Introduction of "Privated ship" (READ FULLY BEFORE COMMENTING)

also have the ability to sell to the sovereigns

Nope that High Sea perk.

@d3adst1ck the only exclusive thing is the name, its esentially the captained ship minus a single feature and posible POSIBLE deduction when selling to sovereigns

I was originally in favour of limited Captaincy on Safer Seas (similar to your suggestion, but a Captained ship with no Milestone tracking) as the only change that should have been made to that mode.

But, with the proposed changes happening in December, I don't see it happening. Rare is sending a clear message that Safer Seas is not intended to be a long-term mode, but a short-term introduction to the game. Adding any form of Captaincy goes against that messaging, unfortunately.

That said, I do think they could add trinket placement and Decoration to Chartered ships (both on Safer Seas and High Seas) but without saving them, obviously. That would be a small QoL adjustment that I think would give a taste of Captaincy without the main benefits - naming, saving customisations, Sovereigns, stat tracking (logbook), Milestones, Guilds, and extra supplies.

The announced changes make the devs stance even clearer on the intention for safer seas. They want it to be an early learning platform with the intent of moving onto high seas. Adding more features to safer seas to make it a viable long term platform goes against this.

@hiradc

The announced changes make the devs stance even clearer on the intention for safer seas. They want it to be an early learning platform with the intent of moving onto high seas. Adding more features to safer seas to make it a viable long term platform goes against this.

I agree with the essence of it. However, I'd actually hold my breath. Here's why:

1. They obviously had more than enough stats for the decision to raise and hold (even after 25 reps) 100% gold for SS
2. They have been monitoring this for an entire year
3. People on the forum were complaining about gold rewards and sovereigns/captaincy. Hardly ever for reputation, as almost if nobody cares about it. This is the important part.
4. First they said no to safe environment. Then restricted rewards in SS per their "vision". And now they tweaked it. However, they tweaked more to the benefit of exclusive SS/PvE crowds (because majority doesn't care about the rep)

What I'm trying to say is - I wouldn't be so sure that in a (another) year, depending on the stats they have on how SS/PvE crowd behaves with these changes (and if SS player number raises/lowers), captained ships won't be the next feature allowed in SS. We'll see in a year I guess.

@r3vanns yeah never say never, pve requests were a guaranteed closed post on request for several years. I hope not but time will tell

@hiradc

Yea, exactly. Though I wouldn't be worried about this "pattern" (and that's probably even a stretch) simply because it's such a huge gap between these bonuses to SS.

I almost have a feeling that they will gradually spoon feed PvE/SS crowd more once per year, the closer we get to SoT 2 (or whatever next may be).

Basically, if we ever reach the point of everything (or majority) unlocked in SS, that will most likely mean a SoT 2 is on the horizon very soon, in which case nothing matters really. Or just the end of service for this one.

This is a good strategy for retention, without hurting the main mode for the next few years.

@r3vanns

I just took that as them making changes that made sense. For example, you're a new player and don't know anything about the game. You stay in Safer Seas, where gold is nerfed by 70% but you can get up to lvl 40 in factions. You join high seas and don't have much gold to buy your first boat. Then they made changes where you can only earn lvl 25 in factions, but you get 100% of gold, so when you reach max lvl, you can join high seas with enough gold to buy your first ship.

@europa4033

Wouldn't doubt that, if most of the PvE/SS crowd actually did care about rep. Which they don't. And I bet Rare is aware of this as well.

What I see happening, is they'll be playing HS to grind to the PL at best (some may not even do that, cuz they don't see a point without Captaincy/Sovereigns in SS, so why bother), and just get back to SS with 100% gold this time around. Some may move on to HS indeed, but pure PvE/SS player most likely won't.

I still think this is a nod to SS/PvE players. But the good thing is that it is measured. They didn't just flat out cave to everything they ask for. Which is why I think they'll keep doing this once per year/the closer we get to SoT 2 or end of the service.

Again, we'll see how it goes. We can only speculate. For all I know I may be completely wrong, and this is the last benefit SS gets.

@r3vanns my concern was always it's easier to say no outright to all pve requests. Now that safer seas are out players will niggle and ask for small changes here and there until over time it does become full pve mode

@callmebackdraft

Dont they, a lower rep limiter means less unlockable cosmetics, which has a direct impact on the thing people care about the availability of commendations and cosmetics.

So no, the benefit definitely works the other way, people will have more money to spend on less stuff

I can't remember for God knows how long 5 players using faction cosmetics unlocked with rep, but you def have right to have your opinion. And another thing - people just like seeing big numbers. I have millions, yet I barely spent anything on faction cosmetics (this is admittedly a personal choice, ofc). On the other hand, I spend tons of gold on supplies, as it saves time. Also, I only actually cared about the rep till I hit PL. After that, rep was never my focus, but the immersion/sandbox. Very similar to Wolfmanbush in that aspect.

Sure, you unlock more things for purchasing, but it wasn't the most important thing for me. PL was important for captain voyages/Athena. That's pretty much about it. And this goes along with what I said earlier:

What I see happening, is they'll be playing HS to grind to the PL at best (some may not even do that, cuz they don't see a point without Captaincy/Sovereigns in SS, so why bother), and just get back to SS with 100% gold

People like seeing big numbers getting bigger. I'm still not saying you're necessarily wrong. And I'm not saying I'm necessarily right. Just remember we're talking here about SS only/PvE crowd, not your regular adventure players.

Time and stats will tell.

@hiradc

@r3vanns my concern was always it's easier to say no outright to all pve requests. Now that safer seas are out players will niggle and ask for small changes here and there until over time it does become full pve mode

Nothing debatable here, I agree with you fully on that matter. All of the improvements to SS are result of people complaining and asking for more + metrics Rare have at their disposal. The only thing that actually matters though, is if Rare sees profit in it, or not. They have stats, we don't.