sea of thieves

[sted]

watched achievement hunter play this last night and with a group of people looks fun.

 

anyone interested come march (im not intending on buying it right now i will just start a gamepass trial to try it lol) in giving it a go on xbox or pc (though i believe you can mix and match)

[localzuk]

Saw a few people playing it and they all came to the conclusion - it is a short-lived game at the moment, as there's not enough content. About 3 hours was the max I saw people play it for, as it became samey.

 

Then again, it is in beta.

[sted]

Saw a few people playing it and they all came to the conclusion - it is a short-lived game at the moment, as there's not enough content. About 3 hours was the max I saw people play it for, as it became samey.

 

Then again, it is in beta.

 

i believe they have said that what was available in beta was a subset of the game and thats why im willing to try it as part of gamepass for free but theres no way im spending £60 on it unplayed its a game that NEEDS a demo or i suspect its going to sink very quickly

[JJonas]

This beta apparently has less in it than was in the December Alpha. I couldn't tell you what is missing, not because of the NDA but because I didn't play the December Alpha.

 

-Edit- the beta has also been extended by 2 days

Edited January 26, 2018 by JJonas

[DeGrimmy]

I've got the beta, but I've yet to play it. I was also invited to the Technical Alpha on the Xbox, but never tried it as I just never found the time. I've so far refused to play the beta without my mate, who pre-ordered the game but was having issues getting it to run. He managed to start it last night but it was too late for us to start playing. So we'll try it tonight and I'll report back.

 

I've been following Sea of Thieves for a while, though. I'm quite excited about it even if it doesn't have a lot of content (I've racked up hundreds of hours in Elite Dangerous, for example, and many say there's not much content there). I think its real potential is being a chilled out, muckabout with friends kind of game.

Edited January 26, 2018 by DeGrimmy

[Ethan051]

The game really looks appealing and amazin but... Sadly, the Microsoft Store takes away all fun or (in my instance) wont even let you install the game... Such a hassle to set it up, buy the game and queue a download. Would love to see the game being distributed on Steam, I've got all my friends there and it wouldn't be problematic at all.

 

Regards, Ethan the Soviet Bear

[JJonas]

Here be spoilers...

 

Sea of Thieves datamine reveals...

[DeGrimmy]

Had some fun with my mate in Sea of Thieves over the weekend. The exploration factor is fun and working out where the loot is from a map is fun, too. That was until we bumped into other players. I guess I haven't played an online open world type game for a while so it hit my enjoyment of the game hard when people didn't just want to stand around and play tunes on accordions, instead employing that as a distraction technique for their mate to jump on the ship and attempt to sink it, or for them to line up a headshot behind your back...

 

I'll be playing it again at some point before the beta period ends, but I'll go into it with my expectations of other people lowered and my eyes more open...

[JJonas]

100 chest on board

 

I wouldn't want this many. Getting sunk yesterday and losing 7 was bad enough.

 

https://clips.twitch.tv/RelievedPlacidMarjoramWTRuck

 

Disclaimer: I have not thoroughly checked this for bad language.

[Garacesh]

A friend of mine just messaged me on Facebook, apparently there's another beta coming up.

There's another Sea of Thieves beta-style Scale Test happening this weekend • Eurogamer.net

[Garacesh]

A friend of mine just messaged me on Facebook, apparently there's another beta coming up.

There's another Sea of Thieves beta-style Scale Test happening this weekend • Eurogamer.net

 

I'm finding out that you gotta sign up on the Sea of Thieves site to be an insider, and then download the XBox Insider app from the Windows store and a bunch of other faff.

 

Instructions here: https://support.seaofthieves.com/hc/en-gb/articles/360000081387-Scale-Test-Install-Instructions-PC-and-Xbox-

[sted]

fwiw theres a final beta now thats iopen to anyone im just downloading it on my xbox if anyone wants to give it a go

also fwiw i got it on my xbox from the pc store where it tried to install to my nuc but diddnt have enough free hdd

[sted]

so anyone got this game/interested in playing it? Im just going to use my gamepass trial to give it a go but dont see the point of doing it singled player beyond learning the mechanics

[Garacesh]

I'm keeping an eye on it. The beta was fun but it's not something I could see myself playing a lot of in its current state. There just isn't enough content.

The framework is all there, but a clever framework doesn't necessarily translate into a long-lasting game and I'll be surprised if there's still a player base in three months when this next big update is supposed to come out.

[sted]

I'm keeping an eye on it. The beta was fun but it's not something I could see myself playing a lot of in its current state. There just isn't enough content.

