The Future of POTCO Looks alot Brighter
 

As a pirate who started playing February 08 I like a lot of my pirate brethren have gotten a little anxious for more content and not just the little things but something for all the level 40s to do and while recent developments may not seem like a lot if you take a step back and look at them all together I believe we are all in for something big soon. Not really put out there too much in the test posts is the fact that the Pearl Quest has been reworked a lot. It has been made a little more difficult to help players level as they go instead of finishing the first story chapter in the mid 20s and having a huge rep gap to 40 and the next chapter, as Maximus so perfectly pointed out in an earlier thread. Also a lot has been done to improve game performance which is important to facilitate more content. Add into this all the new enemies as well as the level 40+ enemies on test and I get the feeling that new weapons and Not increases will be coming soon. As for the next chapter I doubt it will contain the Kraken but I am sure it is coming soon. I think Disney rushed releasing POTCO to get it out there before POTBS and have spent the better part of the last year and a half catching the game up to where it should have been from the start and now that things are where they should be REAL new content will be coming.

aye, the future look WAY more bright than last month, what with all the updates, which means, they HAVE to work on new content because the condements are to plentiful

I think the future of POTCO is bleak... the game to me is boring, I only play cause of friends and I like ranking.. Had it not been a multi player game, I would have quit the day I registered >.>

For the record, having played since a year ago February (not since this February).

Since I track these quests, each and every step, and document them as I try to keep the wiki up to date I have come to one absolute conclusion:

The black pearl quest, has been tweaked making it EASIER and SHORTER than before. Fewer tasks resulting in FEWER notoriety points, actually making it fall SHORTER of what Maximvs had pointed out earlier, making the "Gap" even larger. I believe this is to SLOW down pirates from getting to level 40. Leveling of weapons is definately not any harder than its ever been.

They made it easier for new players to start and get going, and it doesnt get any harder than it was before... just easier!

Everything has been made easier EXCEPT for one thing... the number different enemy names spread about making most look around a bit more for them.
But everyone keeps track of where theyve seen things, and that is not really anything to slow someone down. In actually, I found that in them doing so, they eliminated the number of alternatives you could use to find these enemies, and put them all in the vacinity of the quest itself (again making it easier). After all, they have a beam of light that points right at it... Go search for this..... its right here! (pointing to it)

Dont know what that means for the future other than it would appear they may be about to finally expand the game... lets hope its fairly soon. :)

Added: Disney pushing POTCO to release too early, trying to meet or beat POTBS to the public has been the explanation accepted by the community for quite awhile now.

Well said Travis. I too believe that the game will get better. The game as already come along way from where it was, maybe not as fast as other games or as fast as some would like it, but it has advanced. I look forward to what lies ahead whatever it may be large or small.

Zep as I said in the quote on test, as Captain Greene posted the other day, you now have to defeat higher lvl enemies during the pearl quest which would either require alot more help or lvling your pirate as you go to be a higher lvl skills wise to do some parts of the pearl quest. As it has been on open it was possible to finish at lvl 24 with most weapon skills lvl 6-8 which would not last very long on a new Tormenta filled with enemies that go up to lvl 50. Wasnt saying the rush to market was a new idea just felt it added to the reasoning of why the had to go back and work on the game as a whole that has delayed the new content.

Absolutely, during my play time finding unused doorways, hidden paths, etc. It was obvious they pulled some of the content to get it published early.

I havent yet noticed any changes in difficulty in questing on my pirate on test. I have noticed the variety of beasties changing in the quest tasks, but havent seen anything getting actually harder. I've been doing this comparing whats there, to whats on the wiki, as we will have to update the wiki in the future. I havent redone the earlier quests, my test pirate is on Giladoga right now, and im sure my experience plays a role, but its just a matter of spending time doing it, the tasks are of no significant challenge, and I have not bothered to "level" weapons at all, ive been breezing through the pearl quest for the most part when I play on test.

Added: I guess everyones experiences are different. And I do remember I did level my grenades some when I first got them, but thats it, my test pirate is lvl 27.
Added: Part of my perception of it being easier, is although they have created a greater mix of enemies, they place them for convenience. An example, I just got my next Gunner (oops im on Gunner, not Giladoga) task from Romany Bev, and she has asked for a number of beasties Dreads, Piratas, and Grenadiers, and all of them in the room a few steps away (lava gorge), and fairly easy to defeat at this point in the game.
Added: I will say, that the higher level beasties, help you level your weapons more 'as' you quest instead of requiring more separate effort.

