What exactly is new content?
 

I'm a relatively new registree to these forums, though I've been reading them off and on for a while now and have been playing POTCO off and on for about the same time (mostly on). I survived the drought of 2008 (there should be a forum award for this), though none of the people I once played with did. But on to the point...

One thing I keep seeing over and over again on these forums is a request, nay a demand for new content. I'm curious as to what constitutes new content?

Looking back at a few of the major changes/additions to the game over this past year, I feel like there's been new content, but I get the idea that many in the community and I don't hold the same opinion on what new content is.

• Port Royal, Tortuga, Padres redesigns - The in-game reasons for these changes seemed remarkably forced to me. Why couldn't D just say "the old towns were lag-ville, here's a new one"? Anyway, while not introducing new story, it did introduce new areas to explore/discover. Many argue this is not new content because they're just the same towns with a make-over.
• GM roleplay events - They are relatively sporadic and incredibly well attended. They provide lore information and are usually fun for all attending. Surely this counts as content?
• Cave redesigns - while not introducing new story, it did introduce much larger cave areas. The new caves are about 3-4 times larger than the old ones, meaning we got 3-4 times MORE cave. Many argue this is not new content for the same reason as the island redesigns.
• Invasions - Most fun I've had playing POTCO to date is during invasions. There is a storyline reason for why the invasions take place and they happen often enough that you're sure to catch one sooner or later? Is this not considered content?
• Constance Sorrow and other ghosts - I suppose this is just more GM roleplay events, but these ones seem to be specifically intended to advance a storyline.

Like I said before, I don't feel like I share the same opinion as most others about what exactly new content is, so I thought I'd poke around for some thoughts about what is considered new content. Anyone care to share their thoughts?

I think here, what we be meanin' by new content is the updates they have promised us, i.e, the Kraken, new loot and inventory system, new storylines, new islands, pirate lairs and ship customization. I still feel all this might come only after the Padres invasion and a possible redesigning of forests, Cuba, wild islands, and Kingshead, and probably after even addition of 'new islands',etc.

Ahoy Jake,

There is a difference of opinion on this mate. Some like me feel as you do and believe all this to be new content. There are others who either consider all the above as game tweeks or useless as they don't enjoy/use them (ie GM events). The new buzz word for them is "Second Chapter/storyline" as they can't argure that all the stuff above is not "New".

Basically they are asking for a new questline like the "Recover the Black Pearl" one. A second chapter with a long series of quests that ends in a new Boss Battle (preferebly againt the Kraken). I understand thier position and I myself would like to see this as well.

The difference Jake is some of us enjoy the game right now as it is and we are enjoying all the new stuff as it comes out. The other side needs the new second storyline quests to enjoy the game. There are also a lot of pirates in the middle on this subject as well.

No right or wrong just a difference on expectations and enjoyment. Not everyone plays for the same reason or enjoys the same thing. This is not a good game for hardcore gamers where the drive to complete quests is the main focus.

Right now we have the invasions and I don't think we will see any new quest/second chapter until this part of the story has been completed. I fully expect Jolly Roger will attack somewhere else after Tortuga. (my opinion not fact).

Hopefully that explains it enough for ya mate.

Captain Whale

Yes i agree. He will inavde PDF next (possibly), but chances are a bit slim bcoz there is not central point of pdf unlike PR or tortuga.

What I, and I think many others, mean by new content is new quests, specifically the next chapter. Something I can plan on doing each time I play. this is the core of what the game is about after all.

The new island and cave designs are big improvements but hardly content. Exploring them didn't take that long. These improvements add to the enjoyment to the game but don't really give anything new to do.

I avoid the GM events like the plague. With all the people acting like fools they are just annoying. And even if you remove the misbehavior these events do little for me. Nice enough for those who enjoy them but they don't really add much in the way of things to do.

Those ghost are okay but you have to be in the right place at the right time. I have only seen one and he didn't say or do much. I'm not going to hang out at Tortuga, where I' have nothing else to do , on the outside chance I might see a ghost.

I love the invasions. But you do have to be on at the right time. Can't very well just log in anytime and do an invasion.

Something you didn't mention is that many of the current quest have been improved but that does little for those who have completed them.

Yes Disney is doing a lot better of late, but many of us remember the long dry spell where they did little and much of what they did do they messed up and had to go back and fix. I do harbor hopes that all of this is leading to a new chapter . But everything that you have mentioned I can enjoy as a basic player, so if they want me to continue as paying member they need to come out with a story chapter sooner rather then later.

The fact that I have 2 pirates who are over level 40 and have done all the quests and 2 pirates in the 30's who have done at lest half the quests no doubt influences my opinion. If I was still on my first pirate with more questing to do then I wouldn't see any problem.

