Is there any detriment for starting PvP without loot onboard
I'm just reading about the game as a newbie, and it seems like if you get jumped while carrying loot, there's all to lose, but nothing to gain.
I just want to clarify, does the aggressor have anything to lose, other than their time? Does the attacked player have anything to gain if they win instead of running away (other than experience?)
If not, shouldn't there be some detriment to starting and losing a PvP battle, even if you had no loot onboard?
You probably won't be attacked for no reason and the attacker will at least have an emissary flag which you can sell if you sink them + you can also get their resources. But it's true that the attacker doesn't really lose much and you're risking way more if you're carrying loot. Although if you dislike the PvP experience you can always play on a private server.
From what I'm reading, being attacked without reason is fairly typical.
Yes I know I can play PvE, but I was wondering why Rare didn't add at least some benefit to the target of PvP.
Sorta
There are definitely people that sail around dunking on every ship, but a lot of those types play hour glass now.
I’ve had quite a few very good experiences creating alliance servers just by being the one that’s willing to talk and make friends.
Isn't the server you join random? How do you make an alliance server?
By convincing the people you meet to raise an alliance flag of course!
Sometimes you have to be a little uh… cough aggressive in first negotiations
Ah, I don't know what an alliance flag is :)
In the crowe’s nest you can raise a flag that will offer an alliance to nearby ships. If they also join the alliance, you can see each other on the map, and receive I believe 50% of what alliance members sell.
Oh cool
PvP is its own reward, for the winner.
you mean, the experience itself?
Stomping noobs, yeah.
You sound kinda toxic, ngl
Product of the industry.
Generally starter supplies run out pretty quickly, especially on like a sloop.
So if someone immediately guns after you, all you have to do is out sail them for a while and they become combat ineffective. Then, they either:
A: sink
Or
B: have to go find more supplies, which takes even more of their time
I usually try to keep them alI’ve so they have to hobble away.
But realistically other than a serious lack of staying power, there is little downside to relentlessly hunting a ship every time you spawn in.
However, each time you sink you tend to spawn further and further away.
Edit: oh! If you sink an enemy ship fast enough you can also take whatever food/supplies they have. Again, if they have defaults it’s not even worth the time, but sometimes you sink someone that’s been doing a ton of fishing for example and now you have a lot of excellent pvp food
OK so basically the only detriment is time lost while hunting ye?
Yeah pretty much, and generally if a crew sinks you once or twice, you’re out skilled and they will sink you again.