Yes at lvl 27 I agree they are not difficult but lvl 27 with 50% of Pearl quest left is much higher rep lvl than finishing the whole thing at 25. And killing those will yield more rep than kill 15 lvl 10+ skells there by little by little adding extra rep along the way. Here is a link to Greene's post http://www.piratesonlineforums.com/f...700#post153700
Thanks for the help Zep in clarifing my point!

My only contradiction was towards the game getting harder.

Well, I dont see anything being "harder" than before at all really.
Its all pretty much easier, they lay it all out for you now... easy stuff the game has NEVER been easier.

And I know for a fact all the earlier quests have been shortened, so you get less rep out of them. First 4 crew member quests are about 1/3 shorter than before, so if one doesnt take that into account, then well.. your not as far along as you are now with the later quests. Not to mention the fact that Disney has outright said, they are improving and making the game easier for lower level/new players not harder.


Theyve shortened the quests, yes quests are for more specific items, but it actually makes it 'easier' than before because they place those specific items in the rooms nearby so you seldom have to go searching for them.

They even have moved an island.. (moved Cuba closer to PR) to make it easier on new/low level players. The idea is to draw in more new players, and not toughen the game at all until later, so they get into the game and subscribe.

I totally agree however that the changes do point toward new updates/content and hopefully story quest, etc.

Say it ain't so. Did they really shorten it that much? I liked the length of the Pearl quest, probably because it kept me busy. I guess that explains why my second pirate is already 13% done with the Pearl quest when all I've been doing is leveling up my weapons.

What were they thinking when they did that? The more hand holding the better? The more content they can shorten the better? Either way it was a total waste. I found the Pearl Story Quest was very fun on my first pirate. It was time consuming, which was kept me busy so that I could stand waiting for new content.

Did they even think about how many incoming players would get bored faster because of the shortened quests? For all we know they haven't even started working on the second story quest! They've been too busy going back and 'improving' the game to work on what we really need, new content! The Pearl quest was fine when the game launched. Changing it, in my opinion, was a total waste of time.

I disagree with anyone that says, "It can only get better". Oh, I'm sure it can get a lot worse.

I do think its getting better, but in smaller steps than we'd like.

I think they are improving the game play, and making it easier for new/low level pirates to help promote them to play the game, to stay involved with it long enough to want to stay around for the long haul. It is also helpful in generating new accounts, and new income I would guess.

If I were a new player today, I would have a much different perception, as there has been alot of minor content changes, I would enjoy it as much as before, but have more to do, and it would take me longer/farther before I got bored with it.

The game didnt get to go through all the development and testing phases that they probably would have preferred before its public release. So they are having to 'fix' alot of the issues as they go. They may also discover new issues, as they try to 'fix' the issues they are already aware of. They are fine tuning the game, so they can move forward. Im trying to be positive about it. Just been waiting a long time. :)

aye zep, weve been waitin, but big D is cranking out updates, albeit slowly

actually i have been quite impressed....3 sets of release notes in a weeks time. i remember when they had gone a month without even bothering to update there site, I really hate what people start thinking when you claim to know somebody that has direct contact with the disney staff but I have heard (and im not convinced myself if its true but its something for you to think about) that the new pirates game that has been talked about in other threads was taken harshly by disney and disney in an effort to not have any more competition then they needed made a deal to hire on that staff and now the higher ups in the disney staff are actually the staff from the other game. Maybe thats why content is all of a sudden coming? I dont know what to believe but for me this is good enough.

As I go through the quest on test, I would also say they have done a good job at changing the appropriate portions of the game dialogue to fit along with new enemies, more specific targets, etc. It definately improves the storyline, at least dialogue wise. Enhances the game experience, with a great storyline. :)

For me, I have to say that the flow of the game is better than it was a year ago. That being said, the game is way easier than harder, especially getting credit sinking ships during the quests... it so much easier now. I could remember the Gunner and John Smith quests giving me fits, because I would need to sink 20 or so ships and never getting credit after sinking the first 3 or 4. Which meant I had to be out in the water longer to get my ships.

I like where this game is going... I just wish Disney would update more than they do, and STOP with the stupid and pointless events!

I'm not quiet sure what you're saying but I want to clear something up. If you guys still think the UK pirates is different from the US pirates you need to look at toontown.

There is a US site for toontown and a UK site. Each site leads to the same game servers. As in, once the UK site is set up for pirates anyone over the pond that signs up on the uK site will be playing with the US pirates. There is no "other game", it is exactly the same. There will be no competition considering the other game is the game we play right now.

