Avoid the Black Pearl questline or all quests?

[Walker De Plank]

Sorry if this question has been asked but I've been reading some posts and some replies are confusing. Some posts say to avoid the black pearl questline so that you can level up your weapon skills. Other replies don't mention specifically the black pearl and just state, "avoid questing."

My question is should you avoid all quests besides weapon and teleport quests until you have a comfortable notority to weaponskill ratio with all of your weapons?

I believe I'm only notority level 7 with all my skills between level 3 and 4. I've done some side quests but not many of them and stopped at like 1% of the black pearl questline. Should I stop doing side quests until I raise my weaponskills? What's a good notority to weaponskill ratio?

Sorry for all the questions. I just don't want to mess up and have to reroll my character because of the slightest error. I'm just trying to get as much info before I dive head first into this game.

Thank you for any help!

[Dr. Zeppers]

You will likely get some varied responses here, I will try to explain so that you can make your own decision as you progress your pirate.

Quests of all types (other than a few minor 'fortune/gold' quests) reward Notoriety for each of the various tasks as they are achieved. This includes the story quest, as well as the tattoo, jewelry, and now also clothing quests.
The points awarded for quest tasks/achievements remains the same ALWAYS, and never diminishs.

Using weapons rewards the pirate with both "weapon points" for leveling your weapons, and is also rewarded the equivalent in Notoriety points as they do so. Unlike Quest rewards, weapons rewards are tied to the pirates level, the enemies level, and the number of attacks you are able to wield before defeating the enemy. The higher your Notoriety level, the lower the number of points rewarded for both weapons, and notoriety will be.

Noting the two phrases in green, many pirates have found it an advantage to concentrate on building thier weapons points, advancing thier weapons and taking what notoriety is given in this process, and leaving the quests, and thier points for later (as thier value never diminishs).

Most more experienced pirates will recommend a balance of the two. It's no fun grinding weapons constantly, and its not fun trying to grind them out/master them after the quests are all finished either (and its harder with all the additonal notoriety you've gotten from the quests).

My best pirate, I left the story quest alone, concentrated on weapons, teleport quests, and weapons quests as they became available, and I avoided the story quest. I did some of the tattoo, and jewelry quests to break the weapon leveling monotony. Now I have a level 38 pirate with all weapons/skills over level 20, full war fleet, etc, and since I have started the story quest now, im at around 55% of it still (and already level 38) (many finish the story quest at/around level 25ish.. a bit early).

[Chris]

Avodie BP quest and other minor quests that rewards noto.

However DO the weapon quests and treausre and tp quests when you get them

[Sarah]

Everyone has an opinion on this.

My question is should you avoid all quests besides weapon and teleport quests until you have a comfortable notority to weaponskill ratio with all of your weapons?

I didn't do this on my first pirate, and IMO, this was a mistake. It's a heck of a lot harder to master a weapon when your nort. get's really high. Sarah is never going to max grenades....and I'm ok with that. I'm not wasting my time on it.

Things got better with Anne. Kept all the weapons pretty even. Got nades up to 22 asap (working KH, and only KH for a couple of sessions, not so boring with a friend) Fell behind on sailing though...not a problem, always need some gold. Didn't start the pearl quest on Anne till Lev 25 or so. Mastered (lev 40) taking the pearl back. That was fun

Now, for Mary and Elizabeth, I've learned my lesson. Not doing anything but weapons and TP quests till Staff is aquired. Keeping all my weapon stats as even as possible (including sailing and cannons). Not spending skill points also helps keep your kill points high. I unlock a skill, then leave it alone. There are a few passive skills that i add extra to, but the skills that do damage, keep as low as possible.

Also, look out on the clothing quests. You can get upwards of 25k in rep betewwn the three of them. I'm hoping that the big D will raise the nort cap and will use those quests for that. One can hope...

Side quests that are for gold are cool by me, they don't give out extra nort, and you gain some weapon points while you're at it. Also gives you something to hunt for, instead of just grinding weapons.

That's my take.

...hope that made sense

Next?

[Walker De Plank]

Thanks for the quick replies. I'm coming off of playing WoW for about a year or 2 (2 level 70s under my belt) where I'm used to looking for quests for the best way of leveling.

Should I be all set with where I am right now or should I reroll and just not do any of the quests and just level up again through gaining the notority from raising my weapons?

I'm hoping I should be fine because the time it takes to redesign my character and start over, I can just make up for it by grinding out weapon skills for a couple of levels. Plus, I'm probably gonna get bored every once in a while and have to do a couple of quests here and there.

Thanks again for the help.

I know this is off topic but if anyone can point me in the direction of a fairly friendly guild with ventrilo, I'd greatly appreciate it. If you'd rather send me a message on here directing me to a website to apply at or just send me a tell in game, my name is the same as my name on here "Walker De Plank". And again, thank you.

[Sarah]

As for that off topic question, check out the guild forums here, and you'll probably find one that fits. As for those that use vent, not a clue.

Back to your regurarly scheduled thread........

[Dr. Zeppers]

The only real way to 'mess up' a pirate would be to hastily apply skill points that cannot be changed in the future. Recommend never applying 'extra' skill points, until you master the particular weapon/skill involved (it will make leveling that weapon easier).
( I apply one to each skill as it becomes available, just to have it, and save all additional points for later)

Keep your weapons levels somewhat balanced, work on leveling them, most recommend leaving the story quest alone (although its often what draws a number of us to the game at first, probably why we all learn the lesson on pirate #1 hehe). Do any weapons and teleport quests as the become available. It will be easier to do the quests when the time comes with a strong pirate with more powerful weapons as well.

