Changes in the caves!!!

[JM Ohara]

I have a better question. This week my first pirate Kat hit her very first mastered skill, cannon. Now I wanna know, if they increase the caps, what happens to all those previously mastered skills or Pirate Masters. I know from working Kat just how much hard work it takes to hit those high level marks. And Kat is only a 32! I can't imagine what the other 7 levels are like. I do know it takes a lotta pirate blood, sweat, and patience to make it to Pirate Master. So tell me what is gonna happen to that rank.

When they raise the cap, cause it seems it will happen eventually, are we gonna loose the Master rating? How fair is that? For me it's, so far, just one skill on one pirate out of 8. But I earned that Master tag. I'm gonna be very unhappy if it gets taken away when the caps go up.

My suggestion would be that they add colors to the Master ranks. Cause sure as a summer day is long, eventually we'll need a second cap increase. So then you get the first Master rank at 40 and 25. The second Master rank at whatever the increase is, and so on. Each rank has a color, the standard it is now, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and so on as the caps increase. Rather like a so many star general or whatever in the military.

Dunno if it makes sense, and it's kinda complicated. I just think that it would really bite if a hard earned Mastery gets revoked simply cause the cap goes up.

[Dr. Zeppers]

Originally Posted by TheHawke

I have a better question. This week my first pirate Kat hit her very first mastered skill, cannon. Now I wanna know, if they increase the caps, what happens to all those previously mastered skills or Pirate Masters. I know from working Kat just how much hard work it takes to hit those high level marks. And Kat is only a 32! I can't imagine what the other 7 levels are like. I do know it takes a lotta pirate blood, sweat, and patience to make it to Pirate Master. So tell me what is gonna happen to that rank.

When they raise the cap, cause it seems it will happen eventually, are we gonna loose the Master rating? How fair is that? For me it's, so far, just one skill on one pirate out of 8. But I earned that Master tag. I'm gonna be very unhappy if it gets taken away when the caps go up.

My suggestion would be that they add colors to the Master ranks. Cause sure as a summer day is long, eventually we'll need a second cap increase. So then you get the first Master rank at 40 and 25. The second Master rank at whatever the increase is, and so on. Each rank has a color, the standard it is now, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and so on as the caps increase. Rather like a so many star general or whatever in the military.

Dunno if it makes sense, and it's kinda complicated. I just think that it would really bite if a hard earned Mastery gets revoked simply cause the cap goes up.

Just another example of what I was trying to say, pirates are never satisfied.

However, I would gather that if weapons maxes were raised, we would lose the title of "Mastered" for that weapon as if it has further levels, its not mastered. (this is all hypothesis, noone knows until it hits test). Are we losing something in that? Id say not at all. You will still have a level 25 weapon however with all the same powers it had previously, all the priveledges it granted you before (the advanced weapons you quested for, etc)

Actually if we take that direction... an even BETTER question would be... What about all those weapon, clothing, tattoo, and jewelry quests that us level 40 mastered pirates did for 0 rep that we can not repeat now. Will we get the notoriety credited to us that we earned past the level 40? If not this is a TRUE loss, and could make it difficult or impossible for a pirate already maxed, to reach new max levels.

However, these questions are impossible to answer...

We cant even answer when we'll get the update...
What it entails is what dreams (perhaps nightmares for some) are made of.

Added: As far as pirate rankings. I doubt that will change. Level 40s are pirate masters now, next they could make it pirate lords, pirate kings, etc.

[JM Ohara]

Originally Posted by Dr. Zeppers

Just another example of what I was trying to say, pirates are never satisfied.


Added: As far as pirate rankings. I doubt that will change. Level 40s are pirate masters now, next they could make it pirate lords, pirate kings, etc.

I would say first that it's not really a question of not being satisfied. Having something you earned taken away just bites. Yes, the doing the quests for 0 rep also bites. But isn't that a choice based on the way you play the game? For example, Kat has done nearly all the side quests and gotten the rep for them. That's just the way I chose to play. For other pirates the choices are different. Giving post credit based on the way you play the game doesn't make sense to me. But then, I don't as yet have a Pirate Master, so I don't know how the way I played with Kat will change the way she levels at the end.