If there's any reason for the lack of content, it's the devs' fault. They're the ones that either aren't working hard enough, have had their hours cut back, or just aren't listening to the players. The UK site probably isn't up yet because they want to release some new content before bringing in the UK people.(Yes, UK people can sign up on the US site but it'd be much better if they signed up on the UK site once it's out)

It dawns on me, that I may have missed a point of Crazy's. It wasnt clear to me that he may have been referring to the end of the quest, and not the entire quest overall. My experience in testing the earlier part of the quests was that they have made them much easier/shorter.

The multiple enemies drawing a finer storyline, and keeping pirates in the general area that are designed for their pirate levels. More combinations of enemy levels makes a nicer progression overall. If however (and I believe this is the point I had missed, if so my apologies Crazypirate), one was was to rush through the quest, and be somewhat a low level pirate without leveling, the latter part of the quest will be harder if not impossible to beat without assistance especially with the shortened easier beginning quests.

From an overall approach however in a balanced pirates progression, I would say it is easier.
I spent this afternoon, finishing Gunner, and finishing Mary Lash / Scary Mary, and they have considerably changed Scary Mary, and a low level pirate with weapons not trained/leveled, would definately be at a loss, I plugged right through it myself/solo, having a more balanced pirate, turned level 28 while finishing those to parts of the quest, my weapons are around level 13.

Added: You used to have to go searching for things, certain ships hard to find, etc. or they would be at another place you would have to go locate. During Scary Mary, everything was in her immediate vacinity. The only thing I can recall needing to venture out of perdida bay for was Revenants. I did not have to sail around looking for what the quest required besides sailing to Isla Cangrejos, which had all that portion of the quests requirements in its vacinity as well.

They ARE moving in a positive direction... no doubt. I think its the 3 steps forward, 2 steps back progress that seems to frustrate everyone.
Keep up the great work POTCO.

As a pretty new player to the game, (I've only been playing seriously for about a month) I see the game for what it is now. As a member of a large and active guild with a lot of long time players I hear quite a bit about the way it used to be. Honestly, if you all are right and the Pearl Quest is being shortened in any fashion, I'm very sorry to hear that.

Now, I love Pirates, but there are a few things I could give up. I agree with Zep, the ray of light makes things way to easy. They aughta have a feature where you can turn the thing off all together rather than just not track a quest, then have the stupid ray appear after you defeat an enemy or sink a ship. And when you're sinking, at least the way I do it, the ray gets in the way majorly.

While it drives me crazy at times I in fact love the length of the Pirate Life quest for Nathaniel Truehound. Yes, it has an insane amount of steps, but that thing gives excellent benefits. The rep is great, not just for the weapons and sailing, but the notoriety as well. You make great gold at it. Compare that to Solomon's tattoo quests, and Solomon's way shorter. I'd rather have it longer, to give me a chance to earn some serious rep.

I have a level 26, nearly 27, who is 25% through the story chapter on the Pearl Quest, but some of her weapons are very skewed as to levels. My dagger for example is 6 levels lower than my nades. But yet due to the fact that I sail a LOT, my sailing is nearly 19. She still has several side quests to do, and at this moment I've stopped working her Pearl Quest, cause I'm finding my weapons are just not there.

On the other hand I have 2 level 10 pirates both of which have yet to even start the Pearl Quest. Both are going to complete all side quests first, before I even begin the Pearl Quest. Both I'm keeping the weapons at the same levels across the board. Already I find it makes things easier.

Now I'm not quite sure if this is what you are talking about when you say things are easier for the newer players. Perhaps it is all in the way you take on the Pearl Quest. I'm hoping myself for all my pirates to be near 30 before they go farther, or in the case of my babies, even start the quest in the first place.

I will say this, yes, I'm finding that with my baby pirates, the side quests making me level my weapons now will make things a lot easier when I start doing the Pearl Quest. I had terrible trouble with Kat early on, before I joined DW. My weapons weren't up, I had nobody to help if I needed someone to watch my back. So yeah, it is way easier than I expected it to be the second pirate around.

For myself, I'm not overly concerned about updates just yet. I have a lot to keep me busy for now. But for the sake of my fully mastered guild mates, and all of the bored pirates out there, I sincerely hope that they give you guys as much to do at 40 as I have at 20. Anyway, the cap being 40 with weapons at 25 just makes no sense to me. If you were gonna do that, why not 50 and 25? I hope, for all you serious long time players out here that the updates you have been waiting for come soon and of epic proportions. Maybe soon, 40 will be the new pirate 20.

