A Suggestion To D

[Dr. Zeppers]

In a sense however, the levels themselves are the incentives... each one as we keep plugging along. Ive seen other games do it. Might be neat, but not what id consider a necessary addition.

[Sarah]

I"m just happy to have more to do soon, couldn't care less about a "title". I see where it would be nice to have different levels, but it's not on the top of my list of POTCO additions

[Sven Niscadae]

Originally Posted by TheHawke

Future caps could have different names so that rather than changing an entire huge list of things all you'd need to do was add.

Actually I don't think they'd have to change a huge list. They just redefined what a Pirate Master is. When the game checks what notoriety your pirate is, it sees you're a 40 then it probably adjusts your game for being a Master. They're just changing that 40 to a 50. Hopefully they'd use such a relational model for record keeping so they shouldn't need to update every single pirate record out there.

Originally Posted by TheHawke

All those endless repetitive hours stretching out farther and farther in front of me, it makes me wonder what the point is.

Which is why I don't like to play the game to grind just to make it to the next level. I just play and level up when it happens.

Originally Posted by TheHawke

I would have thought that those of you who reached that mark would be those who wanted most to keep it. Maybe being a Pirate Master doesn't mean as much when you get there?

I have one notoriety 40 pirate after my 1.25 years of playing. I don't even refer to Sven as a "Pirate Master". To me, it really doesn't mean anything except that I've reached his limit of notoriety. I don't see it any more special than that. I mean, there's a heck of a lot of "Pirate Masters" out there. I just don't see it as that special.

Originally Posted by TheHawke

Being able to still say Pirate Master at 40 would have given at least some measure of accomplishment for all those endless hours.

That number "40" is a measure of accomplishment. Actually, the one person who sees the words "Pirate Master" is the person playing that pirate. It's not even under our names above our heads (thankfully). The player [and friends] knows what he or she has accomplished in the game.

When they take away big Sven's Pirate Master title, I won't mind a bit. Just means I can finally get more rep for my favorite skills. But I'm in no hurry to reach notoriety 50, just like I was in no hurry to be a 40.

[Bubba Bunny x]

I dont mind the whole upgrade, I like the new upgrade because many people have been screaming out that there is nothing to do once they reach level 40. So with the new upgrades, we now having something fun to do and this will bring back players that have lost interest.

[toanuju22]

Originally Posted by Dr. Zeppers

I understood what you meant Hawke, I think.

I think the idea would be something like implementing some different official "titles" for levels of notoriety achieved.

Maybe something like:

level 1 - Land lubber
level 5 - Scoundrel
level 10 - Scurvy Pirate
level 20 - Pirate
level 30 - Voodoo Pirate
level 40 - Pirate Master
level 50 - Pirate Lord
level 60 - Pirate King
level 70 - Pirate Legend

Giving pirates additional goals to work towards as they continue to play. Added 'incentives' if you will.

That list sounds very similar to the Tradewinds and Tradewinds Ledgends.
You would start from a low rank something like swabby I think it was and would
slowly move your way up the "Food Chain"
From Sultan to Legend and so on.

I just would like the game to finish at lvl60 and weapons at lvl40 or lvl45
,no more lvls, after all we are but only humble pirates.

So , lets leave the part of being "Pirate Lords" to the actual pirate lords,
like Ammand, Jack , Barbossa, and Jochard.

[Bubba Bunny x]

I think that wont happen untill another year or so, cause if it took disney a year just to get this far.... well....

[Lady Freckles]

Originally Posted by Zilly

Strangely enough, I actually enjoy grinding weapons. It's kind of satisfying. I look forward to having a reason to play my mastered pirate again.

I actually enjoy it too. One of the things I always enjoyed about TT was the gag building and the challenge to earn as many points as you could in each battle. Guess that's carried over to POTCO too.

[Jade Dreadbones]

Thank you Hawke for eloquently stating my fears too... I've been playing about 2 months and have that Master level 40 as my target... a kind of raison d'etre when it seems like forever until the next level... I really liked yours and Zeppers suggestions regarding different titles at pivotal levels.

There are some days where I could hack and slash all day, then others when the thought of how much time it will take to get to level 40 almost does me in. Now to have to go to 50 without that stop off at Mastering... sigh...