For reference, I have 6 pirates who have not even started the pearl quest. One is doing nothing at all but sword work. He has yet to even meet Elizabeth. One is working the Pearl Quest exclusively, no side quests of any kind, even weapons quests. One I'm going to max weapons on before I do anything else. One I'm setting on a healer track. I don't know how any of that will change the way I earn rep at higher levels. I do know this is the way I choose to play the game. If later that comes back to haunt me, so be it. It's the way I want to play.

As for the rank thing, I rather like that. Say then that if they raise the cap to 50 you're a Pirate Lord. At 60 a Pirate King, at 75, (may the game live that long) a Pirate Legend.

[Dr. Zeppers]

Well, your experience, is why alot of the newer pirates dont understand where the older pirates are coming from. For some of us, its not a matter of how you choose to play your pirate simply because 1/2 of the stuff you have at your disposal now wasnt available when we started the game. We didnt have the choices you have now.

Some perspective maybe.

We started a pirate, got to level 40, maxed weapons... wait for new content. (all we had were story quest, standard weapons and tp quests.. nothing else).
We started another pirate, got to level 40, maxed weapons... wait for new content.

Now anything these pirates do, is worth ZERO, even if it says 100 notoriety, we get ZERO.
(all we had were story quest, standard weapons and tp quests.. nothing else, not much 'choice' as to how to proceed, other than the speed at which you leveled your weapons).

They come out with new level 4 weapons quests (what you get when you hit level 15 weapon)! New Clothing quests, etc. (These were already available when you started, but not to us until AFTER we were maxed).
Wow, weve been bored! something new to do! We rush our level 40s out theyve been bored so long, and do those quests (all the notoriety for them is now wasted as we are already maxed).

We are now bored again, and start additional pirates.. and max them
and then another...

Wait! More weapons quests (lv5 weapons at weapon level 20)!

We rush our maxed pirates to continue to be busy and finish these quests (all the notoriety for them goes to waste).

OK.. now, lets say they raise the level cap to 50.

Make it so a new pirate, doing all these quests, being able to make all those choices, can get to level 50.

Will they add enough for the old pirates that did NOT have the choices of making their pirates the way they wanted to because of limited game content to make it to 50 also?
Once those quests are completed, the notoriety is wasted, and cannot be re-obtained by us once the cap is raised, unless they give us credit for it. Why shouldnt they? You'll in theory get credit for all of it (until you max). We did the work, shouldnt we get credit for it once the game cap allows it?

From my perspective... losing a title such as "mastered" is nothing, I dont see it as I earned a title, I see as I maxed my weapons, and thats the term applied to a maxed weapon. What I earned was weapon level 25.
Added: I wouldnt mind if they came up with an idea such as Hawke presented to represent the various levels of "mastery", it's just not that important to me, not really effecting the game play like a loss of EARNED points is. The point of never being satisfied wasnt directed at Hawke, its that we always want more, another facet to the updates, and thats ok, just gives them ALOT to work on.

Added: By the way, way back when? DxD used to reflect notoriety points earned past 40, and even notoriety levels (I heard there was a level 43 pirate on DxD). This was an indication to us back then, that we would still receive credit for these points later on, effecting what choices we COULD make. Then they changed DxD to no longer show this information, so now it becomes a valid question.. will we get credit for the work we've already done, that the game couldnt reflect due to notoriety cap.

[JM Ohara]

I keep forgetting just how new I am to the game. I see your point. And yes, I'd have to say that for older players the rep should be credited. That said any player who came after the quests, no.