(If I totally missed the ball on this, pardon me but it's late and I'm typing with a serious headache. :P)

I think that a lot of us are missing the point here...

Complaining that Pirates Online is too easy, too short, or being "dumbed down" fails to consider one key fact. It 's a kid's game. It will ALWAYS be a kid's game. The Disney trademark is extremely valuable and cannot be associated with adult content in their movies and their games. I think this is just fine but it also makes for a dull game. Unless of course you're a 10 year-old.

Don't get me wrong...I've been playing faithfully for a year and a half now. I have one fully mastered pirate and one that has reached level 40. I also have a test server account. But at no point have I ever considered this game to be hard. The fact that it is now easier than ever just proves that it is skewed more to kids than teens or young adults.

I am going to think out loud here. If you get bored, skip to the next post...:pirate2:

• I say I want a new chapter but honestly, what will that mean? A month or two of "Go here, get that, return to me. Now go see so-and-so, come back, dig up three chests, get 4 crabs, 5 undead, 12 soldiers, come back, rinse, lather, repeat....
  
• POTCO is a chat room with a game running in the background.
  
• A lot of people are comparing this game to Burning Seas. That is like comparing "Hello Kitty's Island Adventure" to "World of Warcraft." Both are great games but they have completely different audiences.
  
• POTCO has zero complexity. It is easy with a capital "E". There is no economy, there are no inventories to manage and you don't even get to sell back your old weapons. Or keep them for that matter. There are no puzzles to solve, getting from one place to another is ALWAYS a straight line, and at no point in the game does the player need to "figure out" what to do next. But people still cheat. Why?
  
• While this is a kid's game, it still appeals to teens, young adults and full blown grown-ups. Do you have any idea how hard that must be to do successfully?
  
• A lot of younger pirates have trouble keeping the fantasy of POTCO separate from the reality of planet Earth. None of us look like our cartoon pirates. I don't want a cartoon "girlfriend" and, No, I don't think you're pretty. Not because you aren't but because I HAVE NEVER MET YOU!
  
• Why do I have to hear about the Kraken EVERY SINGLE DAY? Have we really pinned all our hopes for this game on a big squid?
  
• I play every day if only for a few minutes.

Anyway, I am in a weird mood today and while POTCO may be on the right road, it is still meant to be traveled by children. Accept that and your game experience will change. You stop wasting time wishing you could shoot a soldier.

Oh and one more thing. Since I am a teacher in the real world I just have to say these last things and drop them forever. Alot is not a word. Allot means "to distribute." "Your" does not mean "you are." You're does. I will have the rest of your papers graded by the end of the day. Until then...Happy Plundering. :buds:

I dont think the point actually is, what is easier, or what is harder. Although it is a point of conversation as things change.

From my perspective I think the main reason such conversation comes about is that we all would like some new content, and are all wondering why they are messing with the content already in place instead.

I had made an analogy yesterday of 3 steps forward, 2 steps back.

But its more like 2 steps back, 1 step forward, 1 step forward, 2 steps back, 1 step forward, 1 step forward we feel like we are getting nowhere as they go back and revamp things and are waiting as patiently as we can for that "3 steps forward" move.

Now, we are starting to see the big picture of these changes, and see how it will lead toward an expansion of the game. Which I think was part of Crazypirates original point, as well as noting that if the quest is being made easier, it will actually make things harder towards the latter portions of the quest itself.

They have definately gone to great lengths to make the game kid friendly, and perhaps in that sense it targets the younger players, but being an intense online gamer myself for over 15 years, I find the calm, easy flow, the magic of a great storyline alot of fun, and would like to see the storyline continue. Ever follow a series of books/movies? Sure it takes but a few hours to read that new addition to the storyline when it comes out or 90 min - 2hr to watch a new movie 'chapter' yet we keep coming back for more.. look at LOTR, Star Wars, Harry Potter etc.

excuse me ex, but I believe the movies were PG-13. Interesting theory but, no. however we're not saying that it should be more for adults. Some of us are (including me) disagreeing on its length shortened. I liked the way they were long, it gave me something to do. Like Zep said its a step back to fix and then D will probably do something.

I can understand why Disney decided to change the quest around some, and make it easier for the newer players. I just wished that while they did that, they would have added something to occupy the players that have mastered pirates. Things like ship customization or expanded clothing inventory for starters. Granted, it wouldn't occupy people for long, but it would have been better than the nothing that we have been getting!

