you and the other [insert random number]% of players that don't like closed battles react to having open battles but having to sail an hour to get to the fight?

 

 

Obviously, they'll complain that fights aren't accessible because sailing to the action in the instance is too time consuming. They will then claim that this has caused x% of players to leave over the past 8 months, without any research into whether timers or other reasons (work, new games, weather, etc.) caused the decline. They will then demand to be deposited right next to the action whenever a battle starts in a 300km radius around them, allowing them to instantly join the action without the trouble of positioning themselves in OW or actually keeping station with friends or nation-mates.

[Mrdoomed]

How can easy access to battles be "much worse"? Something is very wrong here. Indefinite timer with spawn points depending on time is the best so far. The game right now is supporting the narrow segment of players with Mic and TS and time enough.

Yesterday I played the whole night just to find a big fleet. Joined it. Made it to a PB that was empty. After that I got intercepted by a small brit reno that let my indiaman go after 30 min of standstill due to late hours.

I wonder who such a game targets? Compared to other games this one is time demanding and not always rewarding. Since 2 min timer we have lost 75% of players.

Well after 9 months of you complaining every single day about how much you hate the game and how unfair it is youre still here playing so i guess they are doing something right.

Also you sure have a hard on for clans,TS,and Mics. Why is that? I mean you have been bashing clans ,mics and ts since your first whine.

Ive also told you since your first whine i have no ts no mic and am in a clan of 4 friends and have never had any problems you do. So either you are making this all up or you do not know how to game right. Which is it i wonder.

 

Edited out harsher language.  -Mod Team

[fox2run]

Well after 9 months of you complaining every single day about how much you hate the game and how unfair it is youre still here playing so i guess they are doing something right.

Also you sure have a hard on for clans,TS,and Mics. Why is that? I mean you have been bashing clans ,mics and ts since your first whine.

Ive also told you since your first whine i have no ts no mic and am in a clan of 4 friends and have never had any problems you do. So either you are making this all up or you do not know how to game right. Which is it i wonder.

 

Edited out harsher language.  -Mod Team

 

Calm down and read the headline.

[Mrdoomed]

Calm down and read the headline.

I think possibly you need to calm down and stop flipping over clans,ts,mics in every problem you have. Now 2 minute timers are a conspiracy of ts using clans to ruin your fame. Ha ha. Fox you seriously need to take advice from all those offering it.

[Mrdoomed]

Why because he is right?

Look at the size of the world in game.

Look at how far you can sail in 30min in open world in the SLOWEST ship a Mortar Brig.

Last I checked in 30min I can sail from Tiburon to Port Morant if the wind is coming out of the south when I leave Tiburon.

Now do you think it is fair or even vaguely realistic, or more importantly fun for anyone who started the fight. For some guy sitting in a port damned near 210km away in 30m? When one game day is what 15min?

So you are saying that a fight that is over in an hour in real time, should stay open so someone can sail 2 days distance to get into a fight?

LOL You really must be special.

Exactly! And that isnt counting people teleporting from accross the world before leaving port.

Foxes problem is that he needs safty of numbers in order to survive and thus wants the game and all players to be forced to play like him. Plus he really hates ts.

[jodgi]

Guys, there's nothing inherently wrong with liking big battles. I've seen admin say he likes big battles too...

Do we take away skill based OW play for big chaotic battles? I hope not.

[Mrdoomed]

Guys, there's nothing inherently wrong with liking big battles. I've seen admin say he likes big battles too...

Do we take away skill based OW play for big chaotic battles? I hope not.

Nobody is saying there is something wrong with bug battles for thse that enjoy them. What they are saying is there is nothing wrong with small battles and asking guys like fox2run toquit trying to kill off small battles and those of us who like them.

For instance, if I spend time and effort to goto and sit on the edge of a shipping lane (2 or 3 days sail time simulated ) and attack a trade shipnor unprotected light warshipI should not have my efforts and strategies ruined because fox2run wants people to be able to teleport and sailbout to my well timed attack and ruin my fun.

As the game isnhe can have his fun if he would use his brain and we can too who use our brain to lay sneak atracks.

Whybis this wrong?

[Neverdead Ned]

Sometimes short timers work for you and sometimes against you... A short timer means that you're more likely to get ganked by fewer players at one time as they all struggle to pile in and increases your chances of escape while a longer timer may give you time to be rescued by someone....both have merits.  Personally, the longer timer appears to favor the attackers rather than the prey IHMO.