As for the guild/vent question, id have to side with Sarah

[MacIronhawk]

Don't avoid them completely. Go back and forth but train your weapons more than doing quests.
I've made my big mistake on my first pirate, James Ironhawk and it was my biggest mistake.
My grenades are level 13 and my nort is 38.
Sarah does that mean I wont be able to master my grenades?
If so then it looks like i'm stuck waiting liek you.
I've noticed that at the most I get 25 rep from any enemy using my grenades.
I'm guessing if I wait a few levels it wont be long until I get little to no rep.
At least I can master my other weapons.
My Staff is 17 and i'm working on it a lot and my Dagger is level 19.
Only one more level on sailing and level 18 on cannon.(which I hardly ever get to use)
I wish POTCO would make it so we could master that weapon even though are nort is so high.
But of course the nort will have to be raised.
If it isn't then what does that mean? Being stuck at level forty when we should be at level 45.

[Sarah]

Mac, you can still master grenades, it can be done, I'm just not bothering. Gives me a wicked headache. (and what's really sad...I'm darn good at grenades, suprising, I Know. Can't aim a cannon to save my life, but I can toss a good rock) Having grenades at lev 13 with a pirate at 38 though...that's going to be tough, and time consuming. Suprised you're still getting 25 rep off of them. Whatever you decide to do, best of luck

[MacIronhawk]

Originally Posted by Sarah

Mac, you can still master grenades, it can be done, I'm just not bothering. Gives me a wicked headache. (and what's really sad...I'm darn good at grenades, suprising, I Know. Can't aim a cannon to save my life, but I can toss a good rock) Having grenades at lev 13 with a pirate at 38 though...that's going to be tough, and time consuming. Suprised you're still getting 25 rep off of them. Whatever you decide to do, best of luck

Oh I see.
I don't plan on mastering my grenades.
I only started them because I noticed I got more hP from leveling it them up.
Maybe to level 17.
When i'm with a crew I can get 40 rep off level 40 enemies.
Now taht i'm on the subject of weapons.
Like toontown do you think pirates will ever make it so we will need to choose one weapon we'll never get?
Just a thought.

[Dr. Zeppers]

Originally Posted by MacIronhawk

My grenades are level 13 and my nort is 38.
Sarah does that mean I wont be able to master my grenades?

Mac, you can still master them, however it will be alot harder. As you get higher and higher level of grenades, the points you will get will get smaller and smaller. Could prove difficult, and time consuming, but still 'possible'.

Originally Posted by MacIronhawk

I wish POTCO would make it so we could master that weapon even though are nort is so high.
But of course the nort will have to be raised.
If it isn't then what does that mean? Being stuck at level forty when we should be at level 45.

Raising notoriety would not change the issue with leveling of weapons, it would probably make it worse as people quest into yet higher notorieties and have even a harder time getting thier weapons points. But I do want the notoriety cap lifted.. hehe

[MacIronhawk]

Originally Posted by OFxZeppers

Mac, you can still master them, however it will be alot harder. As you get higher and higher level of grenades, the points you will get will get smaller and smaller. Could prove difficult, and time consuming, but still 'possible'.



Raising notoriety would not change the issue with leveling of weapons, it would probably make it worse as people quest into yet higher notorieties and have even a harder time getting thier weapons points. But I do want the notoriety cap lifted.. hehe

I'm sure, though, that if we had higher level enemies then it would be easier.
They can't raise the cap without the enemy level.
Well they can but that would be weird. We want higher level enemies if the cap goes up. At least i'm sure most of us would want higher level enemies if the cap went up.

[Swash]

I reccomend doing a combination of the two Example: lv weapons for 1 hour then quest for 1 hour it might work.

[Diego Birmingham]

While it sounds nice to have a pirate of high notoriety with sailing and all weapons mastered, or at least high level and balanced, if doing this seems like a chore--don't. POTCO is a ***GAME*** something done for *FUN*. If grenades, for example, aren't fun, don't feel like you HAVE to work on them. Do what you like to do, but to find that out you need to sample all that the game has to offer.

I just hit level 30 after playing since January or February and most of my friends who stated playing at the same time hit that level a long time ago. They mostly don't play anymore now. I have only played the one pirate I started with. My sword, doll, and pistol are decent levels but grenades suck and daggar is weak. I get along fine without them. I used to hate to sail but once I got a regular galleon that changed. I mostly had to sail alone and of course got sunk easily but I gradually worked my way up. I now sail a war galleon that can handle most any enemy that comes a long. My cannon still sucks as I never get a chance to use them. I love sailing now.

I know my approach to the game is different than 90% or better of other players, but I am still playing almost every day where my friends have quit months ago, and I am having fun. Find your own balance, but keep fun at the top of your list. If you "screw up" a pirate, start a new one!

[Edward Edgemenace]

Like everyone else, my first pirate I rushed through the black pearl quest. Every subsequent pirate, I avoided the BP quest until they were at least in their mid 20s.

I found that doing EVERY possible side quest (many of which repeat) was very beneficial, during the level up phases. Boredom quickly sets in, otherwise. Mercenary quests, Bartholemew Watkins quests, shipwright quests, tattoo parlor quests, tailor quests, jewelry store quests, gypsies quests, Black Mack poker quest, blacksmith quest, skeleton infestation quest from Orinda, SvS quests, PR crime wave. By the time all of those are done, my pirate was high enough to do level-up stuff on all weapons without getting blasted.

On my fully-mastered pirate, I still do the mercenary quests and the Black MacK poker quests.