lack of content

[krishna]

this game look awesome and have big potential but for now it's no more than boring,as far I can see only seas no exploration or treasure hunter, like sunk ship, hidden enterance or cave that will appear randomly on map, catastrophe or blizzard,hidden port or island and random encounter etc.

for now the world feel empty and I can't stand with it,the world is too big (empty) and you can travel 2 block for 15 -25 minutes for doing nothing and only to approach  port on other island

[VirtuallyIdiotic]

 

56 minutes ago, krishna said:

no exploration or treasure hunter, like sunk ship, hidden entrance or cave that will appear randomly on map, catastrophe or blizzard,hidden port or island and random encounter etc.

Someone must not have described this game to you very well.

[Yar Matey]

I made many posts on this very specific topic several times and so did some others.  Those of us who have been preaching this have given many examples of ways to add content to the game. @sruPL made a long forum post on this that many in the community agree with. 

Currently the content in this game consists of either PvE missions, or the PvE daily challenges.  If your a PvP'er, level up to high enough rank to man a 4th rate and/or a 1st rate, then participate in port battles, or sail around in the PvP admiralty event and hope for some action that most likely never comes, but if it does come, either you are being chased or your chasing someone because of the uneven match-ups you are guaranteed to run into in OW PvP.

Edited February 28, 2017 by Yar Matey

[Blackjack Morgan]

11 hours ago, Yar Matey said:

I made many posts on this very specific topic several times and so did some others.  Those of us who have been preaching this have given many examples of ways to add content to the game. @sruPL made a long forum post on this that many in the community agree with. 

Currently the content in this game consists of either PvE missions, or the PvE daily challenges.  If your a PvP'er, level up to high enough rank to man a 4th rate and/or a 1st rate, then participate in port battles, or sail around in the PvP admiralty event and hope for some action that most likely never comes, but if it does come, either you are being chased or your chasing someone because of the uneven match-ups you are guaranteed to run into in OW PvP.

This might be a bit dramatic description of current state of affairs. Unless something changes the "things to do" portion of the game is supposed to come from players. I do think an expanded RvR system that gives more of a feeling for being at war would be nice and perhaps some other little additions. However, at the end of the day we, as players, are the ones who should be developing the interesting gaming world we play in.   

[Cmdr RideZ]

If you think about fishing when it came, people sailing after those bottles.  Idea that people actually left ports, sailed to some place because of some purpose.  Also they were fishing, afk fishing sure, but they were there.  Now everyone is back in ports, none to be seen.

It can be that the game should indeed provide us more reasons to sail.

[Yar Matey]

13 hours ago, Blackjack Morgan said:

This might be a bit dramatic description of current state of affairs. Unless something changes the "things to do" portion of the game is supposed to come from players. I do think an expanded RvR system that gives more of a feeling for being at war would be nice and perhaps some other little additions. However, at the end of the day we, as players, are the ones who should be developing the interesting gaming world we play in.   

There was nothing dramatic about my post whatsoever.  I just listed all the PvP and PvE stuff to do in this game.  I have waited or sailed around for hours with my group to find any PvP in the admiralty event or in open world.  Sometimes we go 1-2 hours without finding any decent fights that does not consist of chasing the enemy down and capturing their ship in a 1v5 gank or some other combination of unbalanced PvP.  Not saying that it is bad, its just the nature of an OW PvP based game like this.  most of the time you will not find a good evenly matched fight, unless it is organized by the players of enemy nations, which my clan in the past has done. 

The only good balanced PvP that exists in this game right now is port battles, and the developers decided to throttle it hard with the hostility and region system.  Thus, getting access to a port battle today is really hard. 

The game will never develop a solid player base without content.  Its not hard to do, there are easy ways to add content to this game with very little effort considering that the developers took the time to build a massive open world, which took far longer to add to the game than adding content to the game will take. 

[Hethwill]

In truth we players, we playerbase, do not want evenly matched fights or else the Small battles would be full all the time. Very generic I know but it cannot be denied.

That's the nature of the beast. Even against AI we try to always have the edge. Or going out to a wreck or transporting good from place to place with a NPC fleet.

Considering only and simply this aspect of the game - the pure battle - the tug-of-war in the OW of running away and chasing, involving war squadrons is all about one having a edge over the other or one feeling that the fight is too evenly matched and as such decides to give room and move away from a too equally matched situation, literally a 50-50.

- "unfair" and true to the age of sail west indies, to a point.

Even the Fighting Instructions for the RN indicated that a Flag Squadron would detach enough force to have one edge, in 1 ship or total guns/weight of shot - to engage a enemy squadron. It was never equal, by the book. Most of times it came down to captain decision when they engaged in inferiority, pretty much as in NA.

