I for one plan to play it and stick with it as long as it lives up to it's promises. I most likly will start out english but will become a privateer

I definitely plan to try PoBS when it goes live. I must say it seems well thought out and compellingly emersive. Unfortunately, it will leave behind those without broadband. Associating with your online friends who are SL or Brotherhood seems a natural choice. Exploiting any kind of previous bond would be a good move in order to make progress in the game, I would think.

Actually, we are in the midst of determining a long range successor to our game AOS2. PoBS seems to have just about everything we want in a game. However, having broadband is the real issue for a good chunk of the players here. Several of our players are trying out EVE, the mmopg, because they are looking for some of those things that AOS2 is lacking. If PoBS lives up to its expectations, you can be assured that a majority of our players will migrate there.

I personally am looking forward PoBS. I am following the forums as "Captain Ike". I also know that others in my fleet (USN) are interested. It is highly likely, even if we don't carry over our individual fleets, that many of our player will stick together in the fleets offered in PoBS. Which one? Who knows...

And yes I agree with you that a fleet or fleets would be quite succesful in PoBS. Our ranks are formed by many enthusiasts of the era, historians, naval officers, and professional yachters. Tactically, I doubt you would see anyone else with such a definite starting advantage (folks here are used to maneuvering in a battle line; up to a 6v6 engagement).

All of this is well and great, but the beta needs to come out first. I'm sure we will have several liasons there to report on it once it starts, but until then don't expect a whole lot of planning in our community.



This post has been edited by Capt Ikerd USN on Jul 28 2003, 04:14 PM

Good grief!!

My ship now has A life of its own!!!

Rear Admiral Rob
HMS Agamemnon

QUOTE (RAdmiralRob @ Jul 29 2003, 08:02 AM)

Good grief!! My ship now has A life of its own!!! Rear Admiral Rob HMS Agamemnon

RAdm, I have told you so many times. If you cannot keep track of that big ship I shall have to sell her and give you a smaller....

Sirs

The only explination I may offer is that Agamemnon's New Captain 'James Alfred Alexander St John-Smyth' has been over stepping his bounds I have told him since I was raised to the Rank of Rear Admiral That although I would be handing the daily ship routine over to him, I was still The Commander of the Ship and would deal with Public relations.

Regards
Rear Admiral Rob
HMS Agamemnon

Sirs,

Having played Pirates of the Caribbean, I seem to have something of a different view of what this game may be like. As long as all of the promises the makers are spreading are lived up to, POBS should be an excellent game overall. But one problem at least for me is the sheer number of players in a server. According to their FAQ's, "thousands" will be in a server. Personally I find this will be quite annoying. Perhaps two hundred in a server would be better. With only 5 or so fleets as of now (including pirates/privateers), with a thousand players in each server thats 200 or so in each fleet; that is if fleets actually are workable.
Imagine a night of battle when the SN comprising of a single squadron of six, attempts to take on a fleet of the USN for example. How are we to get to a certain fleet for a battle. Furthermore, we will no longer have control over most things such as the ships we are assigned. Admirals (if there are admirals or ranks at all) will not be able to assign vessels (as far as I know.) Will we be able to have more than one player in a squadron, or will everyone have to fight alone? This game could be an awesome fleet and nation game, or it could be POTC with real people rather than NPC's. Yes, it will be lots of fun either way, but I'm not so sure that the fleets themselves will be able to remain. We'll see how it turns out.

Regards,
Capt. Lilnap Spanish Navy
Lydia, 36 guns

This post has been edited by Lilnap on Jul 29 2003, 01:31 PM

I would suggest that anyone who has questions like these, head over to the PoBS forum. The Devs are actively answering questions and taking suggestions on a daily basis. Also take a look at their Devlogs. Almost every worry, complaint, issue, etc. you can imagine is being covered. It seems these folks have done their homework.

Commodore Ikerd , USN (new uniform still feels a bit strange)
Commander Northwest District
Fleet 3rd Officer
USS Chesapeake 38

Sirs,

Having read through the other FAQ's and questions answered, I still have my doubts. Although you can have people working for you, it does not really state much about how the navies will work. For that matter whether or not you can have multiple players in a fleet. I have asked these questions and I'll report my findings.

Regards,
Capt. Lilnap Spanish Navy
Lydia, 36 guns

Lilnap, what exactly are your questions? I didn't see them anywhere on the PoBS forums. Perhaps you need to dig a bit deeper than the FAQs.
I really think the answers are there. How the fleets will work have been discussed in quite a few threads.

As to your other questions...

QUOTE

How are we to get to a certain fleet for a battle.

What do you mean by a certain fleet? Your ship will have to be in a port whenever you log-off. It will be back in that same port when you log back on. Members of your fleet may be anywhere in the Carribean doing the tasks they have been assigned. There will be no hard-scheduling of battles in PoBS (unless otherwise organized by ourselves). You can sail with those in your fleet that you find or with your friends (at the times you are normally online). This is a semi-reality based game. You will have to hunt out your enemy on the open-seas.

QUOTE

Furthermore, we will no longer have control over most things such as the ships we are assigned. Admirals (if there are admirals or ranks at all) will not be able to assign vessels (as far as I know.

This is a game where we as members of SeaLords would have to surrender a bit of control. We will not have total control of a platform much like we do here. What we may have is a game which allows us to continue our team-based playing (albeit within the PoBS structure). Our advantages our that we are already familiar with one another. Also, from my understanding, rank is earned in PoBS. It is my understanding that once you prove yourself in battle or in carrying out certain tasks, you will be rewarded with promotions and larger ships to command. And yes you can become an Admiral with a degree of authority. But just like in this community, an Admiral's authority only goes as far as those who agree to follow him.

