Somebody please explain...

[JM Ohara]

Apparently I am a rude pirate. This is news to me. And this is why, can someone please tell me if I'm a rude pirate or if this is normal piratey behavior...

I tell people to buzz off when I am fighting someone. That's it.

Yesterday I was fighting late in a pretty empty server and the area was full of guys to beat. Yet this pirate who was lower level than me followed me attacking only the guys I struck first. Then she leveled up. So I told her to buzz off and find her own guys.

Later, a girl who was a friend of a crewmate came on. I was asked please crew her. I don't care for the girl, but because my friend asked I offered to crew the girl. She said no. Okay, fine. Later she TPs to me and brings a buddy who attacks my guys. I do not need help and that's clear, I'm a level 8 taking on level 2 scorpions. He takes a shot at them all. I tell him to buzz off and the girl tells me I'm rude and the reason she didn't join the guild I am in. She didn't join long before she met me thank you very much. Even if I had been talking to her, how is this rude? I have no trouble sharing with crew and guild mates, or friendly pirates. But she turned down the crew invite THEN came after me and my guys.

Now my friend says I'm the rude one, there is no evidence that the other girl was rude, and she'd leave any crew if she thought I was even if she didn't see who was being rude to me. She would rather walk away from a crew of friends than be on it with me.

Somebody please explain why it's rude to not want help from people who are lower level than you and in a whole mess of like, I kid you not, 30 enemies, pick YOURS to jump so tehy can level up. Or people who TP to you after refusing your crew. Why is it rude to tell them to go away and find their own guys? Am I just a mean pirate?

Somebody please explain because if I'm gonna loose a friend over this I'd sure like to know why!

[Dr. Zeppers]

The subject of "Repstealing" or "Repsharing" (same thing different perspectives) has come up many times. In the long run, tolerance seems to work out the best in all cases. I would say that its not rude to want to attack enemy mobs on your own without help, but it maybe rude as to how you are presenting this preference (ie.. saying "Buzz off" ) to those that are friendly and seem to want to help (even when you dont want it). There are stages in the game that this subject may become more key to you as your pirate progresses. It is best to learn tolerance now, get used to simply changing to a different quiet server/ocean to rid yourself of the unwanted company. If they are people on your friends list, well this is the price for having them on your list, I tell people on my list. You must ask me before tp'ing to me, and if I do not respond, that does NOT mean Yes!

[Lily]

I can see why people are getting upset over what you say to them, but I don't think it is reasonable for them to be and so no, I don't think you are being rude.
Honestly, I wish I had the ability to simply tell people to buzz off. Instead I switch servers or go somewhere else if I encounter such situations. But they should be the ones leaving! =P

The pirates in your examples were the unreasonable ones, not you.

But if you want to receive better reactions and not be thought or as rude maybe try asking really nicely or explaining why you want them to leave, because maybe they don't understand and that's why they think you are rude. But honestly, you're still asking for the same thing so either way they should just understand.

Don't worry, you should play the game how you want to. Obviously I would not advocate being rude, but that isn't what you're doing. You're asking them to leave you alone and if they can't deal with that, that's something they have to learn. And like I said, it might be better if you try to be nice about it and let them know gently =P

Try not to worry so much about it. =)

[SteamweaverJ]

Well, being new to the game (and really, the whole experience) i would try to help someone out. So maybe that's what happened? I tP to a friend last night who did not tell me she was in the midst of a huge battle! Lost her, and ended up "in Jail", but not before someone told me to buzz off (not quite in those words, but i found it rude given the situation) for trying to defend myself in the dark. So, maybe it happened that way, i dunno. But i must say, for someone who is "low level" and doesn't "know the ropes", that may seem a bit harsh. It certainly stunned me enough to just tear off running right into a vipers nest of Navy ... lol. Anyway, if a person is a "noob" and low level, it might be best to be a little more kind and make sure they do know.

You know?

Anyway, just two cents worth from a noob who really can't afford it.

[chelle_p]

i only been playing this game for about 5 months and i have crossed paths with many pirates of all sorts. I dont blame you for not needing help on a lvl 2 when your lvl 8. I agree with zeppers and lily 100% even though they are different answers to your question. Many of the times it all depends on the situtation. Like if a random pirate comes up and rep steals i try to talk to them and come up with a solution but lets face it some ppl are unreasonable. I try to treat every pirate i met with respect so i can get it back but if they dont respect me, then they end up in jail some how. However to me, that does not seem to be rude at all. your being honest with them but try not to be so blunt right off the bat.