Mac: when i said other game i was not referring to a UK version of this game, i agree with you on that, i was talking about a totally different game, the thread talking about this other game can be found here, and i have seen ads for this game myself http://www.piratesonlineforums.com/f...ad.php?t=11593

I never offered a theory. I just pointed out that the Disney trademark is very valuable and that no one in that company will do anything to devalue it.

Pirates of the Caribbean Online is a kid's game. It was conceived as a kid's game and it was implemented as a kid's game. It was advertised on kid's TV networks and the game play is a simplified version of an MMORPG. No blood, a vicious "chat nanny", pointing pistols at the living is "against the code" and other characteristics of the game back me up.

However, the game developers have done a masterful job of creating a game that works on multiple levels. I am living proof and so is this forum. The fact that the movies were rated PG-13 (arguably a "kid's rating") changes nothing. Adult content is off limits to the POTCO world and we can't expect it.

And please don't lock on to "it's a kid's game" and feel like I'm trying to be insulting. It's more of a general description than any sort of slight to older players, myself included. Checkers is a kid's game too and I played last night. Disney has made a lot of money on making things for kids. Especially those things for kids that all of us enjoy!

Here's my take.

I've been away from the game for several months out of the frustration of no new content.

Coming back to the game this weekend was an eye-opener.

Many additional enemies with which to engage. Giant crabs that were lvl 16-19 are now 13-15 with the added Destoyer crabs of higher levels.

Yes, in some aspects, the game is easier, i.e.; being led straight to your quest.

However, as a lvl 26 on test I attempted the 86% done "Recruit John Smith" quest in the course of the overall Black Pearl Quest.

At this level you are charged with finding a buried rudder on Tormenta (done) and taking out Spineskulls and Flotsam (10 and 20, not respectively?).

I was unable to locate a single Spineskull in Tormenta cave. The Flotsam I came across had been elevated from the 30s levels to mid 40s. I visited jail twice (playing solo) in an attempt to complete the quest.

What, at one time, had been a do-able solo quest at that level is now impossible without spending hours grinding weapons. Previously weapons were leveled commiserate with overall Noteriety level. Now, the weapons levels I had are drastically insufficient.

I will allow - having spent several months away from the game may have hindered my weapons leveling in this new environment. Meaning to say, that if I had been playing consistently when these changes were implemented my weapons might have kept pace with my noteriety.

As it is now I find myself in the unenviable position of having to spend a great deal of time leveling weapons in order to possibly complete this quest.

However. I must say...at least the game is a challenge again and I am thrilled about that. I now have a goal again to shoot for, so I'm pleased. The game is no longer a "gimme" to a long-time player. That is a good thing. :)

Did you know Disney has made R-rated movies in the Touchstone name? They do this so they can keep their family-movie/"kids movie" status.

I think the Pearl Quest was probably shortened because of what Zep said, and not because POTCO is a kids game.(Excuse me if I've misunderstood you. I just thought you were implying that they shortened it because of this reason.)

Speaking of adult content, NPCs can drink rum. I don't think that can be considered "kid friendly". I think POTCO was more based off the foundation of the pirate movies. POTCO may be a family based game, but I think it's a bit over the border line of what is considered Disney appropriate and what isn't.

Yes I do. The Touchstone logo is Touchstone Pictures. Not Disney. Touchstone Pictures is not called "Walt Disney's Touchstone" or "Touchstone: A Disney Corporation" or "Touchstone, A Division of Disney Entertainment."

The point I am trying to make is that the Disney Trademark is sort of a sacred cow and no one is going to get to "mess" with it. Touchstone Pictures was a way for Disney Studios to enter a market they could not otherwise enter. They made some darn good movies under Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures too.

I almost wish I had never mentioned this because the point I really wanted to make is completely lost. Heck, I'm not sure I even remember what it was...

Except to say that just because something is a kid's game it doesn't mean it's childish. OK?

OK. I never said it was shortened BECAUSE it's a kid's game. I never even thought that to be honest... I DO think it has gotten easier though.

:laughks2: I am going to sound like I'm playing word games here but I'm not. At no point in the game do I ever remember (correct me if I'm wrong) "seeing" an NPC DRINK rum. They seem to buy it and collect it and send us on errands for it but does anyone every really mention that it is for drinking? It's kind of like beer commercials on TV. If you are under 30, you have never seen anyone drink beer in a beer commercial. Buy it, hold it, start to bring it up to their mouth and talk about how wonderful it is but never drink it.