The framework is all there, but a clever framework doesn't necessarily translate into a long-lasting game and I'll be surprised if there's still a player base in three months when this next big update is supposed to come out.

 

thats why im using gamepass not buying it tbh

[Garacesh]

Yeah, I considered doing the same, but I wouldn't get much else out of it. I have enough games to play already, I'll do without for now.

[sted]

Yeah, I considered doing the same, but I wouldn't get much else out of it. I have enough games to play already, I'll do without for now.

 

i think ive now basically finished with xenoblade 2 (just finished my new game plus runthrough still odds and ends to do but most of them require more rng luck than i seem to have with that game) so im debating playing sot, burnout paradise remastered or farcry 5 next or possibly the dumbest idea ever and trying to platinum persona 5

[Darksoth]

So, spent a good few hours playing this last night (once I managed to get connected) & so far I'm really enjoying it! It's one of those games that you can lose hours in just sailing the seas with a few good crewmates. Anyone else given it a go since the Beta? Really looking forward to seeing what Rare implement next...

[sted]

well i tried singled player over the weekend (just to try and get a feel for the controls and i dont really sea it working with randos). well its dull followed the map couldnt find the treasure gave up. its very pretty though and its fun to watch other people play it

[Darksoth]

well i tried singled player over the weekend (just to try and get a feel for the controls and i dont really sea it working with randos). well its dull followed the map couldnt find the treasure gave up. its very pretty though and its fun to watch other people play it

 

It's definitely a game that benefits from having friends to sail with as there really isn't a single player mode. You can sail alone but if you come up against someone who wants to grab your booty, there's not a huge amount you can do to stop them...Worth the time if you can get a few mates on the sea with you though!

[Garacesh]

It's definitely a game that benefits from having friends to sail with as there really isn't a single player mode. You can sail alone but if you come up against someone who wants to grab your booty, there's not a huge amount you can do to stop them...Worth the time if you can get a few mates on the sea with you though!

 

One of the big problems I'm seeing people mention is that you respawn on the closest island when you die, so you've basically got this war of attrition going on between ships.

 

A crew sets their sights on your and wants your plunder, you sink them. You're attacking back, repairing your ship, healing yourself.. Using up your stock of cannonballs, wood planks and bananas, and the people you sunk are respawning at the closest island with a fresh new ship and new supplies, so PvP becomes this 'keep throwing bodies at them and whittling them down' scenario. If they're better than you are at PvP, you're going to have supplies long after they've ran out.

[JJonas]

Having a lot of fun with friends on Xbox with this, however starting this weekend we have encountered our first cheaters.

 

So far we have been been shot with a pistol through walls and a rock.

 

Faced off with ships with an incredible rate of canon fire and accuracy.

 

Had another pirate appear on our ship while we were in the middle of the sea, he then proceeded to one shot all of us. So we re-spawned on our ship the whole crew attacked him and it took 5 blunderbuss shots to take him down. 30 seconds later he re-spawned on our ship! This continued for about 15 minutes by which time we had run into the blood sea and the ship sank.

[JJonas]

Tall Tales trailer - this is the story mode people were saying was missing from launch.

 

This is a free update, as is all of the DLC for this game.

 

 

 

 

If you haven't played in a while here are the additions since launch (Source:https://seaofnews.net/2019/02/06/whats-changed-in-sea-of-thieves/)

 

What’s been added by month, chronological

 

March 2018

 

Game launch 🎉

 

April 2018

 

Ship respawn distance – Ships will now respawn outside of visible view of the ship that sank them.

Weapon Balancing – Reduced Blunderbuss Damage and Increased Eye of Reach damage.

 

May 2018

 

Open & Closed Crews – Play with your mates, or with randos.

Who Goes There? – When swimming underwater, gamertag and Player Titles are no longer visible.

Colour Blind Accessibility – There is now a High Contrast ‘X Marks the Spot’ option in the Accessibility Settings.

Aim Sensitivity Slider – Player can customise their controller and mouse sensitivity specifically when aiming with each ranged weapon. The Blunderbuss, Flintlock Pistol and Eye of Reach each have their own slider to adjust.

Tattoos – Check out the vanity chest for 16 sailor tattoo sets and visit the clothing shop on outposts for stocks of four purchasable tattoo sets.

Scars – Scars earned through campaigns and events such as The Hungering Deep will allow you to tell a story of your pirate’s history and adventures.

Ship’s Flags – Let your intentions be known with new flags which can be raised high above your ship! Climb up to the crow’s nest and decide which to raise.