In my opinion, new "content" is about story lines and game-play. Mostly about story line. And there hasn't been a new one in a while...

The Island redesigns were more about "interface" to me than they were about content. By that I mean, they weren't "playable". They certainly added to the playability but it ultimately had no change on the way the game is played.

I loved the cave redesigns...at first. Now it feel more like fighting in a crowded hallway...I miss the old Becket's Quarry. A lot.

GM events? Ghosts? Not even close to "content" in my opinion. They tend to happen on busy servers and I stay away from busy servers. Especially Abassa. Until Disney sends me a new video card :sp003: I will continue to stay away.

The Invasions are pretty cool but really have nothing to do with furthering a storyline. A playable storyline. Don't get me wrong. The invasions are major league fun but are, for the most part, not all that different from crewing up and going on a Tormenta raiding party.

Content to me is a playable storyline. Everything else is window dressing at best and smoke and mirrors at the worst.

BUT! And this is an important "BUT"!! I think that all of this new interface and additions and invasions and all of it are an important part of setting up the new and ever nearing Story Line. I just hope they hurry because, as I have said before, Star Trek Online comes out in February.

Semper Fidelis Pirates :piratetongueor4:

According to my dictionary: (Definitions slightly shortened for space, but no changes to meaning)

NEW: 1. Never existing before 2. Fresh 3. Additional

CONTENT: 1. That which is conained 2. Subject matter 3. Area or extent

In my thoughts, the first definition of new and the second definiton of content is what most people think of in regards to the game.
Add these two words together, and the remaking or remodelling or redoing of something IS NOT new content.

I will admit that the invasions are new content.

Everything else has been nothing but a remodelling or expansion of something that has already been there. (Sometimes a lessening of stuff that was there before. i.e. a shortening of the quests, making the game easier.)

Changing something does not always make it better.

In my personal opinion, they should heal Padres. It's all burnt trees now, but you can tell where it's been lush in the past.

Wow, Dan. Reading the OP I thought I was going to post another long winded rant-like
response, but I think you summed up my feelings perfectly in just three sentences.

I think everyone has made some really good points, thanks for your input. A couple of thoughts I had...

Isn't the storyline progressing through invasions, though? When we started the game we learned that Jolly Roger is trying to take over the Caribbean. At this point he's invading Port Royal in an attempt to further said take-over and we get to play through that invasion. How is this not a playable storyline?

We'll probably have to agree to disagree on this one, because I personally define new content as "new stuff to do", and exploring new areas counts for me (even if it's a new area with an old name). Granted, it's not as much new content as a second story chapter would be, but it's still new stuff to do.

I think my big beef with holding up a second story chapter as the end-all-be-all of new content is what happens when you complete the quest-line, and how long are you expecting it to take you? A month? Three months? Six months? Once it's done, you're in the same boat again - waiting for the next chapter.
Putting in a new chapter's worth of quests all at once seems like a pretty daunting task, not to mention any game features that are required for that chapter. Yes, I know they've had two years to work on it, I'm not making excuses for that (they should have had the second chapter out a year ago).
I'd like to offer a middle-of-the road suggestion...

Once they know where they want the storyline to go (and it seems like they might already with all the GM roleplay events and invasion stuff that's been happening lately), they should put in 2-3 new quests every week that advance the storyline. Then it's small, manageable chunks that D can surely put together for us and we all get regular fixes of new content. :xxxk0:

It's sort of like the difference between getting a DVD set of a TV show, or watching that show when it actually airs (ignoring commercials). What I love about watching a show as it airs is that I can talk about it with my friends between episodes and theorize about what's coming next (which I know everyone here loves to do!). What does everyone think?

Invasions MAY be pointing the way to a new storyline but it is NOT, in and of itself, a new "playable" story. In fact it is no different from replaying the Pearl Battle. The pearl battle at the end of the first CHAPTER makes sense as it completes the CHAPTER. Re-playing it is done just for the fun of it. It advances nothing in terms of story.

Same goes for the invasions. There is nothing that the invasions do for us other than give us lots of bad guys to whoop up on. It's fun but, ultimately, meaningless. If it doesn't fill my Journal, it is NOT CONTENT or PLAYABLE STORYLINES.

Attach any story you want to it. Jolly is trying to take over the Caribbean. Fine. I've stopped him 13 or 14 times on Port Royal and Tortuga. That isn't a STORYLINE. It's Space Invaders. The bad guys keep coming and I am looking for a coin slot on my computer.

The "story" could be anything.

• Jolly is looking for ocean front real estate on PR. Stop him from lowering property values.
  
• Jolly thinks Grog tastes great. Pirates think it's less filling! Stop him!
  
