Forthcoming Seasonal Update Information - NSFW Leopards and NPC Port battles on the Peace Server

[Gregory Rainsborough]

6 minutes ago, Louis Garneray said:

with the hope that we would get more targets...

*sniff* I know that feeling.

[van der Clam]

7 hours ago, H982 FKL said:

@admin I'd love to know who has been asking for NPCs to attack ports. As far as I can tell, no one has asked for this yet you've been determined to introduce it.

I have suggested NPC retakes ports ONLY IF players are not regularly supplying it with resources and provisions. This would force OW cargo sailing, unless ofc, people don't really care for the port. I can't find the poll I made for it, but it was well received.

Something I should have added was a Map Indicator to let people know which ports are "unhappy" and near ready to revolt, so that enemy nations can see which to hunt traders near. Would also be nice to have enemy nations help support the NPC during the PB, but also allow "allied nations" to help protect the port.

EDIT: Poll Link for Port Maintenance 

 

Edited August 15, 2019 by van der Clam

[LIONOFWALES]

On 8/14/2019 at 9:24 AM, CoolBreeze66 said:

Does it matter really? I think the game has taken a turn for the worse, its too bad.

for the worse? The PVE server needs these updates... its so boring... Now for the PVP server... I hope it is only implemented in a very limited way... lets give it a chance and see how this changes everything. Now we may have less AFK running around... this means that the game is becoming more engaging and interesting... more Naval Action.

[van der Clam]

15 minutes ago, Staunberg said:

It would just bring more trader in OW, not really what I would Call fun fights, and more grinding, not really what I find funny.  

Game simply have to little to offer. I know it is summers, but ppl just dont really play the game. Why?, to little to do, unless you want to PvP ore there is a Pb. So I just did a traderun, sailed a ship to Gustavia and got ganked.

Took a look at ts, I was only online, took a look at clan, nobody online. So I just logged OFF again, see if it is better tommorow. 

More traders means more escorts and more possible battles. Especially if enemy nations saw a port was about to revolt, then the enemy could blockade the port like we used to with Flags For PBs. Also, if enemy nations were allowed to help NPC in PB, would create more PBs.

Hope your mates rejoin soon.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, van der Clam said:

Indicator to let people know which ports are "unhappy" and near ready to revolt...

Would also be nice to have enemy nations help support the NPC during the PB...

There should be some sort of indictor so players can prep. What would be cool and realistic is if a NPC assault fleet sailed from a port, then I would anticipate chat filling with reports of an assault fleet spotted and underway, captains could then set sail to rondevu and defend.

  

Edited August 15, 2019 by Guest

[Guest]

3 hours ago, LIONOFWALES said:

yeah... I know what you mean... but hey... in the struggle for power... perhaps one doesn't really care how everything looks.... only how their equipment performs?

If I would want more varience in ship designs in port battles... I would suggest allowing only a certain number of each rate type... say for instance... 4 1rst-2nd rates, 6 3rd rates, the rest 4th rate and below... this would at least insure more variance to the ratings of ships in a port battle... but would only be in PVP... in PVE the NPC should match the attacking or defending players.

Three cheers for the frigates and their gallant Captains!

the problem with all of this is screening, the 1st rates thats not in the PB will screen out the offensive pb fleet.. Only way i see it is making 1st and 2nd rates permits harder to obtain, meaning dynamically drop rate depending on how many of those two rates are afloat on the server.

[Marquês do Bonfim]

1st rates should indeed be almost impossible to get (figuratively speaking as in being harder). 1st rates wasn't a ship that was sailing around constantly, they had a good reason to put a 1st rate in the high seas, and that was for bigger and important battles, 1st rates should be the weapon every clan holds for RvRs and PBs, instead, we get 25v25 1st rates and no other class, and even if there was other classes, it would be useless against 1st rates.

PBs and RvRs definetly needs to be balanced out AGAIN, if the BR limit is not working, simply put a lock on the classes by amount, like Wyy suggested. 2 1st rates would be the ultimate ENOUGH in a Port Battle, the rest goes for 3rd rates, 4th rates and lighter frigates, this will bring so much diversity to battles and it wouldn't be a too hard hit in the gut, like it is losing a 1st rate. 