Handing Resources – Pirates can now offer an equiped resource (banana, plank, cannonball) for another pirate to take.

 

June 2018

 

Open / Closed Crew – You can now dynamically change whether your crew is open or closed while out on the seas ( ‘My Crew’ menu).

Bilge Rat Adventures – Approximately 2-week long challenges have been added to the game during times when major events are not active. These have also introduced a secondary currency, Doubloons, which can be spent with Duke in Taverns on event-exclusive cosmetics. Doubloons can also be exchanged for Gold, or to purchase Rep.

Skeleton Thrones – These thrones require a good sense of discovery to find, and for some an even steadier aim to reach. There are 5 small Thrones and 5 large Thrones, the small requiring just one pirate to sit on, but the larger requiring pirates to be sat on it from more than one crew. Commendations, Titles.

Drum – The Sailor Drum has been given to all players.

Speaking Trumpet – Equip to cast your voice/chat further and communicate with other crews.

Megalodons – Since the retreat of The Hungering One back into the deep, there have been reported sightings of other Megalodons terrorising the Sea of Thieves. It’s been discovered that these new Megalodons have different personalities – some seem to turn tail at the sight of a Galleon, whilst others are said to be just as unforgiving as The Hungering One!

Merrick’s Shanty – Merrick’s shanty has been added to the list of playable shanties.

Gunpowder Skeletons – new skelly type, spawn holding power kegs.

Gunpowder Fuses – When holding a gunpowder keg, players can now light a five-second fuse by pressing the primary action button (Right Trigger on controller or left click on mouse).

Explosive Force – When detonated, gunpowder kegs now have the force to rock and push ships.

Skeleton Accuracy Tuned – Skeletons wielding a blunderbuss or pistol have had their accuracy reduced.

Sunken Curse – Mermaid statues added to the world – destroy them to break the curse! Commendations, Titles.

Sunken Items – Artefacts, skulls and treasure chests can be found in the shallows around islands.

Joinable Status – Players can now make themselves un-joinable from the new Crew Management tab within Settings. This will mean that even friends can no longer join your session.

 

July 2018

 

Rock the Boat – Upon impact, cannonballs now apply a rocking effect to ships.

Skeleton Ships – (Cursed Sails). Skeleton crewed ships containing loot now spawn looking for a fight.

Brigantine Ship – Positioned nicely between the bulk of the Galleon and agility of the Sloop, the Brigantine has been perfectly designed for three pirates to sail to victory.

Alliances – A new “Offer Alliance” pennant flag is available in the flag fox in the crow’s nest, along with options to both “Join Alliance” and “Leave Alliance”. Form alliances and see your allies on your maps table, and share a percentage (on top) of the loot they turn in, and vice versa.

Sniper Skeletons – some skellies now brandish an eye-of-reach.

Hair Dye – Hair dye is now available to all pirates, straight from the Vanity Chest.

 

September 2018

 

Cursed Cannonballs – These magical cannonballs can now be found in barrels and crates around the world. There are 11 different types of Cursed Cannonball to discover, each unleashing a unique curse on players and ships.

The Flag of The Reapers Mark – The Flag of the Reaper’s Mark is a new cursed flag that reveals the location of any ship that dares to fly it. The location of these ships will be shown on all other ships’ maps, but specific ship types and Alliance status will remain a mystery.

Inventory Quick Menu – Pressing the TAB key or the Menu button on your controller now shows two new options: ‘Equipment’ and ‘Resources’. From here players can equip themselves with the items they wish to use.

Barrels 2.0 – Barrels in the world have been upgraded and can now contain more than one kind of item.

Beached Treasures – Banana Crates, Cannonball Crates and Wood Crates will now wash up more frequently on beaches. They also have an increased value when sold to the Merchant Alliance.

Controller Sensitivity – Sensitivity settings have now been doubled. The new ‘5’ sensitivity is equivalent to the previous ’10’. Players may have to adjust their settings when they next launch the game.

Commendation Changes – Some Commendation requirements have been rebalanced. This change was made due to community feedback. Players who have met the new conditions will need to complete the requirement one more time to trigger the Commendation.

Bilge Rat Doubloons – From Cursed Crews onwards, doubloons will be able to be earned even after the Bilge Rat Adventure tied to the commendations ends.

Here, Take This… Too! – Players can now give and share treasure items in the same way they give and take cannonballs and bananas!

Devil’s Roar Map – Explore the newly emerged lands to the east, where both sea and land provide new hazards for unwary pirates!

