I think it would be an improvement if gunpowder barrels, that are generated at sea, will not explode when sailed into. But that they will only explode if a player dropped them in the water.
Because now if you're in a PvE fight at sea and you don't watch what's in the water, there's a real chance your ship will sink because you sail into a random gunpowder barrel. And I don't think that that is a way you should be able to die.
@jasmein03m watch where you're sailing and go immediatly repairing...barrels not exploiding just because no player dropped them doesn't make sense
Right now sailing is quite boring when sailing between destinations. Having some form of requirement for players to actually pay attention seems needed. Right now that need is getting filled with what essentially equates to mines. When it comes down to it, GP is quite survivable. Just need to make sure you aren't at the explosive site near the bow of the ship.
This isn't to say I am against their removal, but something needs to be there to remove the less then thrilling travel experience.
Nonsense, I like having barrels in the water, and making somebody chasing me run them over. :) Recently I had so much fun, letting another crew chase me for an hour. Making them run over kegs, and yelling to them "you will never get my Athena chests" while I had nothing and I mean I was in freshly spawned sloop and I did not get any extra supplies either (why bother). I guess once you reach lvl 75 you start enjoying little things.
I think I've only sailed over two in all the time they've been a thing.
One of those times was last week when I was doing a vault in the Roar... As I approached the island I wasn't paying attention and only noticed them when it was too late to turn and avoid.
I knew the best strat, get to the back of the ship and just brace. I immediately anchored... in a bad spot, the cannon from Ashen Reaches bearing down on me... but I stayed calm, concentrated on patching, repairs and bailing and at the right time raised my anchor to sail away from the cannonfire and get my ship back in full order before continuing.
Was it a challenge? Yes. Impossible? No, not even solo. And just like the time I beat the Kraken, a skelly sloop and Meg in the storm, it's a story of triumph to be told.
There are plenty of things I would balance in the game but I don't think this is it.
@jasmein03m
Don't let them take away Barrel Roulette.
Just watch where you're going. These possible surprises make the encounters more diverse.
I haven't thought about all the things all of you said. But now I'm convinced that this should not be changed and having gunpowder barrels in the water can be fun.
But the reason I wrote this was because my friend and I were fighting a skeleton fleet in a sloop. But at the moment we won and the battle was over we sailed over a gunpowder barrel, and we both died because we were both still standing at the canons. And then when we respawn our ship has already started sinking (real sinking, the kind you can't bucket water any more). And I'm really really sure we had no holes before the barrel exploded.
So this was the main problem I think should not happen.
@jasmein03m said:
Because now if you're in a PvE fight at sea and you don't watch what's in the water, there's a real chance your ship will sink because you sail into a random gunpowder barrel.
So, maybe you should watch what's in the water? 🙄
Also, seagulls are your friends - look to the sky so as not to die!
@william-flint
Leaving no chance for pirates to go to the bathroom or have a smoke.
When missions and events can last hours, people need moments so they can take a break, and often, sailing is the best opportunity for that.
By having sailing require so much attention, it wears people thin and they look at playing Sea of Thieves as a daunting experience rather than a fun one.
When work gives you more breaks than a video game, there's an issue.
Gunpowders in the water are fine though imo, its the megs that cause issues, albeit there have been less of them lately.
Maybe have less of gunpowder barrels and make them a little easier to spot?
@ultimate-powa I don't see megs as an issue. I usually just don't shoot at them and they leave me alone. From my experience they won't attack until you shoot them with cannons first. Although I have had the rare occasion where a meg will attack unprovoked. At least in my experiences things like roaming skelly ships and megs don't attack me and my friend unless we shoot first. Maybe we've just been lucky, but its happened so much I doubt it.
@ultimate-powa not being able to have a break is just the nature of online multiplayer games. The whole thing isn't going to stop just because you need a minute.
To me the issue is people are acting like the barrels are just a nuisance. To me some of the most exciting moments in the game have been when my crew was chasing down someone loaded with treasure (or trying to escape with our own loot) and one of the ships ran into a barrel. It is a major gamechanger and provides a small element of unpredictability to fights. I think it would be a shame to loose that just because people find it inconvenient. Especially since there are still mega, kraken, and skelly ships that can jump you at any time. Does taking away the barrels really improve your situation?
If you need a break and don't have a crew the best thing to do is try to tuck your ship out of sight and drop anchor.