I suppose in a way it's like pirate generations. I play with a lot of the old generation pirates. Players who know the game for what it once was, and for what it has become now. I stand in total awe of the older generation. I see what you have done, what you are, as something to aspire to. I have a 32 pirate now. Yet every day I am more amazed by those of you with the right to call yourselves Pirate Masters. I listen to the old generation, I try to learn from it. So many of you know more than I will ever forget about this game. And yet as part of the younger generation of pirates I see the game for what it is now. The only way I know of the game before is from bits and pieces gathered from the older players.

I hear the common lament that everything is for the new players. I don't know one way or another on that. I just know what I see. What I see is a game with a solid base to build on. I see subtle shifts just since I've started. Things moving, changing. I see this as the start, however small, of something massive off the horizon. Why get detailed about quest items, why move enemies, why raise enemy levels if something big wasn't coming? They're gearing up, and in my experience with D, when they get started massive changes tend to follow. The caves, I see this as the start of things to come. With the fourth movie (as far as I know) set in stone, they will want this game bigger and better for that release. They won't wait till the last minute. A change is coming. I've seen it before with D. It begins with subtlety...

[combatlizzy]

I agree with Hawke. my hat is off to those that have been here from the beginning. I learn from them everyday that I am on POTCO. Even though I have a Mastered pirate, I don't consider myself experienced. There is much to be learned from Founders. My Founder friends (esp Grizz & Truesilver) & my GM are still my mentors. As for the Notoriety subject, I just have one item that I think is worth mentioning....The Notoriety ring on a Master pirate continues to circulate from black to full red. Maybe, Disney is keeping track of our zero reps in some manner which will benefit Level 40's in the future.

[Charles Darkwolf]

Zep,

I believe you've said everything I've been thinking for a while now. The "Master" title means little to nothing to me now, and it wouldn't bother me in the least to lose it. I just want something meaningful to do again!!

It's to the point now, that if Disney made a statement saying that the only thing they'll give us for the rest of this year is, a cap raise to lvl 50 and a weapon cap of 30, I'd be satisfied with it. Honest and truly I would.

At least it would be better than the nothing I'm doing now!

[Commodore Larence]

I always figured if the caps were raised, we would still be considered "Pirate Masters" at level 40. Beyond level 40, say if the cap is 50 you are considered a "Pirate Lord" or something of that nature. I was hoping they would throw us a little special item or skill for hitting level 40 once the caps are changed. Now on weapons levels, I have no clue what can be done there. I would speculate possibly the skills would stay the same, but points earned beyond level 25 could be spent on more unique and special weapons... Example: One skill point beyond level 25 (lets call these master points for the example) will buy you a different style sword, pistol, or staff that has a little more damage and possibly is an odd unique color/design. Now you can spend this first master point on a weapon as soon as you get it, or save them all up for a very powerful and unique weapon. So at a special weapons shop, you could have the master weapons ranging in price from 1-5 master points to buy, and once you spend that point it is gone, you do not get to reassign them.

These are just my thoughts, it would be rather goofy to just let us add more skill points to skills, and just have all our skills full. It takes a bit of the strategy out of things.


Larence Tuppington

I never believe anything the "Game Masters" tell me....

[ex8404]

Originally Posted by Charles Darkwolf

Zep,

...I just want something meaningful to do again!!

It's to the point now, that if Disney made a statement saying that the only thing they'll give us for the rest of this year is, a cap raise to lvl 50 and a weapon cap of 30, I'd be satisfied with it. Honest and truly I would.

At least it would be better than the nothing I'm doing now!

I agree with you...to a point. I have all but abandoned my fully mastered pirate. It's a shame too because I actually miss using him. My newest pirate mastered a couple of months ago but is weak in some weapons categories. I spent too much time working on grenades I guess.

I also would take the raise in the level caps. But I also know that would mean a heck of a lot of mouse clicks to get to even 41. I plan on getting my next level 1 point at a time. 45,000 sand crabs....

Also...When the caps DO rise, do we get the points we have "in the bank?" I hit 40 but because I still have weapons to master my noto gauge has spun over twice. Does that mean I get a 2 level jump?

