Few questions from a noob - hackers or am I missing something?

  • Eskii9789
    Seafarer
    Insider

    I'm sure the answer to my question is just that i'm bad lol but I just had a really weird encounter. Video here for reference: https://streamable.com/jxo94h

    I'm new to the game and im trying to practice a bit when I get some time. Tonight I found a 4 man gally crew doing a fort, so I thought i'd use it as an opportunity to practise sneaking, cannoning, and fighting. I expected to die very easily but I don't mind about that, just trying to have some fun. But how I died was weird.

    First I tried to sneak up on the ship from a distance, and both times someone on the ship managed to snipe me twice perfectly, even though I was deep underwater. I couldn't see him, and i've never been able to see underwater from on above the water. Is it possible to easily see someone underwater? How do you do it? Every time I look down at someone under water I just see waves and blurs.

    So when that was working I instead tried to bait them into fighting me by sailing out of range of their guns and getting some pots shots in. They tried to board me once or twice by the only got near the boat once and I sniped him out of the water. Then suddenly while I was canoning I died. I got hit twice by something, but it's not clear what. The damage seems to imply it was a sniper, but I didn't see or hear a bullet. I heard a sound a bit like a sword hitting me, but there was no one on my boat or around me. It was super odd. I tried looking at the video to listen for someone boarding or hiding or getting their sword out, but there's nothing. Any idea?

    I stayed around a bit anyway and killed them a few times but then my sword block failed on my last attempt so I just left. Any advice would be much appreciated :)

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  • Nightmare247365
    Master
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    Founder

    The first one was fairly easy to tell that you could see his name pop up which means he could see your name pop up. The second time you approached from the same trajectory. You were too close to the surface and could be seen. When you meant deep I thought you meant really deep. You were only about 2-3 feet from the top of the water. Also, know that when you fire a canon it can be heard a few islands over meaning that they probably were expecting you another time. I would not be willing to say this was a hacker/cheater because there were obvious missed shots. I just think you were unlucky.

    The canon fire shots were strange. Honestly I could not pick up where you were shot from before you died, but I would suggest either they were in the water or were in the crows nest shooting down when you came near. I personally do not see any sign of hacking/cheating, but I bet you could find someone who will confirm it was.

  • Eskii9789
    Seafarer
    Insider

    @nightmare247365 Thanks dude, that all makes sense. I didn't realise it was so easy to see in water, I feel like I can't see anything lol.

    Figures on the second death two, I just cant believe they managed to tuck - I sailed the boat from so far away, and can be 99% they didn't fire over or swim and board, I was listening so hard for it and checked every 15 seconds.

    Just got to git gud I guess! GG to them.

  • Nightmare247365
    Master
    Insider
    Founder

    @eskii9789 I cannot say they certainly tucked. Sometimes a well placed cannon can get someone on the ship in the sails or crows nest. It must be very well placed, but they can shoot from the water to the canons and you were stationary there for a few moments. Just remember when you are practicing maybe try to get a few sharks around you and watch them. They swim near to the surface, yet still underwater and you can see them. If you get below that line you should not be seen.

  • Nabberwar
    Lord
    Insider

    @nightmare247365
    I'm pretty much just repeating what has been said, but I feel extremely confident this wasn't cheating. What you did is just really predictable. Your first approach was extremely shallow, you can quite easily see people. You proceed to do it again with more depth, but still it was shallow. Since this was your second attempt, it doesn't take much to look for you again. Both times mermaids will give you away as well as the cannon shot. Swim plays like these are really common nowadays, if a ship is parked out at a distance or seemingly goes behind a rock, only to not reveal themselves, you can predict what is coming. Its the mermaids and cannons that truly give you away, when you see that, spotting the person itself tells you what to look for.

    The approach play you did when you started firing shots, earlier you saw the guys cannon launch that positioned him. When you spawned you had two people on your ship, so that is 2 people's guns trained on you.

    Lesson for next time, rather then cannon the first time, swim it. No sound will help add a layer of stealth. Also rowboat will remove the mermaid issue while also giving you an option to park further away.

  • BloodyBil
    Legend
    Insider

    Welcome to the game!

    The others pretty much explained it all, but I just wanted to add that your attitude and approach to the whole situation is quite refreshing, genuinely asking if something fishy was afoot or not, while understanding that your lack of experience to the game could also be in play, as well as asking for advices to improve while accepting and well receiving feedback. Kudos to you matey! You will enjoy your time on the seas in no time!

  • Eskii9789
    Seafarer
    Insider

    Wow thanks so much for all the help guys! So if you have a rowboat, you wont get a mermaid, but then cant they see the rowboat?