Just want to add something about the Kid's Game debate.

I think it was Disney's intention to market this to older kids. They had Toontown at the time and Club Penquin was coming into being. Both were aimed at young kids.

Pirates was a marketable product to pre-teens because of the movies. PG-13 or NOT, companies aim those films at a young male audience.

Obviously, since its inception the game has attracted but MORE IMPORTANTLY managed to keep youth and adult players. Young kids don't seem to get into the world as much or stick the object-driven quests. And older players liked a game that wasn't that complex or demanding (not a lot of button-mashing).

Problem, I think - is that they had been marketing to that young crowd, while they need to gear up elements that will satisfy older players.

I wasn't refering to anything rum related during quests. I was talking about the NPCs in the pubs that wave their mugs around and "pretend" to sip out of it.

To be honest, I don't even know how it's gotten easier. I did some of the Pearl Quest yesterday and the enemies I fought are practically the same levels as before. Shorter, yes, easier, no.

Easier would be taking away some of the higher level enemies you need to defeat in the Pearl Quest. So far I haven't noticed that. Less enemies yes, but not the levels.

The quest is a lot less time consuming now, which will make leveling up enemies once I'm done even more time consuming. It's not hard to click the mouse a few times to defeat an enemy. Now if the combat was more diverse, say cutlass locks where you need to click faster to get out of it so that the enemy won't do more damage to you, then it could be considered hard.

I agree and I thought that it was what I was saying all along. But no where near as concisely as you. Thanks for adding to the conversation!

Can you imagine the delicate balancing act they have created here? Marketed to younger viewers on Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon, given an E-10 rating and easy (accessible?) gameplay elements still tell me that this was meant to be a kid's game.

But then older players including parents and even grandparents start to play and like what they see. Now the developers have to attend to the needs and safety of the pre-teens while keeping the older (paying) adults entertained enough to keep the money rolling in.

In my opinion, they have done this VERY well until just recently. Things got stale over the summer... But what I have seen on test intrigues me and has my interest level up. My test pirate is way too low to explore much but I have two lvl 40s waiting for the changes.

Shorter is easier, isn't it? For example, I just did the grenades quest on test. Haven't done it in quite a while. It took me half the time and I did it solo. Couldn't do it solo the first time.

Thanks, Ex...

Maybe we as older players need to start posting to the Grog Blog that we are such and enjoy the game very much - hoping that they'll see the number of people playing who aren't little kids...

I like that idea Eliza, although I am an adult and I stopped paying for the summer b/c real life gets in the way. Come fall I'll be back to blue, unless they suprise us with new content worth while in the next few weeks.

I always did the nades quest solo, and found just this week that it is HARDER on open than it has ever been in the past. My fifth time through it, and I needed a healer to finish.

I have one on Test at level 18, Gonna go try to get to 20 so I can try the nades quest solo to verify your remarks.

OK. Let me know what you think. It might just have seemed easier due to the experience I have gained over the last year and a half.

My son said it was because they have lowered the aggression level of the enemies to the point where random battles just don't happen. The only battles I had to fight were triggered by searching crates and barrels in KH. No fights were triggered in Fort Dundee. Just seemed to make it easier.

Another thing I noticed is that I was recently sent to sail against the EITC. I needed four different things and I needed 5 of each of them. That used to take up to 15 ships sunk because certain ships only dropped one item or two... This time I got all the Items in 5 ships. Every ship dropped four items.

I have to agree, being one of the first people to play the game I can safely say it has done nothing but improve since the beginning, and I have high hopes for the future. It may not be a big budget MMO, but it's one of the most entertaining regardless.

The enemy aggression has dropped since the beginning of the game. There was even an update a while ago that stated that.

Other than that, I really don't agree that shorter is easier. It's just that, shorter, not exactly easier. I think it's actually more time consuming when you have to take time leveling up weapons because there's less of the Pearl quest to work on the weapons.

We all have different views about how the game has changed. Some say that from their experiences it's easier, some say it's harder. One persons' opinion doesn't make all the others wrong. It's just our experience, not everyone elses.

I personally think the game has been really chaotic every since the updates after SvS. I thought it was really nice when the game first came out but then they decided to go back and change everything. Sure, some things in the Pearl Quest but why shorten the whole quest? Do they want people to get bored earlier? Yes, good money maker.

Ah, well. We can't really complain since the Pearl Quest IS the first story quest. For all any of us know they went back(I think Zep said this) to make it easier on new players. If they make the second story quest harder(longer) then I'll be happy. :)