 

It's a mmo, make friends.

[jodgi]

mmm, stroopwafel gelekker!

[Yar Matey]

Nobody is saying there is something wrong with bug battles for thse that enjoy them. What they are saying is there is nothing wrong with small battles and asking guys like fox2run toquit trying to kill off small battles and those of us who like them.

For instance, if I spend time and effort to goto and sit on the edge of a shipping lane (2 or 3 days sail time simulated ) and attack a trade shipnor unprotected light warshipI should not have my efforts and strategies ruined because fox2run wants people to be able to teleport and sailbout to my well timed attack and ruin my fun.

As the game isnhe can have his fun if he would use his brain and we can too who use our brain to lay sneak atracks.

Whybis this wrong?

 

Mrdoomed:  "I like to gank traders with impunity with zero chance of the traders I gank being saved from friendlies joining the battle"  FIFY

[shaeberle84]

Fox since I started playing this game, the battle timer has shrunk from 15 mins too 2 mins.

It was done for the simple reason, when you start a fight what you see on the horizon will be what can enter your battle. This also protects mission runners who wait until no ship is in sight then start their mission. Yes it can be frustrating at times of course, but 2 mins has proven to be the optimal timer. Can you imagine the chances of doing a mission in peace around Jamaica if the timer was 15 mins? It works both for and against everyone and people need to get used to it.

Why do you have the timer while undocking you ask?

Its simple people would hide an entire fleet in port with a lone ship outside, the moment it was attacked the whole fleet would undock and attack. Again it goes back to the point when you start a fight what you see on the horizon is what your gonna be dealing with.

Should there be a social perk of some kind that extends a timer or the chance of reinforcement? I thought it was fun and saw some huge brawls go down so I am  not dead against it.

Lets see what the devs come up with.

 

You can protect mission runners very simply, without ruining pvp for everybody else. Just make low-lvl mission battles instantly closed. No ganking on newbies.

2 minutes have been proven to be a rediculous short timer. Ever had a battle open up just 500 meters upwind? It is a joke you cannot join battle which lasts for up to 90 minutes, when you are only 3 minutes away from where the battle started.

 

You can also very simply prevent hiding missions in port. Just show in the map how many ships are currently docked with captains in it. This way every port can be "scouted out" and then decided whether it is risky to attack someone in front of the port or not.

[shaeberle84]

You can have large battle with the 2min timer.

 

Just sail as a group.... OMG I know right a new idea. 

 

Hell two nights ago, there were 6 of us sailing around in a loose formation. 

 

2 6th rate skirmishers, and 4 4th rate hammers. 

 

The 6th rates were sailing at the edge of visual range of the 4th rates.   We would tag a ship and drive them towards our 4th rates.  We would engage in battle and they would be able to join without an issue well within the 2min timer.   Hell we even had it backfire on us and ended up in a bigger fight than we wanted and had 3 or 4 2nd and 3rd rates get into a fight with us.  

As long as you can see your friends ship in OW, and the wind is behind you, they should be able to get to you WELL within 2min timer.

 

You have, I think, stated four separate conditions under which you can have fun battles with the current systems. If one of them is not met, e.g. sailing upwind, then the system will not produce fun battles. This is a badly designed system. I can give you dozens of examples where the short battle timers produce very odd battles. 

 

The problem with battle timers in general is that other people who want to help need to sit outside and wait for up to 90 minutes for the battle to end, before they can help. This is system which is very demotivating. It will produce a series of ganks and counter-ganks, each with potentially very uneven matchups that are not fun to play, for neither side.

[shaeberle84]

I am sorry but this is complete BS.  Your average player is not the lone wolf player anymore who runs around refusing to be part of a larger group.   They are often organized, and willing or able to be on VOIP of some form or another.  They often do operate in packs.  

 

You sir, count the players that are left. The devs and we all should count the players that HAVE left.

 

And 2 minutes timers have killed the game for many players. We have lost the majority of our well and organised clan to hours of waiting outside closed battles without seeing action, to being ganked right besides a large friendly battle fleet that was 3 minutes away, because of upwind.

 

Operating in packs is a consequence of the game mechanics, because you are forced to do so, or else you will be ganked, even in front of captial harbours. But the game should be about having a CHOICE how to play it.