Edited August 15, 2019 by Portuguese Privateer

[PaladinFX]

Please can we have more detail on the Leopard; what will be her stats, armourment etc?

[Karvala]

On 8/14/2019 at 3:15 PM, admin said:

NPC Port battles will come to Peace server.

• NPC will try to capture rich ports from large clans using unique raiding mechanics on both Peace and War servers. If NPC's manage to capture the ports the port will then have to be recaptured. We do not know the intentions of NPC raiders on the port assets (yet). 
• Most importantly this means that ports could be recaptured from NPCs, which will open clan control, taxation and investments for the Peace server, and long overdue map fluidity. 
   

Raids. 

• Small groups will be able to raid rich ports for profit and glory. They could become a second or maybe first source of admiralty rewards and money for adventurers like you. They are oriented for all segments of players and will be accessible even to those who only have 1.5 hours in the evening. 

 

On 8/14/2019 at 4:08 PM, Cetric de Cornusiac said:

Nice to see new content coming to PvE Peace Server. But... it seems single players will not profit from it. Too much clan-orientated, I am afraid.

What would be a good idea is to give single players the possibility to organize a fleet big enough to face NPC port battles, let's say he pays for his AI fleet ship supporters, or we can set up a fleet from all of our dockyard ships without the usual restrictions (1 - 3 fleet ships only), so it's enough to engage NPC attacker or defender.

Want to use this opportunity to warn against a new attempt to force people into clans. This isn't popular here.

I would go further than this and say that not only do the proposed changes not give anything to single/solo players (who seem to form the majority of players on PvE), but it actually goes a long way towards killing the game for them (or I should say us, since I'm one).

At the moment you can be self-sufficient as a single player and at no fundamental disadvantage.  Sure, it will take longer to acquire resources and XP etc., but there is no glass ceiling.  I have a top level shipyard, forge, academy, workshop and switch other resources around as needed.  I can build my own ships which can match the best ships I can buy.  I can build the same upgrades and books.  I can fight the AI as and when I choose and the rest of the time do what I want safe in the knowledge that the resources I have spent many long hours accumulating in order to be able to build the ships of my choice are safe.

After the new changes come into effect:-

1.  I will no longer be able to build the best ships; that privilege will now be exclusively held by clan members who own ports and can invest to give their ships port bonuses.  No doubt they will sell some of those ships on the open market, so I might as well give up building ships and just start buying theirs instead.  One part of the game has now been closed off to me.

2.  If players resources, e.g. workshops, academies etc. will be appropriated by the NPCs who have captured a port (aka destroyed), then all of those resources I have worked hard to accumulate are no longer safe, and even worse, their safety depends not on me as a solo player but on whichever clan owns the port and is responsible for its security.  I appreciate @admin hasn't yet stated/decided what will happen here, and I am hoping they will be sensible, but on the other hand, if the resources are not lost, then what's the reason for defending the port?

The latter point highlights why this whole idea is flawed; there is a fundamental tension between solo players and clans.  An uneven playing field will see the solo players, i.e. the majority of players on PvE, simply leaving.  We're solo players for a reason; we can't be coerced into joining clans.  An even playing field is not possible if some features are only available to clans or clan members.

Most importantly of all, we play on the peace server because we don't want to have to fight except at a time of our choosing against an opponent of our choosing.  NPCs attacking our resources and forcing fights at times when people don't want to fight, may not be available etc., totally undermines the whole point of the PvE server.

There are so many potential improvement on the PvE server that can and should be made, some of which have been listed elsewhere in the thread.  Why just take PvP features and impose them here instead, where they fit so badly?

 

 

 

 

 

[Fluffy Fishy]

On 8/14/2019 at 3:15 PM, admin said:

NSFW HMS Leopard (1775-1790) will be a new imported DLC ship added in this seasonal content update.

HMS Leopard is 1790-1814, not 1775-1790, she was being built between 1775-1790 she obviously wasn't an active ship over this time. Interestingly she was constructed at two different dockyards.

Edited August 15, 2019 by Fluffy Fishy

[Rigge1988]

21 hours ago, admin said:

NPCs will follow SOME rules and will attack within timers.

No. Just no.