[Yar Matey]

@Hethwill  Your argument that "we the playerbase" do not want evenly matched fights because small battles would be full all the time is a false assumption because the current state of the interface for small battles is inadequate.  We need a functioning and well laid out lobby for this to ever work successfully.  Its current state is completely inadequate and you must know this.

Second, I am not trying to take away from what OW has to offer.  The hunt or even being the hunted can be quite entertaining at times.  The problem is, I do not think that is what most people who come to the game are looking for.  The name of the game is "Naval Action", thus, people buying this game think they are going to be engaging in lots of fierce combat against other players or NPC's.  This idea is even reinforced by the trailer which shows line formations and massive first rates going broadside for broadside against other first rates.  From the onlookers perspective, this implies that the game will be filled with action.  Unfortunately, when people log into this game, they are greeted with a massive open world with very little action going on, thus most end up just sailing around for a little bit, possibly get ganked by professional raider and privateer captain Hethwill and then leave the game and say "wow, that was stupid" and never come back.  Please do not take this as a personal attack on you and the way you like to enjoy the game, I am just pointing out how the newcomer to this game feels or perceives.  Of course there are other little things like the lack of a UI n' such. 

When I first picked up this game, it had a lot to offer even though my first thought was "wow, no UI?".  BUT!  there were always port battles going on and the message that some nation was attacking another nation at xxx port was quite enticing and constantly popped up on my screen, and I said to myself "wow!  I need to get into a constitution so I can participate in these large battles", so I did just that, grinded to high enough rank to fully crew a connie, and participated in loads of port battles and with the old flag system, it was engaging and very entertaining as the race to sink the ship with the flag or to plant the flag begun.  It was loads of fun, if the flag managed to get planted, it was even better as a huge 25vs25 battle commenced.  I participated in loads of shallow water port battles as well, and it was a blast! 

Unfortunately, developers decision making, for better or for worse, took that really enjoyable system away.  Yes, we had lots of drama in Nat News about pulling fake flags and other shenanigans, but I and I think many others were having loads of fun, and who doesn't enjoy a little drama with some popcorn? 

The point is, the developers have taken away the only content that made this game worth playing, the port battles, I mean, they still exist, but they have become something that only the hardcore most dedicated players get to participate in.  I remember a time when people would join in 3rd rates into a first rate port battle, and no one cared because we desperately needed the people.  Now if you join a first rate battle even in a first rate and you do not have a slot filled in their list of who can join and who cant, you get scorned, even reported on the forums as a griefer if you join in anything other than a first rate. 

We also have a crafting system that only the players with countless amounts of hours to play the game can participate in with the new regional bonuses, but this is a different subject altogether.  But the point is!,  This game became a game for the hardcore, but not just the hardcore, but the hardcore of the hardcore, and that is reflected in the numbers logging in to play this game every day. 

I am sorry to say, but the game is in fact desperately lacking content and in a very bad way, both PvE and PvP.  Players need to log in and immediately see things on the map to do and battles to participate in.  The best content this game had to offer was with the old flag system.  You know it, I know it, everybody who was playing during that time knows it!  and there were tuns of players sailing around in trade ships to get mats to build new ships to keep the war effort going for you to attack to steal their precious cargo.  Today, sadly, there is nothing more than an empty OW, and it makes me sad, because I really do love the potential this game has to offer. 

[Hethwill]

Generally put we do not engage unless we are almost sure of win. Just had a Constitution and Endymion retreating after pressing attack after noticed we were 2 instead of 1, a surprise and a rattlesnake. I rest my case. And I have no issues with that mind you  It is what it is. War for the upper hand by use of the open world and kind of fair fights were not the norm then and will never be here unless arenas.

Game might lack PvE content, totally agree no doubt there, but PvP content is us. Only us.

 

[Vernon Merrill]

Its PAINFUL the odds people will run away from.... 

 

[Salty Dog.]

On 2/28/2017 at 10:47 AM, krishna said:

this game look awesome and have big potential but for now it's no more than boring,as far I can see only seas no exploration or treasure hunter, like sunk ship, hidden enterance or cave that will appear randomly on map, catastrophe or blizzard,hidden port or island and random encounter etc.

for now the world feel empty and I can't stand with it,the world is too big (empty) and you can travel 2 block for 15 -25 minutes for doing nothing and only to approach  port on other island

If you want a game like that, Try world of warcraft.....seriously, this is gladly not that type of game.

[Yar Matey]

1 hour ago, Hethwill said:

Generally put we do not engage unless we are almost sure of win. Just had a Constitution and Endymion retreating after pressing attack after noticed we were 2 instead of 1, a surprise and a rattlesnake. I rest my case. And I have no issues with that mind you  It is what it is. War for the upper hand by use of the open world and kind of fair fights were not the norm then and will never be here unless arenas.