• Jolly like Krispy Kreme, we like Dunkin Donuts! Stop him!.
  
• Jolly lost his puppy. Pirates hate puppies. Stop him!

Anything works for a 12 minute battle...

The Quest For The Black Pearl is a story. 12 minutes on Port Royal is NOT a story. It may be pointing a way towards a story but I am wondering how long I am willing to PAY to just sit and wait...


I get that, I really do. The new caves were fun to explore. For half an hour. Now what? There is no CONTENT there. Just long hallways filled with the same old bad guys.

A new chapter, a new quest, is more than new pictures and new places and new names. I have been playing for almost two years now. I had two mastered pirates (before the Notoriety change) who have FINISHED the game. No quests, no new weapons, no story, nothing but level grinding. Went to an invasion or two. But with an empty Journal, it's all meaningless. Let me fill my journal and I'll be back to live in a heartbeat. But I play exclusively on test now. I just have stuff to do there...

personally i heard that Jolly Roger likes Justin Bieber's music.
that's enough for me to want to take him down every single time, be it for 12 minutes or 72 hours at a time.


/sarcasm

lol.... Your showing your age.

*Loved that game, but hey I played D & D with real dice.

Nice comparison to the invasions BTW.

I like this one personally:

Jolly is looking for ocean front real estate on PR. Stop him from lowering property values.

I mean, we all saw what he did to the mansion. ;)

Seriously tho, I agree. New CONTENT is NOT 'redone filler'. STORYLINE. NEW ENEMIES (not just renamed, or resized ones) How about something as simple as we have ALL been asking for - MORE CLOSET SPACE! More things to spend money on? A trade or gift system?

So really, when it all comes down to it, new content to you means quests. Anything added to the game that doesn't come with a journal full of quests is not considered new content to you, right? That's cool, that's the kind of answer I was curious about when I started the thread.

That said, though...
None of those things you list are the story... The official POTCO website has this to say about Jolly Roger: "He plans to take over the Caribbean and proclaim himself a Pirate Lord, and he will do anything to accomplish his goal." We learn about the same thing from Tia Dalma in the the first ten minutes of playing. The "story" is that he's attempting to take over islands and is using live agents to trick people into helping him - it started with the Casa de Muertos guild and their quests that led up to the invasion. They hung out in Port Royal for almost a month and then when they had finished their task of making the island vulnerable, they boogied and let the undead mob the island. The invasion wasn't something that D threw in without any reason. If you haven't done any of the quests leading up to it, it might seem like it, but it's not - it furthers a storyline (evidenced by the invasions on Tortuga now), and who knows where the story will go from there?
My point is that we're getting small doses of storyline content, but because it hasn't come in CHAPTER form, many seem to be turning their noses up at it, claiming that its distractionary filler. I just think that many of us that are clinging dearly to the hope of the next chapter are going to miss out on the stuff that's coming in-between chapters. Who knows? Maybe I'm wrong and this is all just filler and the second chapter won't have anything to do with Casa De Muertos or invasions or anything else they've been doing lately. But I doubt it.

I know. That was almost TWO years ago... I think that you are mixing up the terms "story" and "storyline". I can attach a STORY to anything I do in the game. You also forget that the STORY told us that if we chose to do the Casa de Muertos quests, we would be marked as traitors. Well, I did it on test and chose NOT to do it on live. Guess what. NO DIFFERENCE. How can something be considered true CONTENT if it has NO effect on a player?
I beg to differ here. It IS diversionary filler. What we are getting is not small doses of storyline content, it is a bunch of hints about the upcoming chapter. I am actually OK with that. But as I have said time and time again...The invasions and Muertos thing are fun diversions but they don't really give me anything new to do. I have started avoiding invasions. They are already getting the tiniest bit stale so I do them sparingly to keep them fun. But I have time and cash money invested in this game. It is high time for some new content. Call it what you will but all the new stuff, until the next chapter starts, is all icing and no cake. But you will also notice that I have not ranted about never playing again or anything like that. I am here for a while longer. I still like the game. I just want to know that Disney still likes the game and that they still like all of us paying pirates.

Anyway, good topic. Great discussion. Thanks.

Jake, my personal view is that I look to Disney first for my cues as to new content.

From the Developer's Diary #13, 1/27/09:

And from the Developer's Diary #14, 4/17/09:

So from these two Disney announcements, early this year, we were led to believe that the Kraken is our next story chapter, that it's linked to Davy Jones (not Jolly Roger) and that we would see it in game before the end of the year.

That's the new content I've been looking for. We've seen new story quests and Notoriety increases, but as there's only 17 days left in the year, and the Kraken hasn't shown a tentacle on test yet, I'm not hopeful that the new content I've been looking for will appear on the horizon before 2010.