Naval Action coming to Steam EA on the 21st......

[Nefaro]

As Glen mentioned, it's considered bad manners in MMOs to jump in on someone else's fight.  Unless they specifically called for help.

That was originally due to how xp & loot was rewarded for killing mobs.  In the past, it was often the person who got the final killing blow, so whomever had been whittling down the mob could get all his efforts nullified by someone who just jumped in out of nowhere and killed it later on. 

Some games have adjusted how the rewards are handled to ease this problem, such as splitting rewards or awarding the first player to hit the mob an exclusive right to awards for a specified time if they continue to fight it.  But none of that really changed the expected MMO etiquette.

I'm not sure how xp & such is reward in Naval Action.  I think it's split by some kind of percentage.  Whether that's directly related to damage done or shares.. dunno.  It's quite likely that the original attacker is losing rewards if you join in, though.


TL;DR :

It's fairly likely that you're reducing the original attacking player's rewards when joining their ongoing battle and attacking their target.  So keep that in mind.  That's the reason it's considered rude to attack other peoples' AI targets in MMOs when they're already engaged (unless they ask for help in chat).

[DennisS]

I am completely OK with someone jumping into my missions. The sooner they are killed, the sooner I can accept another mission and progress.

If you want to run solo, capture missions, then don't start them right outside of Charleston. Common sense.

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

If you could select your mission locations that'd be fine but as you cannot and as the AI usually assigns them right around your capital, you are stuck with asshats jumping in and screwing things up.  Of course, Murphy's Law always applies and on the occasions when you're getting pummeled and could use a hand, that's when nobody shows up.

[RedArgo]

I think he means go to a different port to get your missions assigned.  When I've gone south of Charleston down towards Florida, I hardly see anyone.  Actually, I one time I went north up to Wilmington I didn't see anyone at all.  Of course then if you capture stuff you've got to sail back to Charleston to do anything with it which could be time consuming, unless you set up an outpost in your new mission port, so there is that downside. 

In any case, although I don't mind people jumping in on my missions, I'll wait for a call or ask before I enter anyone else's from now on.  Don't want to ruffle any hard core players sails. :)

[SirAndrewD]

The mechanic in this game encourages people to jump in on missions.  I'm usually pleased when someone does, it makes the fight easier and faster and gives me opportunity to head back to port and get more Admiralty orders. 

I've saved a commanders here and there with coming in on their fights.  I've been saved as well. 

I've never heard anyone complain about coming in.  It's either been positive coordination or dead silence.

[SirAndrewD]

As Glen mentioned, it's considered bad manners in MMOs to jump in on someone else's fight.  Unless they specifically called for help.

That was originally due to how xp & loot was rewarded for killing mobs.  In the past, it was often the person who got the final killing blow, so whomever had been whittling down the mob could get all his efforts nullified by someone who just jumped in out of nowhere and killed it later on. 

Some games have adjusted how the rewards are handled to ease this problem, such as splitting rewards or awarding the first player to hit the mob an exclusive right to awards for a specified time if they continue to fight it.  But none of that really changed the expected MMO etiquette.

I'm not sure how xp & such is reward in Naval Action.  I think it's split by some kind of percentage.  Whether that's directly related to damage done or shares.. dunno.  It's quite likely that the original attacker is losing rewards if you join in, though.


TL;DR :

It's fairly likely that you're reducing the original attacking player's rewards when joining their ongoing battle and attacking their target.  So keep that in mind.  That's the reason it's considered rude to attack other peoples' AI targets in MMOs when they're already engaged (unless they ask for help in chat).

You are slightly reducing the original attacker's extra rewards, especially if the attacker wants a capture.

However, you do not reduce the reward the Admiralty offers for the mission, which is typically much in excess of whatever extra you might gain from a long one on one running battle, with the exception of a capture. 

The AI is decent enough in Naval action to actually make some one on one, or later two on one confrontations more than a near run thing.  Even with solid gunnery, just the wrong swell hitting or the right volley by an AI enemy can turn a winning fight into a losing one. 

I'd rather share some of my combat XP and money with a helpful friend than lose a fight because I got holed randomly by a ship half my size that had a good raking shot.

[MengJiao]

As Glen mentioned, it's considered bad manners in MMOs to jump in on someone else's fight.  Unless they specifically called for help.

That was originally due to how xp & loot was rewarded for killing mobs.  In the past, it was often the person who got the final killing blow, so whomever had been whittling down the mob could get all his efforts nullified by someone who just jumped in out of nowhere and killed it later on. 