[Hethwill]

Mrdoomed:  "I like to gank traders with impunity with zero chance of the traders I gank being saved from friendlies joining the battle"  FIFY

 

Trade raiding will be even more of a game thing in the future. Ask for escorts.

 

- Trader has no rank

- One raider jumping a trader is not a gank, its a pyracy.

 

Nailed a trader full of materials for ship building on the canal running the coast from Kingston to Port Morant right at the eastern edge of old port royal island.

There were 2 Surprises, 2 Renomes and 2 Mercuries standing at view range inside the bay. Those I could see, no idea if there were more beyond view range.

 

Someone won't have their ship built in time this week. Do you think they came to save their trader ? Wrong.

 

I even told in Global that we thanked the Royal Navy to be sitting in capital circle waiting to "gank" the enemy squadrons while leaving their traders open to predators.

 

Three situations arised. One 17 vs 3 on behalf of enemy, with no one else joining to help the 3 poor souls and just watching the battle close from a stone throw away. Next battle they jumped, finally having the guts to do it, 20 vs 6. In the meanwhile the trade raiders were running carefree due to the present RN captains being a bunch of whiny babies about 2 minute timers and Socialize being unavailable.

[shaeberle84]

Ok then, we might just get that. How will you and the other [insert random number]% of players that don't like closed battles react to having open battles but having to sail an hour to get to the fight?

`

A wild number appeared!

 

First, this system is quite clever because ganked players can choose to sail TOWARDS the reinforcement. =)

Second, here are the numbers:

http://steamcharts.com/app/311310

Of course, you cannot attribute falling player numbers to one single design flaw of the game. I think the lack of a working economy side and the badly designed port battle /port timer mechanic are also factors contributing that especially casual players with not that much time have left the game.

[Mrdoomed]

Mrdoomed: "I like to gank traders with impunity with zero chance of the traders I gank being saved from friendlies joining the battle" FIFY

Got pirate mate ?

[Vernon Merrill]

"Ganking traders".... I've officially heard it all.

Nelson: Hardy! Hardy, I say... Steer us an intercept course for that French Indiaman to port and signal the squadron to follow. Great Britain needs all the war materials she can get..... (and my spars are rotted through, between you and I, Hardy)

Hardy: But sir, that is just a solo Indiaman, perhaps we ought to wait for his mates from Toulon to show up, you know to be more sporting. I believe I saw a flight of pigeons carrying his pleas for help back to the mainland.

Nelson: You're right as usual, dear chap! Plot us a course to follow at a distance and we'll wait for his 3rd rates to arrive. The lads will find it more sporting and it will be more "fun", at least for those who don't get killed! Hahaha, Hardy! Did you smoke out my witticism there?! Haha, I tell you what Hardy, I would slap my knee from laughter if I just had another arm...,, hahah.

[shaeberle84]

Nelson: "No, Hardy. Let us create an invisible wall between us and the whole French fleet in the harbour of Toulon such that they need to watch from close distance how we sink their trader right before their eyes."

[Bulwyf]

And thus his and his kinds problem will never be fixed. You and i both know ( because we make a life of raiding) that if OPs friends or nation would simply SIT AT SEA instead of afking while they wait for him toget killed so they can gank he wouldn't get ganked.

The devs can do anything they want and nothing is ever going to keep sheep from being prey , wolves from being wolves and lazy port hugging cowards from being lazy port hugging cowards. But i do look forward to thier new demands and reasons they they can surviv

 

The 2 min timer is one of the worst features of the game at the moment. You can be quite close and at sea and not come close to entering the combat which is  a joke. I understand why the gankers love the 2 min timer, but it is the single most destructive feature for both PVP and the game in general.

[Cecil Selous]

First, this system is quite clever because ganked players can choose to sail TOWARDS the reinforcement. =)

Second, here are the numbers:

http://steamcharts.com/app/311310

Of course, you cannot attribute falling player numbers to one single design flaw of the game. I think the lack of a working economy side and the badly designed port battle /port timer mechanic are also factors contributing that especially casual players with not that much time have left the game.

 

I bet that most of the time one party (the ganked one or the reinforcements) has to sail upwind and has to beat to windward. That's not fun either. And what if the initial battle participants stay close to the battle start location? You will have dozens of ships spawning close to them, making a possible fair fight very unbalanced. I could live with 3 min timers but not any longer.

Edited September 23, 2016 by Cecil Selous