Game might lack PvE content, totally agree no doubt there, but PvP content is us. Only us.

 

The average player who buys any video game needs to be guided or pushed in one direction or another.  Some need very little guidance and then they are on their way and others just want to not think at all and follow a story line or grind easy PvE content (or hard).  Players like you Who find ways to entertain yourself out in OW are the exception not the rule.  This is why content is so important.  It gives players, especially new players, guidance.  The average player who logs into this game in its current state has no clue what to do.

Conquest through port battles is the PvP content that is provided for us to create our own story.  We need MORE of this type of content very badly.  Not everyone likes to sail around in OW looking for pvp.  Yes it's great that it exists so people like you can enjoy whatever fight comes your way, but it's not enough, not nearly enough to keep people playing this game.  

Everyone benefits from more content.  We need big battles, small battles, first rate battles, mortar brig battles and on and on...  All kinds of port battle like content big and small.  If the devs can do this, find ways to add more conquest type content people will come and play.  Just like if story lines are added and pve adventures are added, more people will come and play.  People need a reason to log in and start playing.

[Anne Wildcat]

I guess I'm the exception as well as my only goal is to get good at OW PVP.

Oh and someday completely circumnavigate the map. I've started it twice but never finished lol. 

Edited March 2, 2017 by Anne Wildcat

[Cmdr RideZ]

We need a carrot for RvR, more reasons for players, why they are capturing a port.  Could be also some clan owned building(s).

We need pointers for OW PvP players, so that they can find people without spending 4 hours sailing empty seas.  I play OW PvP, not RvR, and I think we are not the exception.  I would play this game a lot more if I were able to find people.

I am at port, depressed to leave, as I probably find no one

[Hethwill]

Maybe Yar is right, maybe I am the exception but in the last 4 hours of gameplay we, yankee privateers, did intercept no less than four trade convoys and two warship patrols - that's a 4 hours period of sailing and battle instances - not bad. Does it have a consequence in the big scheme of Conquest ? No idea and to be honest I don't want to know. It is simply the Action, the Naval pursuit of prize, the chase and the escape, the bouncing enemy trade and extend safely from the counter coast guard deployment.

Obviously I would entertain myself with PvE activities IF those would be streamlined line a string of pearls. Finding clues here and there about a Special Event ship. Anchoring at remote locations like log camps, fisher villages, taking on special passengers, or even aid a revolution somewhere by smuggling goods like essential supplies or weapons.

What I do agree with the testbed notes is the moving of PvE missions to the Open World, as a chase, as a pursuit of, instead of the same old same old - take quest, run, do quest, return - which I personally find abhorrent.

There's more space in Naval Action to expand to both sides, PvP and PvE, but we must be ready for compromise. We can't have everything at all times when we want.

Here are a lot of suggestions made to make everything in game more interesting -

http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/19135-open-worldinstance-fog-clouds/

http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/18844-rivers-and-mills/

http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/19086-post-battle-salvaging/ ... http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/18934-new-shipwreck-mechanic/

http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/18757-suggestion-to-track-navy-career-beginning-to-end/ ... http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/18641-suggestion-gaming-session-logs/http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/18838-suggestion-lord-protectors-war-fleets/

 

http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/18854-crafted-ships-with-default-national-colours/ ... http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/18476-splitting-crew-into-ordinary-and-able-seamen/

http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/15843-suggestion-mission-types-ideas/ ... http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/17917-visual-overflow-in-shop-harbor/

http://forum.game-labs.net/index.php?/topic/17957-a-real-navy-has-a-real-navy-yard/

 

There's so many many more. Will take some time re-indexing them all so they don't fall out of memory. In the meanwhile is nice to spend a bit of time and even ressurrect some of them even if old.

[Fargo]

9 hours ago, Yar Matey said:

The average player who logs into this game in its current state has no clue what to do.

Isnt that how it should be for a sandbox?! New players get thrown into a busy open world providing the freedom to do whatever they want, with lots of helpful people around. Figuring stuff out yourself makes it interesting, and its not like you can loose anything when joining the game.

We dont need guiding content or a world full of events. We need players organising stuff in the chat. Just for fun, for serious pvp reasons, role play reasons, groups for pve/grinding, rescue missions, escorts, conquest stuff, whatsoever. There was no problem with boredom when NA had stable 1k+ players.