Some games have adjusted how the rewards are handled to ease this problem, such as splitting rewards or awarding the first player to hit the mob an exclusive right to awards for a specified time if they continue to fight it.  But none of that really changed the expected MMO etiquette.

I'm not sure how xp & such is reward in Naval Action.  I think it's split by some kind of percentage.  Whether that's directly related to damage done or shares.. dunno.  It's quite likely that the original attacker is losing rewards if you join in, though.


TL;DR :

It's fairly likely that you're reducing the original attacking player's rewards when joining their ongoing battle and attacking their target.  So keep that in mind.  That's the reason it's considered rude to attack other peoples' AI targets in MMOs when they're already engaged (unless they ask for help in chat).

You are slightly reducing the original attacker's extra rewards, especially if the attacker wants a capture.

However, you do not reduce the reward the Admiralty offers for the mission, which is typically much in excess of whatever extra you might gain from a long one on one running battle, with the exception of a capture. 

The AI is decent enough in Naval action to actually make some one on one, or later two on one confrontations more than a near run thing.  Even with solid gunnery, just the wrong swell hitting or the right volley by an AI enemy can turn a winning fight into a losing one. 

I'd rather share some of my combat XP and money with a helpful friend than lose a fight because I got holed randomly by a ship half my size that had a good raking shot.

I figure most of the time, I'm doing a favor for the people whose fights I join.  For one thing, I check to see if they are in good shape.  If they are okay and the target is a mess, then I just leave.  Quite often I win the fight for them since I:

1) don't ram anything or anyone
2) don't shoot anyone but the enemy
3) can shoot and hit hard from at least twice the range of most players so I'm staying well out of everyone's way

So, nobody seems to mind at all when i join their fights

[RedArgo]

So a couple questions about capturing a ship I didn't see on the NA forum.

I've captured a few trader brigs with my brig.  They have had more cargo than my ship can carry, so I end up losing it.

What does send to Admiralty do?  I assume they give you some money.

There is an option for take command.  Does that let me keep the trader brig and all the cargo and sail it back to a port, while my capturing ship goes to an outpost?

I'm apprehensive to try some things, because I don't know if I'll get a warning before something bad happens.  Like maybe take command gives me control of the trader brig, but then my brig just disappears?

Thanks.

[glen55]

As Glen mentioned, it's considered bad manners in MMOs to jump in on someone else's fight.  Unless they specifically called for help.

That was originally due to how xp & loot was rewarded for killing mobs.  In the past, it was often the person who got the final killing blow, so whomever had been whittling down the mob could get all his efforts nullified by someone who just jumped in out of nowhere and killed it later on. 

Some games have adjusted how the rewards are handled to ease this problem, such as splitting rewards or awarding the first player to hit the mob an exclusive right to awards for a specified time if they continue to fight it.  But none of that really changed the expected MMO etiquette.

I'm not sure how xp & such is reward in Naval Action.  I think it's split by some kind of percentage.  Whether that's directly related to damage done or shares.. dunno.  It's quite likely that the original attacker is losing rewards if you join in, though.


TL;DR :

It's fairly likely that you're reducing the original attacking player's rewards when joining their ongoing battle and attacking their target.  So keep that in mind.  That's the reason it's considered rude to attack other peoples' AI targets in MMOs when they're already engaged (unless they ask for help in chat).

You are slightly reducing the original attacker's extra rewards, especially if the attacker wants a capture.

However, you do not reduce the reward the Admiralty offers for the mission, which is typically much in excess of whatever extra you might gain from a long one on one running battle, with the exception of a capture. 

The AI is decent enough in Naval action to actually make some one on one, or later two on one confrontations more than a near run thing.  Even with solid gunnery, just the wrong swell hitting or the right volley by an AI enemy can turn a winning fight into a losing one. 

I'd rather share some of my combat XP and money with a helpful friend than lose a fight because I got holed randomly by a ship half my size that had a good raking shot.

I figure most of the time, I'm doing a favor for the people whose fights I join.  For one thing, I check to see if they are in good shape.  If they are okay and the target is a mess, then I just leave.  Quite often I win the fight for them since I:

1) don't ram anything or anyone
2) don't shoot anyone but the enemy
3) can shoot and hit hard from at least twice the range of most players so I'm staying well out of everyone's way

So, nobody seems to mind at all when i join their fights

I think the "check to see if they are in good shape" part is key.  Nobody minds you jumping in when they're getting wasted by the AI!