[Mad Dog Morgan]

 

12 hours ago, Louis Garneray said:

We moved to the Dutch nation (at the beginning of the server, we didn't jump like some pirates in the middle of a war) with the hope that we would get more targets...
But RvR is almost dead now... and big pvp battles are almost impossible to get nowadays.
 

 

12 hours ago, Gregory Rainsborough said:

*sniff* I know that feeling.

 

Awww what a shame.  Dutch waters especially Maracaibo is a mini Gulf of Russia with a significantly higher concentration of Indiaman and 5th rates compared to  anywhere else on the map,  best hunting in the game. In fact if wasn't for Dutch waters I probably wouldn't bother playing NA at all in it's current state.     😃

Edited August 16, 2019 by Dan Morgan

[Razee]

10 hours ago, PaladinFX said:

Please can we have more detail on the Leopard; what will be her stats, armourment etc?

Check felix victors naval action map. Here stats are already in the compare ships tab. She is quite tanky for a 4th rate but her firepower is a bit low

Edited August 16, 2019 by Razee

[North]

This is Nice😁😁 no more port timers to dogde getting attacked 😁😊 noe npc will attack at those timers det just to avoid battles👍💪

[Gregory Rainsborough]

4 hours ago, Dan Morgan said:

Awww what a shame.  Dutch waters especially Maracaibo is a mini Gulf of Russia with a significantly higher concentration of Indiaman and 5th rates compared to  anywhere else on the map,  best hunting in the game. In fact if wasn't for Dutch waters I probably wouldn't bother playing NA at all in it's current state.     😃

When I was GB I never had much luck hunting at Maracaibo. Most of the people I got were near FZ.

[CrustyJohnson]

Very excited for the raids, I feel like its just what we need to get some PvP that actually has RvR implications. 

A little upset that Leopard is DLC, I wish the DLC ships were easily craftable in game, being able to spawn it anywhere already seems like it would make DLC worth it, no need to punish people who want to work to get it. I definitely think a DLC trader ship would be a better way to go also. 

I don't know how to feel about the AI attacks on ports. It might be a nice bit of pressure on the Zerg clans, although I feel like there are better ways to do that, like penalties for owning more ports or increased rewards for killing members of bigger clans. 

In the end I feel like war server just needs to go the route of Eve and allow clans to operate entirely independent of nations. Have each nation have an unconquerable county and have all other counties be up for grabs. Wouldn't even require a reset, just flip it on right now with the ports owned the way they are.

[CrustyJohnson]

The only PvP I ever get in this game is random raiders attacking traders and me and a group chasing them down, or vice versa, or me going to PvP zone. I hope raids creates a scenario that encourages two nations to form into comparable sized forces and fight in one large battle without the janky mechanics of a port battle capture the zone. 

The big ship building ports need to cost more. The upkeep needs to be a real issue. Maybe even make it require victory marks and combat marks. Also, I feel that if I take a ship from one port to another, I should be able to apply port bonuses from each port until it is stacked and maxed. Give small nations/clans a chance and a reason to expand/defend smaller ports. 

Also, the front lines thing needs to be changed. Maybe make it so you can only pick up hostility missions from a county capital for another county capital when that entire county is controlled by a nation. Seeing what Russia did in the south is perfect proof of why front lines is broken. 

[CrustyJohnson]

23 hours ago, Jon Snow lets go said:

Do we get a new DLC ship every seasonal update? 😍

PS: 1st rate imported ship would be great

Please God no, why can't we just get seasonal ships that can be made in game. Charge a seasonal fee to get ability to build ships implemented in that season. When season is over, ships open to everyone and the next round begins. Few believe this game has longevity, if the devs implement dlcs that encourage them to continue working on the game...then the community will likely realize they aren't going to just let it die off. 

[Mad Dog Morgan]

1 hour ago, Gregory Rainsborough said:

When I was GB I never had much luck hunting at Maracaibo. Most of the people I got were near FZ.

All of the Bay is good but especially the concentration in the south. But by far no where on the Map is there more Indiaman milk running missions. 

 

[Corona Lisa]

3 hours ago, CrustyJohnson said:

Please God no, why can't we just get seasonal ships that can be made in game. Charge a seasonal fee to get ability to build ships implemented in that season. When season is over, ships open to everyone and the next round begins. Few believe this game has longevity, if the devs implement dlcs that encourage them to continue working on the game...then the community will likely realize they aren't going to just let it die off. 