Volcanoes – Exploding in a fiery inferno, volcanoes rain down hot rocks that damage players and ships. It has never been more important to think carefully about where you anchor!

Earthquakes – Tremors forcefully shake the ground and players in the vicinity. Sometimes these earthquakes are isolated, but they may also foreshadow a volcanic eruption…

Geysers – Geysers are active in The Forsaken Shores and can launch the player into the air… so watch where you step!

Lava Floor – Lava floor zones become active during a volcanic eruption and will cause damage over time if you stand on them. Keep moving!

Superheated Water – During a volcanic eruption, the waters around the island become superheated. Damage is not applied to ships, but pirates who opt to stand or swim in the superheated water will find themselves in dire need of a banana. Water in your hull can also become superheated, so have your bucket at the ready!

Rowboats – Find these new additions washed up on the islands. They can be pushed into the water and docked to your ship to be transported around the sea.

Seaposts – These have appeared across the Sea of Thieves, offering discounts on a selection of items that change over time.

 

October 2018

 

Cargo Runs -These voyages offer an alternative way to climb the ranks of the Merchant Alliance. Collect goods and deliver them elsewhere, but don’t damage the stock!

Athena’s Fortune Voyages – Cargo Runs are now always included as part of Athena’s Fortune voyages.

 

November 2018

 

Flames of Fate – On the Ferry of the Damned, the Well of Fates has been revealed. It produces a different coloured light depending on the way your pirate has perished. Use your lantern to capture the flame so you can take it back to the land of the living.

Make-up – With many pirates wanting to paint their faces in celebration of the Festival of the Damned, this is the perfect time to allow pirates access to various make-up looks that allow for even more customisation options. Make-up is equippable in the Vanity Chest.

The Devil’s Roar Rewards – Players now have an increased chance of finding high value loot in The Devil’s Roar!

Physics engine – The engine has been upgraded, improving overall client and server performance.

Expanded Ship Customisation – Pirates can now flaunt their riches by customising their ship’s wheel, cannons and capstan.

Fog – Additional care needs to be taken when sailing the seas, as fog has now been reported across the Sea of Thieves!

Megalodon Variety – More of these toothy fiends (each with their own distinctive look) have reached the surface. Shrouded Spoils introduces the Crested Queen, Shadowmaw, Ancient Terror and the extremely rare Shrouded Ghost!

Kraken Updates – The difficulty of Kraken encounters has been increased and balanced for different crew sizes, meaning it can now assault any ship, even your Sloop! Watch out for its new slap attack too. The seas just got more perilous…

Kraken and Megalodon Rewards – Loot can now be found bobbing on the surface after defeating a Megalodon or Kraken.

Activated Skeleton Forts – Six additional Skeleton Forts have now been occupied by the undead.

Fort Commodities – Loot in Forts can now include the extra-powerful Stronghold Gunpowder Keg. Ancient Bone Dust crates can also be found and exchanged for Gold and reputation with the Merchant Alliance.

Skeleton Ships – Players can now encounter passive and aggressive emergent Skeleton Ships anywhere in the world! Passive ships just want to go about their business but they will fight back if you attack them.

Mermaid Statues – These have reappeared on the sea bed of the Sea of Thieves! They also now drop Gems when defeated which can be cashed in with any Trading Company for Gold and reputation.

Commendation Grouping – Commendations in the quick menu are now grouped by campaign/Bilge Rat Adventure to make them easier to navigate.

Pirate Legend Commendations – 20 additional Commendations have been added exclusively for Pirate Legends to pursue.

Cannonball Radial – When docked to a cannon, players can now select which type of cannonball to load from the nifty new radial menu.

Treasure Glint – Sunken or floating treasure will now glint, making it easier to spot.

 

February 2019

 

Full Weapons Rebalance – Damage, bullet speed, equip/reload speed, hip-fire, knock-back, swordplay are all tweaked. See the full details.

New Mercenary Voyage – Buy from Duke for five Doubloons, this voyage challenges pirates to seek out the stash of a notorious Rum Runner, collecting rewards valuable to all the Trading Companies.

Show Nameplates Above Other Crews – New Settings option allows players to hide the nameplates of any non-crew members they meet, reducing the opportunity for stream sniping.

Floating Treasure – The speed that treasure floats to the surface after being released in deep water has been significantly increased.

New Skull Fort – Molten Sands Fortress added to Devil’s Road but not yet active.

Edited April 24, 2019 by JJonas

[Garacesh]

Wow, they really have done a lot with it since launch, huh?