[Nefaro]

You are slightly reducing the original attacker's extra rewards, especially if the attacker wants a capture.

However, you do not reduce the reward the Admiralty offers for the mission, which is typically much in excess of whatever extra you might gain from a long one on one running battle, with the exception of a capture. 

The AI is decent enough in Naval action to actually make some one on one, or later two on one confrontations more than a near run thing.  Even with solid gunnery, just the wrong swell hitting or the right volley by an AI enemy can turn a winning fight into a losing one. 

I'd rather share some of my combat XP and money with a helpful friend than lose a fight because I got holed randomly by a ship half my size that had a good raking shot.

Good info to know.   O0


It may not be quite as bad as other MMOs.  Other than the cases where one person is trying to board & capture while the others are just destroying it.  Which could be solved by some communication.

[MengJiao]

You are slightly reducing the original attacker's extra rewards, especially if the attacker wants a capture.

However, you do not reduce the reward the Admiralty offers for the mission, which is typically much in excess of whatever extra you might gain from a long one on one running battle, with the exception of a capture. 

The AI is decent enough in Naval action to actually make some one on one, or later two on one confrontations more than a near run thing.  Even with solid gunnery, just the wrong swell hitting or the right volley by an AI enemy can turn a winning fight into a losing one. 

I'd rather share some of my combat XP and money with a helpful friend than lose a fight because I got holed randomly by a ship half my size that had a good raking shot.

Good info to know.   O0


It may not be quite as bad as other MMOs.  Other than the cases where one person is trying to board & capture while the others are just destroying it.  Which could be solved by some communication.

Patch 9.63 just removed the option of entering a mission if you aren't grouped with its owner.  Enemies can still enter, but you can't get any help once you are in your mission except from your group.  Group bonuses are up so maybe people will group?  I'll group.  It was fun when it was relatively common last week.

[Nefaro]

I still haven't even started since the open beta launch.  Spread too thin. 

[SirAndrewD]

You are slightly reducing the original attacker's extra rewards, especially if the attacker wants a capture.

However, you do not reduce the reward the Admiralty offers for the mission, which is typically much in excess of whatever extra you might gain from a long one on one running battle, with the exception of a capture. 

The AI is decent enough in Naval action to actually make some one on one, or later two on one confrontations more than a near run thing.  Even with solid gunnery, just the wrong swell hitting or the right volley by an AI enemy can turn a winning fight into a losing one. 

I'd rather share some of my combat XP and money with a helpful friend than lose a fight because I got holed randomly by a ship half my size that had a good raking shot.

Good info to know.   O0


It may not be quite as bad as other MMOs.  Other than the cases where one person is trying to board & capture while the others are just destroying it.  Which could be solved by some communication.

Patch 9.63 just removed the option of entering a mission if you aren't grouped with its owner.  Enemies can still enter, but you can't get any help once you are in your mission except from your group.  Group bonuses are up so maybe people will group?  I'll group.  It was fun when it was relatively common last week.

Yeah, the argument is moot now I guess. 

It seems a bit of an overreaction to me, but I actually liked people freely joining my fights.  Made a couple of friends that way since I'm pretty communicative. 

I think the better solution would be to allow players to open or close their own fights or even put a requesting help flag up.  Game's still in the process of growing into its skin, so maybe they'll consider it.

[Nefaro]

Agreed. I think being able to toggle your battle as Open for the first five minutes would be the best solution.  Make a proper Reinforce button, huh?

[SirAndrewD]

Agreed. I think being able to toggle your battle as Open for the first five minutes would be the best solution.  Make a proper Reinforce button, huh?

Indeed. 

To be fair, the reinforcement button works, but only for Nation vs. Enemy combat.  I wasn't aware of it until this blow up apparently hit the steam forums, but apparently you can warp people into your battle only when it's something like a British commander attacking French.

I've only been in three battles against the French, so that was something I hadn't really experienced. 

Apparently, the devs said that having open participation in missions led to griefing.  Not something I experienced, but they said very directly on Steam that the griefing was "out of control" so they just removed the ability right off. 

It also seems though that most people are requesting an ability to close battles, so that's positive.  Since I never got griefed I really felt like it was a positive and interesting feature.  I'm not one that spams "LFG" requests in chat in an MMO, and just enjoyed being surprised by a friendly popping up for a battle.  I had an unfortunate collision or two with human players, rarely caused by myself, but it was essentially just a "oh well, it happens" kind of thing. 

If anyone had ever chatted to me and asked me to leave a fight I would've.  Never had one single, solitary instance of that happening.