PotBS to go F2P

[Tapja]

More (or well, not exactly) info can be found here http://www.burningsea.com/page/news/article&article_id=271036

[DarthS]

Is it still a ganky mess of dull and gank, or have they fixed that yet?

[Ludicrouse]

Colour me interested...

[Hovis]

Is it still a ganky mess of dull and gank, or have they fixed that yet?

Good groups don't get ganked, solo ships still do sometimes, but that was how it always was.

They launched an update today and there have been a few changes to how things used to be:

1. First and second rates are gone. Finito. Largest ships in the game are now 3rd rates or thereabouts.

2. Refits and so forth brought more into line with the standard ships, so there's less need to get an elite boat for PvP. Lot of people fighting now in standard ships.

3. Skills rejigged, but frankly I've been out of action so long I couldn't say what they were rejigged from, much less what they've been rejigged to. That said it's as near to a clean slate for a restart as anybody is likely to find, what with everybody being a narb.

4. The game still has a functional RvR population, players drifting in and out over the years. The game, as intended, is still there. All the nations can field a strong first 24 for port battles.

Some of the old Renegade Legion faces are still playing but I think most are currently in a Pirate clan called Plague. I think I'm in there actually as I resubbed a couple of weeks back. Really couldn't be arsed to start from scratch though, so waiting for my droogies to come back to Spain.

[DannyBoy]

I sailed with you when it was first released, intrested in playing again now its F2P :)

[Hovis]

If you hoot on the national chat channels or the forum you'll be able to find whatever is left of the crew. I don't think the PotBS mob use forums or owt, as there's no real need for it.

[DarthS]

Good groups don't get ganked, solo ships still do sometimes, but that was how it always was.

Wasn't that always its problem?

[Hovis]

Wasn't that always its problem?

No, because if you sail solo into a red zone you're supposed to get ganked. Can't complain too much about it. Besides the number of times guys like Percy or Goody single handedly murdered gank teams balances out the karma.

[MiMaRz]

So whats the verdict of the game in its current state?

[Hovis]

So whats the verdict of the game in its current state?

It's got a functional player base and it's pretty fun. Levelling takes a few days or so if you've got the patience for a heavy bit of graft, assembling the few items that a level 50 PvPer needs takes a day or so longer.

It is, as you'd expect, about the best it has ever been in terms of the game itself, but as with anything the years add up, it does look and feel a bit dated. I dunno though, I mean it lacks the truly massive scale it had in the early days, but if you're looking for hardcore team PvP it's still about as good as it gets.

[DarthS]

No, because if you sail solo into a red zone you're supposed to get ganked. Can't complain too much about it. Besides the number of times guys like Percy or Goody single handedly murdered gank teams balances out the karma.

Hence why no one plays it any more.

You cant have a PvP element that only works for coordinated teams or the hardcore; its never going to retain the size of playerbase that casual gamers bring.

Looking back the amount of time, effort and patience that went into finding a decent 1v1 was ridiculous; hours of grinding and prep for ten minutes of fun.

[Hovis]

Fuck casual gamers. If they can't be bothered to be any good that's their lookout :D

The business model would be a lot healthier if the game did welcome casual players sure, but since I'm not a casual player, nor the owner of the company, it's no skin off my nose that they don't. Besides it's more welcoming to casual gamers than a lot of MMOs, purely from the perspective that you don't have to grind to get the gear anymore, and combat itself is not gear dependant in the least. The stock combat ships are now standard issue in PotBS rather than the refits or bundleboats.

Meanwhile they implemented duelling and skirmish systems so one on ones are much easier to sort. Also everybody has changed sides so many times in order to maintain the competitiveness of the RvR that general dickishness is much lower.

[Ludicrouse]

Just had an E-mail from SOE about all this.

According to them it is going to go F2P around 22/11/2010. There are three levels of membership, Free, Premium and Captains Club.

Former subscribers are classified as "Premium Members" which is free.

Differences between the types of membership can be seen here. (http://www.burningsea.com/page/f2p?cid=EM4118&_mid=4118&_rid=4118.4011.136016)

[Tapja]

Looks like its F2P now, downloading slowly :)

[Ludicrouse]

Will have to start mine off... :)

[Peete]

Looks like its F2P now, downloading slowly :)

Link please :)

[BlueFlower]

Always been interested in the look of this game, but never tried it. Is it something somebody with limited play time could enjoy? Or would i be wasting my time?

Only have 2 hours a night maximum.

[Tapja]

Link please :)

http://www.burningsea.com/page/news/article&article_id=271058

And if you want the installer:

http://www.burningsea.com/page/support/download

[DannyBoy]

I've started playing it again. No clue what I'm doing tho. Need to make a new char and learn the basics again. Is there alot of RL playing?

[DannyBoy]

Also if you on TS whats details? Thanks

[Ludicrouse]

Don't know anyone playing it, especially not as an RL group...

[DannyBoy]

Meh, anyone at all playing it? even if a few ?

[Hovis]

There might be an RL out there, dunno.