[Basil Dreadflint]

There are enough topics here to cover volumes.

Brief synopsis:
Does Disney keep track of a pirates advancement once they go past Noto 40?
Will they give those pirates credit for their accomplishments?

I remember when DxD used to carry info about pirates being above Noto 40. The highest I ever saw was 42. They stopped dong that around June last year.
I have also watched more than one of my pirate noto rings go fully around, and more than once. I place no stock in that.

So, if Disney raises the caps, how do they handle pirate levels above 40?
Well, then you have to discuss which weapons were used, how did that pirate get above level 40 to 41, 42 or even higher?
I would hate to find that my pirate is level 43 but his weapons are still all at 25.

Basil hit level 40 and still had a few weapons left. As he fully mastered his weapons, his Noto ring kept progressing, and eventually started over. (Level 41?)
Once he mastered his last weapon, I put him away.
He comes ingame for special occasions, Guild events, or when I'm bored.
He did do the level 4 weapons quests, and his Noto ring kept going around.(Level 42?)
I discussed this months ago, when the level 5 weapons, the clothing, the SvS island quests all came out, I refused to do them. As far as I'm concerned, the rep they would earn you is totally wasted.
I have saved everything that I could, some stuff for more than a year, just so that WHEN Disney raises the caps, I have some quests to do, and earn the rep that I deserve for the hard work.

Two thoughts here:

Some people would be very upset if they were to raise the Noto cap, say to 50, but that their pirate was immediately raised to level 43 because of all the stuff he/she has done since first hitting 40. These people would feel that the immediate jump to level 42 or 43 would mean that they have less to do before they max out a second time. The arguement would be valid.
Others would be extremely happy, since they could be the first to hit level 45. It all depends on a persons thought processes.

But, at the same time, Disney can't just raise the caps and NOT give people credit for things they have done since they mastered. It would be unfair to not give them credit for the level 5 weapons quests, the Clothing quests, etc. It would place them in an unfair situation since they can't go back and 're-earn' that rep.

I , like Hawke, have leveled each of my pirates differently. Not Uber pirates, but have played each one in a different manner. Basil completed the Pearl at level 25, then had to spend many long hours grinding weapons. Prob Mastered in only 9 weeks, by only attacking and getting MAX rep from each and every battle even when questing. Purvis didn't do any of the Pearl Quest. He barely made level 40 before mastering all weapons. Lars took his time and played more side games, Mastering just sorta happened. Now Moe is not doing Pearl, but is also just grinding weapons not really putting any pressure on getting mastered.

The "oldtimers" aren't just the Founders. There are a lot of pirates/players that reached level 40 before the level 4 or 5 weapons, and other, quests were released who DON'T wear the gold coin. The old methods of game play didn't give many options on how to level. Zep is correct in saying that those who mastered before July 08 had little choices, and then, from boredom, jumped on every little new item and completed it. If Disney didn't keep track, they could be in trouble. If the caps go to 50, and these pirates don't get any credit for the tasks they have completed since mastering, these old pirates may get left in the lurch.

I think Disney is going to have to compromise.
Those who are level 40, fully mastered all weapons, done with the Pearl, finished with all the "New" quests, (level 5 weapons, clothing, SvS, etc.), have to be given some sort of 'pro-rating' of points. If Disney hasn't thought of this, they had better. But, I wouldn't want to be the person responsible for making the decisions. With the number of people who play, any decision on who gets how much, and for what, is going to cause an uproar. No one is going to be totally happy. It cannot be based simply on # of enemies defeated, ships sunk, etc., since those are all dependent on size and class of the enemy. It also cannot be based simply on which tasks/quests are done either. No matter how this plays out, there is going to be many unhappy players and tons of discussion.

Let's just hope that we hear something, and soon, and that it is fair and equitable to all.

[Jack Sunskull]

What ever they do I will be happy either way?

[Jamesvsthekraken]

Aye i just hope they don't redesign a cave cause that would be weird -_- waiting all that time for something to be re-done