[Basil Dreadflint]

I think it's the words you use, more than te idea behind it.

"Buzz off" can deffinately be considered as rude. IT would be much better to take the few minutes and explain to them that what they are doing is stealing your rep, and that you would prefer if they not "help" you unless you ask them to.

If they then continue to steal your rep, then it is they who are being rude.

And, I have been in that exact situation, where I am fighting and someone comes by a "Tags" my enemy just so they can get credit for the kill. A lot of times I'll even invite them to do that so that they can satisfy a quest. But someone who does it all the time, they are not your friend.

[Cannonfury]

ohh I hate when I'm attacking something and someone starts attacking ONLY the things I attack 1st. If I'm not attacking anything, they will wait until I do.

[Eliza Creststeel]

James,

Many new players don't understand how kill stealing works or why it hurts the player doing most of the work. They may think they're helping. But, those pirates in your situation were being rude and taking advantage of you.

If someone wanders into an area I'm leveling in and proceeds to 'help' me, I offer to start a crew. After all, the bonus balances out any rep lost. Plus, it might mean making a new mate or guildmate in the future.

However, should those folks be simply using me - I pop over to another server. I can still work the same area, without the thief.

*PS* - I admit I have shown a dark side on this. A guy in a frigate once trailed my battle wagon all around PDF and picked up reps by hitting broadsides while my guns recycled. After a while, this got tedious.

So, I headed towards a couple of nasty warships. I skirted them, but didn't shoot. To keep up with me, he had cut right into them. His broadsides hardly made a dent and I simply watched them obliterate him and all the plunder he took from me.

I don't necessarily recommend such a nasty fate be given to those who do that to you. Courtesy first.

EC

[Stephen O'Malley]

Me and my guild don't look too kindly on rep stealers. We will check a player out to see if he/ she is just mean or not. When they are, we put on a whole show when they're using a weapon that uses ammo. Basically, we pretend we're telling each other a glitch to get infinite ammo, and they get booted.

[Basil Dreadflint]

Originally Posted by Eliza Creststeel

So, I headed towards a couple of nasty warships. I skirted them, but didn't shoot. To keep up with me, he had cut right into them. His broadsides hardly made a dent and I simply watched them obliterate him and all the plunder he took from me.

Hehe, But the sight of Light Sloop being pulverized by a heavy barrage of cannon fire CAN BE pretty satisfying!

[Kat Five Knives]

As a rule I always ask FIRST and I have made a lot of really good close friends that way. Most of the time, they say 'yes' .
Just something for all NOOBS to keep in mind

[Dr. Zeppers]

Keep in mind that a pirate killing lower level enemies, and following you along and attacking the same enemies you are may also be a young child. They arent trying to grief you they are just having fun, and recognize its harder when doing it alone so they play along with the others around them. Without taking a moment to be kind and explain first, it would be rude to simply tell them to "buzz off". With that in mind I have just made it a habit to usually 'move on' and leave them be.

[Bartholomew Foulsteel]

Well mate, rude is an issue in POTCO--ye can actually have a valid report sent in on ye for being rude, so I'd recommend using the language ye would like to hear yerself in similar circumstances.

Ye see, newer and younger players don't always "get" or "know" our "rules." These may be considered self-evident by some, but I wouldn't do so. Now, on to your situation.

If one guy is violent against you and you get violent back, you are violent. It doesn't matter who went first. So, regardless of the circumstances, yes, telling someone to "buzz off" would seem to me to be rude.

Why not try some other tack? How about offer to crew and work together? If that doesn't work, switch servers (I know, you were there first). If the other pirate is ACTUALLY violating gameplay rules, try reporting them.

There's just no call with the amount of rudeness already exhibited in the game for more to be thrown in.

Good luck, mate.

[Juliana Maria]

As said previously, its all about how you go about saying it. If you your blunt and snippy you may just come off as rude. I like to politely inform the other player that I m trying to lvl and that I would appreciate if they left since I had been there first. Now if I'm in a place like Kingshead lvling on that group of soldiers, I often offer to take turns. I heal the other player while they take down one group, then we switch and vice versa. This way all are happy and we each get a decent share of the rep. But if a player refuses to listen or simply won't negotiate, its best to either switch servers or wait it out until they leave. If they are on your friends list simply take them off. Some players will friend you for the simple benefit of being able tp to you. Just be polite and see if you can come to an agreement. And if they are new, try to explain to them as best you can how fighting at the same time actually takes away from overall rep gain. Maybe even offer to heal them once your done or reach your goal level. You'll find you get better results when you simply explain the situation.