Cosmetics are your game progression, but they became pay-to-win

The game is the same as ever, pirates equip whatever cosmetics they want. And Falkore's stereotype video is not a rule, but more like a general perception.

The pirate emporium cosmetics never indicated any kind of progression. When grinding for a curse and if we would see someone with pirate emporium ship, I would instantly know that most likely we will win this one. It gives no 'reputation' in no ones eyes. A default ship is a lot more scary than any emporium ship.

I just find your whole assessment of the game so confusing and conflicting.

You play the game to play the game. And you do that, because you enjoy it, cosmetics you buy and unlock tell the story and you can wear whatever you want. The badest pirate on the seas can wear the Kraken outfit, nobody stops him.

I have unlocked everything I wanted to unlock and purchased everything I wanted to purchase. I usually end up spending my money on something random I won't even use and just create new goals along the way.

@dwinges said in Cosmetics are your game progression, but they became pay-to-win:

Should this game go free-to-play and focus more on short term players with wallets? Or should Rare take a look at the core gameplay and focus more on that?

Someone has to pay the bills, and those Disney IP licenses wouldn't be free.
If you want more content, Rare has to raise money. With a game of this age, given you're not required to pay for anything past the base game, I wouldn't be surprised at all if almost every new addition to the game was emporium based.

What we may want from the game, and what makes a good financial decision from Rares' angle, might look very different.

If the servers had more people, then it would become Sea of boats ;)

@dwinges Have you considered Falcpre is wrong? And cosmetics have never been a measure of progression?

They can tell.ypu how long someone has been around for a handful of cosmetics BUT you should just wear what you like.

@captain-coel said in Cosmetics are your game progression, but they became pay-to-win:

@dwinges Have you considered Falcpre is wrong? And cosmetics have never been a measure of progression?

Those are Mike Chapmans' words. Watch that first video.

@dwinges And the second part of what he wrote that you did not quote, explains it.

You start with underwear and finish with whatever you want to wear. Cosmetics you purchase and unlock, including peglegs, hooks, eyepatches, beards, hair, tattoos tell a story to pirates of what you have been through. Pirate emporium only tells you been through your wallet.

I'm just saying they've lost sight of their original gameplay design. Which gives seasoned players less incentive to keep playing. It makes them more dependent on new players with huge wallets instead of keeping their current player base busy.

The game hasn't been like that for a long time. Ever since the emporium opened up, which was supposed to be for easter egg cosmetics btw, it has completely made cosmetics useless. Yes, cosmetics used to show someone's reputation and experience with the game, but that's no longer thee case. You use what you want, who u want to now, rep or experience has nothing to do with it, and the progression mechanic in this game really doesn't matter as much as it used to. Now a days, what matters is that with rep gain, you get to propose better voyages. With emissary, you get more gold per voyage. And with captaincy, you get a faster way to get said gold from selling, when you complete said voyage. Otherwise, rep importance tied to cosmetics depends on how much you want those extra cosmetic unlocks from increasing reputation.

For me personally, I analyze player experience and rep based on how they play. Which direction they go while sailing, how they fight, how many cannon shots they miss, if they wear any really expensive Athena cosmetics, etc...

That is not what pay to win means my man. Pay to win means you pay money for an advantage that others dont have, or to get something that you have to otherwise work for. Considering you cant buy normal cosmetics that you have to work for, there is nothing p2w about this.

There is a BIG difference between Earned Cosmetics and Emporium ones.

More often than not if you see a $20 ship set, or one of the free GamePass/Xbox ones you know they are going to be new players.

See a Ship with the Good Boy, Stone Vault, or Ghostly Unicorn sails you now they have put some time into the game.

Yes the Dark Adventurer set is on a lot of ships, but even then you can tell from those that "Oh they spent 8 Million Gold on those sails."

The core of Sea of Thieves is not cosmetics gain. It is just enjoying the game. If you want to show off what you have done? you can do that. If you want to show off that you spent 40+ On a ship set, weapons and costume? you can do that. But truthfully: The game is about making your avatar, dressing them the way that you feel best represents you, and have fun.