Returning Player with a few Basic Questions

Few things.

Attack every galleon. At worst you just get quickly sunk and at best it's a fun fight against casual players with lots of opportunity to practice. Your best chance at having fun pvp as a solo in this game is fighting against more players where you are the stronger fighter as an individual, mainly galleons.

Don't practice to "get good". Sot is in rough shape for solos for a variety of reasons. Practice so that you can have a fight and have fun or so that you can have a fight and it doesn't overly frustrate you.

If you enjoy hourglass go for it.
If you don't, avoid it

There is no other way to approach HG in a productive way. Burning out in HG is extremely common and you won't be an exception.

For both pvp and pve you gotta prioritize managing the experience.

Play to have fun or at least try to have fun and you can go on a good run in SoT as a solo.

Get caught up in metas or comparing yourself to how others pvp, or in outcome of fights, and it's only a matter of time before you quit. Especially playing solo.

You're gonna lose a lot of fights as a solo. There is no way around that. It doesn't have to be a big deal though, practice preventing it from becoming a big deal and you will be alright.

A lot of the skilled solo pvpers have quit, it's not skill that is gonna give you more time and success in the game as a solo, it's your mindset and how well you adapt for your personal goals.

All of this may sound like it won't substantively help you, but it will if you commit to it.

I think that answers my question. Sounds like I should just avoid hourglass for now, maybe return to it after making some connections in the community so I don't go in solo.

I absolutely agree with your opinions about attacking galleons, I've already had a good engagement with a galleon that just wouldn't quit. Sadly, I was interrupted by out-of-game obligations, but it was pretty fun while it lasted.

Practicing so I "can have a fight and it doesn't overly frustrate" as you put it describes what I want pretty effectively. I'll probably just play aggro, take risks, and not worry too much about it.

@slashymcstabber said in Returning Player with a few Basic Questions:

I think that answers my question. Sounds like I should just avoid hourglass for now, maybe return to it after making some connections in the community so I don't go in solo.

I absolutely agree with your opinions about attacking galleons, I've already had a good engagement with a galleon that just wouldn't quit. Sadly, I was interrupted by out-of-game obligations, but it was pretty fun while it lasted.

Practicing so I "can have a fight and it doesn't overly frustrate" as you put it describes what I want pretty effectively. I'll probably just play aggro, take risks, and not worry too much about it.

On the risks part I would say take organic risks that make sense and have an upside.

A lot of risks taken in the game don't really make much sense and it creates a lot of excessive frustration and drama along the way.

Risk of encounter without a lot of loot risk makes sense. It's a good way to meet people, have a fight, practice, embrace adventure,etc.

Stacking a lot of loot never really makes much sense in an online game. You don't really ever gain anything for a lot of stacking, just some mild loot holding for emissary bonuses.

Risk is thrilling when there is a lot to gain, it's just self-sabotage when there is everything to lose and nothing or little to gain. Just always keep this in mind in SoT.

I take risks every day, some are even extreme, but it's always for my win condition. It's never to just set myself up to fail for the sake of ego or whatever it is. That helps me succeed in the game and more importantly it prevents me from losing my healthy relationship with the experience.

We all have off days, tough days, and we all make counter productive decisions in our sessions, that's just human, perfection is never required and it's fine to have some days that aren't great, there will be better sessions.

Most importantly, you play an important part in the ecosystem of the servers you play on. You're never bad at adventure or left out, you're a part of the whole and a part of what leads to a shared adventure experience for all.

You have strengths and a style in adventure and the more you play and embrace the shared experience the more you will tune those in. Play for you and be considerate of the other 5 or 6 crews on the server you are on and you'll do awesome.

and yeah, if you start making connections and start sailing with other people that might make the experience more fun for you. Until then, it's possible as a solo as well.