[BigJohn]

50-50 on this, part of me says yeah more higher level enemies, another level to aim for. But also at same time, after playing for almost 2years now and due to work, studying, etc my 1 only Pirate is only at level 36, yet to master some weapons. So I'm kinda disappointed not to reach the master status! yet still have to slash, cut and thust more weapons to master them as well! I mean ugh all that work, then someone shifts the goalposts!! Ah well, I like a good fight anyway!

[JM Ohara]

For all of you old guard players out there. I have a great and undying respect for the efforts you all went through to get your first 40s, some of you when it was way harder than now. But I ask you this.

Imagine being a semi new player, someone who has never yet reached a level 40 and has just barely gotten into that last 10 levels to go. The end is finally in sight, and you have just started mastering the first of your weapons. Dunno if you remember that giddy high of the very first time you master your very first weapon, and what that meant at the time. Now imagine that just after you hit striking range of finally, finally finishing a pirate.... They yank the rug out from under you. No, now you have 10 more levels to go on top of your less than 10, now you're the equivalent of being shoved back down to the 20's again. Now another 15 or so endless levels stretch in front of you again. You think, well, maybe we will still get to be Master at 40 and something else at 50. Cause hey, at all the other 10 level marks something happens. But this time, no. You got within striking range after long weeks and maybe months of work, and now all you have to look forward to is more long weeks and months to go.

That is what we never mastered players are sitting on. That's what we have to look forward to. Yes, some of you have waited over a year to bring back your old pirates, your very first 40s. How amazing is that? We don't ever get to see it that way. We don't ever get the chance to say, I made a Pirate Master, and now I get to play him/her at last! I know a lot of you have said it's just a name. That you won't mind giving it up at all. But to those of us who never got the chance to be a Master at 40, that was like out Holy Grail. An now it's gone. Shifted into oblivion.

I don't for a heartbeat regret them finally at last upping the cap for you guys. I'm GLAD they did it. Had I been an older player maybe I would feel just like you do. Maybe then all that would matter is the right to play your long neglected pirates again. All I'm asking is for D to give us, the never mastereds a chance to be one at the place you were, and you, the old Pirate Masters, a whole new title to strive for. That's it. Is it really so much to ask for?

[Sven Niscadae]

We do see what you're saying and where you're coming from. Doubtful that D is going to implement something like that in the near future, the only thing I can advise is that if you really want to experience being a "Pirate Master" at Notoriety 40, just go do it. I mean, go full-bore. Drive yourself to hit notoriety 40 before they release the new updates to Open.

Other than that, I don't really know. Play the game how you like. Honestly when I was two months into the game, mastering wasn't on my big list of things to accomplish. It still isn't.

[JM Ohara]

Originally Posted by Sven Niscadae

Doubtful that D is going to implement something like that in the near future, the only thing I can advise is that if you really want to experience being a "Pirate Master" at Notoriety 40, just go do it. I mean, go full-bore. Drive yourself to hit notoriety 40 before they release the new updates to Open.

Uh, is 5 notoriety levels and some 30 weapons levels even possible in a matter of days? Even if it is I'm not killing myself for it.

[Sven Osymthe]

It is possible, but given that its 5 levels, and 30 or so weapon levels... it might be a challenge.

[Sven Niscadae]

Originally Posted by TheHawke

Uh, is 5 notoriety levels and some 30 weapons levels even possible in a matter of days? Even if it is I'm not killing myself for it.

I thought you were just talking about notoriety, not a Full Mastering. Good gosh that'd be crazy. Hitting just notoriety 40 to get the "Pirate Master" title for a while should be well within range without sensory deprivation.

[Dr. Zeppers]

Originally Posted by TheHawke

Uh, is 5 notoriety levels and some 30 weapons levels even possible in a matter of days? Even if it is I'm not killing myself for it.

Nor would I, however some would.
Some are working feverishly to master on Test, a feat im in no hurry for.

I had put my 2 cents in, on how a title system could be implemented, however had in retrospect thought it really wasnt that big a deal to me. I see your point however Hawke, so it would definately be nice to have at least the notoriety titles accordingly. Unfortunately its not likely something to be seen soon, not as soon as these updates are likely to hit open. With good company of friends those vast gaps of reps will be surpassed.