It was sarcasm.

I get that devs need money to keep working on NA. Paints DLC is the best selling DLC, they could have added an ingame store so they dont have to pay steam 30% and separate the skins. So people can buy single skins for like 5 euro each or a season pass where you unlock a lot of them after certain challenges. It works in other games, why not here? They could also keep adding stuff like sail colors or whatever.

Instead they add more and more P2W DLC ships which breaks the whole economy which is an essential part of the game. And that in a fking 40€ game...

Also they ironically compared it to Apex Legends, a F2P game where there is a massive shitstorm for their prices and availability for free users for their new cosmetics (zero ingame advantage btw).

Edited August 16, 2019 by Jon Snow lets go

[Guest]

22 hours ago, Karvala said:

I would go further than this and say that not only do the proposed changes not give anything to single/solo players (who seem to form the majority of players on PvE), but it actually goes a long way towards killing the game for them (or I should say us, since I'm one).

The biggest problem is the lack of organizers amongst solo's, casuals and the 1.5 hour man, NPC PBs (better known as "NPC assault fleet" 😊) will act like a player organizer, once inbound captains should have the urge to join the group battle. The same thing happen pre-patch 27 around KPR, when 4th rate NPCs approached, players swarmed to do battle (something 6-7th elite hasn't achieve, oh and why would you have elites in a beginners zone anyway?). 

I like it since PBs will give the peace server an "end game", more than the sum of single combat. And i would say that most players will try pve PBs before dismissing it.

My prediction is that it won't increase pop, pop will fluctuate but no influx (pop relevant to the success of PBs). The only thing that will is if the Dev's remove hardcore from the description, free-up and safe guard the beginners game, remove the heavy costs of the shipyard and forge, make 90% of 5th rates available to level 1 shipyard and return consistent profitable combat missions. You know, get players involve and gaming before you open them up to the horrors of the grind.

 

22 hours ago, Karvala said:

1.  I will no longer be able to build the best ships; that privilege will now be exclusively held by clan members who own ports and can invest to give their ships port bonuses.  No doubt they will sell some of those ships on the open market, so I might as well give up building ships and just start buying theirs instead.  One part of the game has now been closed off to me.

Yes no port bonuses and I don't like it either but this part of the game will be exactly as you(we) are playing now, by design.

 

Edited August 16, 2019 by Guest

[Sir Texas Sir]

On 8/15/2019 at 6:58 AM, El Patron said:

I hope thats a joke. War server is pvp server.  Most guys dont like pve 

We have two servers and both of them involved PvE.  This game has never been a pure PvP game and prob never will.  Closes was teh NA:L but even that had AI.  

Peace: PvE only

War:  PvE with PvP/RvR elements  

 

[Sir Texas Sir]

23 hours ago, Karvala said:

 

I would go further than this and say that not only do the proposed changes not give anything to single/solo players (who seem to form the majority of players on PvE), but it actually goes a long way towards killing the game for them (or I should say us, since I'm one).

At the moment you can be self-sufficient as a single player and at no fundamental disadvantage.  Sure, it will take longer to acquire resources and XP etc., but there is no glass ceiling.  I have a top level shipyard, forge, academy, workshop and switch other resources around as needed.  I can build my own ships which can match the best ships I can buy.  I can build the same upgrades and books.  I can fight the AI as and when I choose and the rest of the time do what I want safe in the knowledge that the resources I have spent many long hours accumulating in order to be able to build the ships of my choice are safe.

After the new changes come into effect:-

1.  I will no longer be able to build the best ships; that privilege will now be exclusively held by clan members who own ports and can invest to give their ships port bonuses.  No doubt they will sell some of those ships on the open market, so I might as well give up building ships and just start buying theirs instead.  One part of the game has now been closed off to me.

2.  If players resources, e.g. workshops, academies etc. will be appropriated by the NPCs who have captured a port (aka destroyed), then all of those resources I have worked hard to accumulate are no longer safe, and even worse, their safety depends not on me as a solo player but on whichever clan owns the port and is responsible for its security.  I appreciate @admin hasn't yet stated/decided what will happen here, and I am hoping they will be sensible, but on the other hand, if the resources are not lost, then what's the reason for defending the port?

