Stowaways, part deux

[Bilgepump]

I sent in a bug report the other day, basically suggesting that people shouldn't be able to "Go To" another player unless that player is in your crew, a friend, or a guildmate.

I outlined why, explaining that griefers are using this ability to jump on peoples' ships and cause havoc.

I also mentioned that I let my young daughter play the game, and that I really didn't like the idea that some social reject could use this to ruin her gameplay, just because that's how they get their kicks.

It may have been that last bit, but I got a response within 24 hours.

They said they're aware of the "Go To" issue and are working to resolve it.

So yay!

[Captain jonessparrow]

Cool im gonna send in a bug report to do with npp that heal you sometimes the whole game stops working when yo utry and heal it stops and you just seee the character all the time

[another pirate]

Hooray.

Will probably take them forever but at least it is something to look forward too.

[Chris]

yay maybe if enough of us complain then we can have a pirate revolution and we over throw the producers and take over the game ourselves i rarther doubt it but this is a start .....

[Thrawn33]

I'd just be happy with a dialog box opening up asking you if you want to allow so and so to join you on your ship. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

[Angel]

I just had 2 punks tell me off cause I asked them to leave my ship. This needs to be addressed!!!

[Raven Night]

This is what I suggested in my "changes" thread.

- The ability to grant someone the title of "Stowaway" or "Deckhand" on your ship should be added, as well as a "Walk the Plank" vote to get them off your ship.

Its very simple...if you are not a member of a crew you should not get a share of the loot. You also should only get XP for the damage you actually do.

If someone TP over to your ship or to you, and they are not a member of your crew, you can brand them with the title "stowaway" which they keep for 15 minutes. It is displayed over their head like "looking for crew". You can only tag players that are not part of your crew but are present on your ship as stowaways. When you do this, they do not earn any XP other than the actual damage they do, and they do not get a share of the loot. Since the tag remains over thier head for 15 minutes they will have trouble getting on another ship.

This will discourage the practice.

You can also ban someone from using the guns or taking the helm by using the "deckhand" title, or you can boot someone alltogether from your ship by initiating a "Walk the Plank" vote.

This is how the interface would work.

You click on the person and additional options show up if you own the ship.

Stowaway
Deckhand
Walk the Plank

1) As a Stowaway they get no XP except what damage they do, and get no loot as well as the other effects explained above. This tag persists for 15 minutes, even in port. This tag cannot be given to anyone that is on your crew, nor can it be given anywhere except when on your ship.

2) As a Deckhand, they cannot mount the guns or the helm for as long as they remain on the ship. They will still get XP and the loot share. This tag is removed when the player makes port.

3) If you choose Walk the Plank, a vote is started to kick the player off the ship. All crewmembers vote on it. All crew would have to vote yes, and then person would have to "walk the plank" so to speak. When the player is kicked, he goes back to his port of call, and has the jail debuff (but is not in jail of course). The problem with the current system is that you have to invite the player to the crew again to get the removal prompt. This is too time intensive, especially in a difficult battle.

[Sarah]

Originally Posted by Bilgepump

I sent in a bug report the other day, basically suggesting that people shouldn't be able to "Go To" another player unless that player is in your crew, a friend, or a guildmate.

I outlined why, explaining that griefers are using this ability to jump on peoples' ships and cause havoc.

I also mentioned that I let my young daughter play the game, and that I really didn't like the idea that some social reject could use this to ruin her gameplay, just because that's how they get their kicks.

It may have been that last bit, but I got a response within 24 hours.

They said they're aware of the "Go To" issue and are working to resolve it.

So yay!

Good Idea, I will have to send the same.

I had my first stowaway yesterday. Total pain in the rump. I saild to the end of the ocean, and there we sat...and sat...and sat. So i clicked on his pirate, and hit the report button, not sure what good that will do, and i told him, "I'm reporting you now" He laughed (silly emote) Dude would not go away. So I stranded him on Tormenta. heehee. But it irks me that he still got a share of my loot.

[CaptainMonkeys]

Well here's another problem: The Chain Reaction

If someone of your friends boards your ship, they can cause a chain reaction to one of their friends going to your ship.

[Chakravanti]

Agreed. Also along these lines...

One may click on one's cargo to see a list of cargo. one SHOULD also be able to click on 'shipmates' and have a clickable list appear. It'd make it REAL easy to use the above suggested commands (That love and fully support!). Or to crew WELCOMED new arrivals while mid battle without having to swing the camera around to find them while losing track of the battle.

[Chakravanti]

Originally Posted by Sarah

Good Idea, I will have to send the same.

I had my first stowaway yesterday. Total pain in the rump. I saild to the end of the ocean, and there we sat...and sat...and sat. So i clicked on his pirate, and hit the report button, not sure what good that will do, and i told him, "I'm reporting you now" He laughed (silly emote) Dude would not go away. So I stranded him on Tormenta. heehee. But it irks me that he still got a share of my loot.

I saw a star trek voyager episode recently when Captain Janeway threated some stowaway aliens, that were invisable and preforming harmful tests on the crew, with mutual anniahlation by flying the ship into a binary star because she had no alternative to getting rid of them. This does TWO things....Removes their comands relative to your charecter from their screen by sending them to jail and doesn't let them share your loot =D This way they can't telly to you like when you land and are standing next to them and they can just click on you again and jump ship right back with you.

[Angel]

Downfall on that is if u have a good loot and u lose it all plus u have to repair ur sunkin ship. Jeapordizing the rest of ur crew.

[Rose Darkpaine]

I think the best way to solve this is to have an admit/ban list for your ship. If you make someone crew... they are automatically on your admit list. This should also make it that their friends cannot tp to them while crew on a ship. Im tired of seeing the stowaways running the stairs and doing nothing. Anyone misbehaves... they walk the plank.

[Maximvs]

All I know is beginning last week - I sent a message to Disney saying that I would report all hijackers as Bad or Rude behavoir.. .and they sent a message back saying my decision was acceptable... since then it has be GAME ON!

Until they fix this issue (however the method by allowing extra options, or just by fixing the bug) - all hijackers on my boats are being reported today...

One guy before he hijacked told me to go to h*** - though I didnt know why until he was on board - he was unregistered and underaged so his Local Text was not being seen by anyone (he probably said a bunch of stuff before boarding - but once again these people do not know adults do not see their text - they should read something) - but H*** comes through fine?!? then he hijacked - then I booted him.

Seven times so far today... four differnt servers... they better do something about it I hate doing it - but if I do it enough and enough hijackers get banned then maybe they will get the message... I would just love a 'kick you off' button and send them back to their port...

[Stormrunner]

I'm with you all at being disgusted with the Stowaway problem. It has gotten so bad that I've taken to sailing my War Ships sparingly -- and then only on Quiet Oceans.

Several weeks ago, after the third (or was it fourth?) hijack attempt, I actually phoned the Disney support number to voice a complaint.

The woman who answered was nice enough, but she sorta laughed and said something like "maybe that behavior is just part of being a pirate."

NO, I said. Instead, I found it unacceptable that PAYING members were having their ships hijacked and gameplay disturbed by (primarily, though not exclusively) NON-PAYING gamers.

Well, as soon as you mention $$$, Disney listens. The service rep immediately said she would make note and report my complaint to TPTB.

Here's hoping that all our complaints do some good soon.