  • ChunkyBlur
    Master
    Insider

    @nightmare247365 said in Few questions from a noob - hackers or am I missing something?:

    The first one was fairly easy to tell that you could see his name pop up which means he could see your name pop up. The second time you approached from the same trajectory. You were too close to the surface and could be seen. When you meant deep I thought you meant really deep. You were only about 2-3 feet from the top of the water. Also, know that when you fire a canon it can be heard a few islands over meaning that they probably were expecting you another time. I would not be willing to say this was a hacker/cheater because there were obvious missed shots. I just think you were unlucky.

    The canon fire shots were strange. Honestly I could not pick up where you were shot from before you died, but I would suggest either they were in the water or were in the crows nest shooting down when you came near. I personally do not see any sign of hacking/cheating, but I bet you could find someone who will confirm it was.

    Are you sure about the nametag? I think nametags are not visible from underwater. Meaning a player above surface looking at someone from another crew diving, I dont think you can see divers nametag.

  • Nabberwar
    Lord
    Insider

    @eskii9789

    Wow thanks so much for all the help guys! So if you have a rowboat, you wont get a mermaid, but then cant they see the rowboat?

    Its a trade-off to an extent. With rowboats, you will want to approach in a method not easily spotted. Something along the lines of the backside of an island. One of the benefits is if you reach the island and stay in the boat you will not generate a mermaid. Just make sure your boat is tucked away out of sight while you sit in it. Mermaids will almost always be out in the open, thus just easier to spot. Rowboats just have the benefit of safety from sharks, hauling kegs, and removal of mermaids.

    Honestly though, I think this crew is quite aware of all this to begin with. It probably wouldn't have mattered what you did, they most likely would have caught you. However, the more tools and information you have, the better you will fair on less knowledgeable people.

  • Archangel Timmy
    Legend
    Insider

    @shadyjayp said in Few questions from a noob - hackers or am I missing something?:

    Are you sure about the nametag? I think nametags are not visible from underwater. Meaning a player above surface looking at someone from another crew diving, I dont think you can see divers nametag.

    Unless something is glitched, a player above the water cannot see the nameplate of a player who is below the surface, that has been the case for quite a long time.

    @Eskii9789 I didn't see this covered by others (quick skim), but you were popping to the surface and using your spyglass a fair amount as you got closer. Players can see a glint from the Spyglass and EoR from a good distance making you very easy to spot coming.

    I know for a while in the past there was a glint on the EoR and not the Spyglass, but that was fixed some time ago as well.

  • Eskii9789
    Seafarer
    Insider

    I just wanted to update the thread, i've bumped into another suspicious player today, also chinese. Also this Streamer has found a few now:

    https://youtu.be/_-VyBTcn7Uc

    https://youtu.be/qPHj1Oq6Al4

    Maybe the clips I posted didn't show it well, but watching Mason play its exactly what I experienced, people managing to hit crazy shts consistent from miles away, and being able to see me easily when they probably shouldn't.

    Again, its obviously not 100% confirmed but it seems like more and more people are seeing this recently so take care out there.

  • Xultanis Dragon
    Sailor

    Don't listen to streamers when it comes to suspicious stuff. Especially when it comes to hacks.

    A lot of players for some reason think "if I can't see their name, they can't see me" which is false. Especially in the waters of the wilds.

    If you look at the video where they were trying to swim up tot he brig, you can't tell how far away mason was from the actual ship just that he was being shot.

    Then his crew mate was getting shot as he got closer but notice that when he comes up from air, hes not that far from the brig. If you use sniper and you look for shapes, you can find players pretty far away in the way in the water. Its really hard sometimes but they know generally where they are going to be coming from and what angle because of mermaid.

    That first video you linked in the OP, the part where you died on the cannon, that is for 2 possibilities. If you ever get shot but can't hear the sound, that means that they shot you outside of character render distance. Which is perfectly possible. I've hit some rando shots and gotten hit by some rando shots. You just have to lead for the bullet drop. The bullet travels farther then the player renders.

    If they are swimming up to your boat, or they have a good shot its perfectly doable. Now the second shot in close succession is a little suspicious but again if all of them are shooting at the point with snipers and they are at least aiming towards the cannon you could get clipped. Could have also gotten shot under water through the boat which is also a tactic.

    All and all like everyone said, your tactics are pretty straight forward and shows inexperience but thats okay, thats how you learn, by doing and failing and then trying again.

    You'll get better with time and you have an amazing attitude towards the game. You are willing to learn, ask questions, and you understand that you are inexperienced.

    Got any questions for us, just reply to us in this thread and we'll hit you up broski. You are willing to learn so we are willing to teach. We'll I'm not willing to teach "EVERYTHING", somethings are trade secrets you know :).

    Welcome to Sea's my friend, hope you enjoy your time and may it be full of other peoples loot. Which I got to say other peoples loot just spends better :).

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