 

9 hours ago, Yar Matey said:

Everyone benefits from more content.  We need big battles, small battles, first rate battles, mortar brig battles and on and on...  All kinds of port battle like content big and small.  If the devs can do this, find ways to add more conquest type content people will come and play.  Just like if story lines are added and pve adventures are added, more people will come and play.  People need a reason to log in and start playing.

No, youre missunderstanding sandbox. It depends on the content. This type of content is trying to force people to sail different ships and do certain stuff. The devs already tried similar with crafting restrictions and PB restrictions, forcing players to do certain stuff in the ow, without any good reasoning. In your case instead of restricting PBs for certain ships, you should work on an environment that makes people use different ships by themselfes. Of course thats not as easy as simply putting restrictions, but thats how a sandbox works. 

Its different for optional pve content, you can do whatever you want. More diversity for missions would be great, exploration could be a good way to tell some storys. The question is if it would be worth the effort. You probably dont want to do the same 3 stories again and again, complex missions would probably need better AI, etc. The point is you can add better pve content any time later. The priority for a sandbox game should be a proper sandbox environment.

More conquest type content, what should this be?! Ships were used for trading, protection, war, piracy and exploration.

A functional sandbox provides several reasons to log in for several types of players.

[Baptiste Gallouédec]

For exemple, Arma3 is a sandbox, but drop me on altis in a middle of 60 players, and it's the worst game of all.

Either you do it roleplay (NA is far from that, and i've seen zero rp community/clan) but even there you need content (stuff to buy / earn/ careers).

Or missions (user-created or ig-scripted)

Content is vital.

 

If the mission is just to conquest the whole map for your nation, make it clear in game because the conquest mechanics made it harder than ever, maybe even non-achievable.

Edited March 2, 2017 by Baptiste Gallouédec

[Yar Matey]

2 hours ago, Fargo said:

No, youre missunderstanding sandbox. It depends on the content. This type of content is trying to force people to sail different ships and do certain stuff. The devs already tried similar with crafting restrictions and PB restrictions, forcing players to do certain stuff in the ow, without any good reasoning. In your case instead of restricting PBs for certain ships, you should work on an environment that makes people use different ships by themselfes. Of course thats not as easy as simply putting restrictions, but thats how a sandbox works.

Just because the game falls into the sandbox category is not an acceptable excuse to not have content in the game.  The tools need to exist in a game like this for PvP to take place.  Before hostility, it was the flag system. 

Also, when it comes to adding PvP content nothing has to be forced and soft restrictions can exist in the sense that if you bring the wrong ships to the battle, you are destined to lose.  For example, if the mission in a battle is to destroy the heavily armed square tower, but the tower is in a shallow water area where no non-shallow water ship can enter, the attacking team would be forced to bring at least one mortar brig, or they would lose the battle because shallow water ships will not stand a chance against a square tower and boarding one in a shallow water ship would be nearly impossible due to the difference in crew that the tower would have compared to the shallow water ship.  This is a non-forced restriction where you can bring any shallow water ship to the battle, but if everyone is in a heavy rattlesnake, you will most likely lose the battle.  The hard restriction of only shallow water ships makes sense because anything bigger will run aground. 

Edited March 2, 2017 by Yar Matey

[Fargo]

1 hour ago, Yar Matey said:

Just because the game falls into the sandbox category is not an acceptable excuse to not have content in the game.  The tools need to exist in a game like this for PvP to take place.  Before hostility, it was the flag system. 

Also, when it comes to adding PvP content nothing has to be forced and soft restrictions can exist in the sense that if you bring the wrong ships to the battle, you are destined to lose.  For example, if the mission in a battle is to destroy the heavily armed square tower, but the tower is in a shallow water area where no non-shallow water ship can enter, the attacking team would be forced to bring at least one mortar brig, or they would lose the battle because shallow water ships will not stand a chance against a square tower and boarding one in a shallow water ship would be nearly impossible due to the difference in crew that the tower would have compared to the shallow water ship.  This is a non-forced restriction where you can bring any shallow water ship to the battle, but if everyone is in a heavy rattlesnake, you will most likely lose the battle.  The hard restriction of only shallow water ships makes sense because anything bigger will run aground. 

Of course you need basic mechanics that define the game... but these are already in since steam release.

Your example is fine, the devision in shallow and deep water isnt an artificial restriction. But thats part of the conquest mechanics. Im just saying that neither focussing on new pve content, nor focussing on new artificial pvp content would help the game in its current state.

2 hours ago, Baptiste Gallouédec said:

Either you do it roleplay (NA is far from that, and i've seen zero rp community/clan) but even there you need content (stuff to buy / earn/ careers).

Roleplay just means that you imagine a backgroundstory for your character, mentality, etc. and act accordingly. I have seen a little bit role play in NA, but i guess its rare in most games unless there are special rp servers.