The latter point highlights why this whole idea is flawed; there is a fundamental tension between solo players and clans.  An uneven playing field will see the solo players, i.e. the majority of players on PvE, simply leaving.  We're solo players for a reason; we can't be coerced into joining clans.  An even playing field is not possible if some features are only available to clans or clan members.

Most importantly of all, we play on the peace server because we don't want to have to fight except at a time of our choosing against an opponent of our choosing.  NPCs attacking our resources and forcing fights at times when people don't want to fight, may not be available etc., totally undermines the whole point of the PvE server.

There are so many potential improvement on the PvE server that can and should be made, some of which have been listed elsewhere in the thread.  Why just take PvP features and impose them here instead, where they fit so badly?

1.  You do know you can become friends with those clans and get the same bonus too.   So no they won't have all the best ships.  Hell even better maybe get some guys to join with you into one big clan and build them yourselves or take a port......

2.  Buildings are not destroyed, but if it's another nation than you can't use them.  I assume that is how it will work for peace, but who knows, they might just leave it where every one can use every port like it is, but really why shouldn't there be limits on the map?   Why should Spanish be using GB ports?  Get your own ports to use, can't have every thing all just handed to you.

THis game was never made for SOLO players, yes you can play solo, but it's going to be harder for you to do things or take longer.  So stop thinking the game was made for you cause it never was.  IT's an MMO meant for team/group play.   Yes  you can solo just not as easy as it would be for clans or others with groups.

[Karvala]

 

2 hours ago, BuckleUpBones said:

Yes no port bonuses and I don't like it either but this part of the game will be exactly as you(we) are playing now, by design.

 

It won't be exactly the same, because at the moment nobody else has PBs either.  Under the proposed plan, clan members will have PBs so this removes the level playing field.  That's a very different situation to now.

1 hour ago, Sir Texas Sir said:

1.  You do know you can become friends with those clans and get the same bonus too.   So no they won't have all the best ships.  Hell even better maybe get some guys to join with you into one big clan and build them yourselves or take a port......

2.  Buildings are not destroyed, but if it's another nation than you can't use them.  I assume that is how it will work for peace, but who knows, they might just leave it where every one can use every port like it is, but really why shouldn't there be limits on the map?   Why should Spanish be using GB ports?  Get your own ports to use, can't have every thing all just handed to you.

THis game was never made for SOLO players, yes you can play solo, but it's going to be harder for you to do things or take longer.  So stop thinking the game was made for you cause it never was.  IT's an MMO meant for team/group play.   Yes  you can solo just not as easy as it would be for clans or others with groups.

1.  Solo players, by definition, don't want to be part of a clan.  That's what's meant by solo, so telling people to form a clan is no solution at all.  That's exactly what people fear; that this is a clear attempt to force them to join clans which they don't want to do.  QED.

2.  Why shouldn't there by limits?  I explained that in my original post.  As a solo player I don't own the port and I cannot defend a port against an NPC attack, so the situation is entirely beyond my control.  To severely penalise players by removing access to facilities they've spent hours developing through something entirely beyond their control would be a very bad design decision.

Solo players don't mind things being harder or taking longer and that's the case now. What they object to is things being completely unavailable to them.  Just saying "the game was never made for you" is no excuse at all.  It works fine as it is now and solo players paid for it the same as you, so please stop claiming that your way of playing is THE way of playing.  All players should be considered when changing a game post-release, not just a subset who happen to play a in certain way regarded as the "proper" way to play.

[Slim McSauce]

5 hours ago, BuckleUpBones said:

The biggest problem is the lack of organizers amongst solo's, casuals and the 1.5 hour man, NPC PBs (better known as "NPC assault fleet" 😊) will act like a player organizer, once inbound captains should have the urge to join the group battle. The same thing happen pre-patch 27 around KPR, when 4th rate NPCs approached, players swarmed to do battle (something 6-7th elite hasn't achieve, oh and why would you have elites in a beginners zone anyway?). 

Raids will do that too. Many times your nation organizes with nothing to do. Raids will be quick, everyday content that doesn't take much planning or set up, you do right away when you log in and hopefully do it repeatedly in a day and get good rewards to it. Like it should be some mainline pvp content, in real terms it's probably going to overshadow PB's at some point.