QUOTE

Will we be able to have more than one player in a squadron, or will everyone have to fight alone?

Like I said before, you will encounter members of your fleet whenever you are online. Whether or not you sail with the same folks online is largely up to you. It has been discussed at length on the PoBS forums that players will tend to sail in packs for protection (in fleets, as merchants, AND as pirates). Give your pack a name, it suddenly becomes a squadron.

While it says thousand of players online, that is not to say they will be online at exactly the same time nor in exactly the same place. The entire carribean is purportedly being modeled. These players will be divided amongst fleets, pirates, merchants, privateers, etc. Being part of a fleet guarantees you a nice career with promotion potential as long as you follow the rules. Pirates don't necessarily have to follow rules. But reputation in PoBS will drive a great many things, including whether or not you will succeed in a fleet or not.

I remain your servant, etc.

Commodore Ikerd , USN
Commander Northwest District
Fleet 3rd Officer
USS Chesapeake 38

Commodore Ikerd and others,

First of all I'd like to appologize for my jumping into this topic with such a dismal outlook. I dont mean to be shooting down any hopes for this new game, I'm just trying to play something of a devils advocate. In truth this game sounds great to me but what I'm most curious about is whether or not this will be many single players in the same world (as ever quest and some other games of the like are,) or what we all want it to be, which is both a single player, but also the capabilities to join in an actual navy and be able to actually fight alongside other captains or take a merchant squadron out when ordered.

I'm not quite sure which forum/faqs youre referring to, I've checked the actual POBS forum/faq, and the large faq I found here: http://www.pirates.kadeke.be/ . By "certain fleet" I simply meant that no longer will I be able to play whomever I want such as in the choice we have now. Yes, we are losing control on some elements of our society, but I am curious as to how much we will be retaining.

QUOTE

Our advantages are that we are already familiar with one another. Also, from my understanding, rank is earned in PoBS. It is my understanding that once you prove yourself in battle or in carrying out certain tasks, you will be rewarded with promotions and larger ships to command.

Indeed, we have a great community and I have enjoyed the two-or-so years I have been a part of it immensly. I look forward to moving to a new game when the time comes, but I have always liked the fact that we have known each other better than simply by fighting in a single engagement. I have come to the conclusion by what you have said that yes, in a squadron engagement, there will be multiple players (not necessarily npcs commanding your other ships.) This was one of my biggest concerns.

My main questions here surround the power and authority naval figures hold. Such as when you say that "rank is earned," is it given by a naval authority, or gained through "experience" which, by my understanding, is also present. We are now simpy questioning each others understanding and so it is my opinion that for now, we should just leave it at this: we may have found an excellent replacement for AOS2/PB. I for one hope we have.

Regards and appologies,
Capt. Lilnap Spanish Navy
Lydia, 36 guns

This post has been edited by Lilnap on Jul 29 2003, 05:41 PM

It is my belief that PoBS WILL impact our community one way or the other.....with that in mind, I have appointed Commodore Ikerd as the USN's "point man" to research this game. Perhaps each fleet should also appoint such a trusted figure--they could then interface with each other in a PoBS disgussion area (Sea Witch??!!!) and post their findings for all to decide if this MAY be a route we would like to explore.

Any one come across any other games of our genre that needs looking into? I've come a cross one or two that at first glance looked promising, however upon closer examination did not appear to have the flexibility or structure to meet our needs.....

Captain Lilnap,

No need to apologize sir. I am more appreciative that someone else has taken such an interest in PoBS like myself. I too, will continue to ask questions regarding the world they are creating. It is more of "how we could fit into that world", which is a good topic for discussion.

One good thing that the Devs appear to have a handle on is making this mmopg authentic. They are limiting certain things in the name of realism (i.e. names like dEAthKilla2999, or ship names like MilleniumFalcon II). You will be happy to know however, that you may even earn "nicknames" in addition to ranks, depending on your actions at sea. And since this game will be reputatioin based, the Devs appear to have a solid program in place to prevent "griefers". The last thing I would want to do, is join a game full of immature brats.

As far as who gives what orders to who, much of it will be largely mission/task oriented. I believe the "game itself" will offer these missions to young fleet officers at first. Once an Admiralty is established however, they may have an impact on the missions (i.e. seek out and destroy all Spanish shipping) or even in political circles.

If PoBS does turn out to be as good as it sounds, and we get most of our players here to join, i think the camaraderie that was created in the SL fleets would carry great weight over there.

I remain your servant, etc.

Commodore Ikerd , USN
Commander Northwest District
Fleet 3rd Officer
USS Chesapeake 38

I see no reason WHY we cannot have players playing PoBS as well as the other games we are familiar with, AS SEA LORDS FLEETS. We already do this with two games, why not a few more, as they become available?

The ONLY drawback, is that there are good number of us who do not have access to broadband, nor will we have for a good bit of time (for example, broadband will not be available to me personally for AT LEAST a year). So, we players without broadband will have to sit out for now.

If y'all want a forum for this game, I'll be happy to set one up . I probably should for Pirates of the Caribbean, too.

For that matter, there are players here who also play Man of War, and perhaps we can have something going with that game as well.

My whole point is, this organization is based on gaming in a certain historical period. There is no need to limit ourselves exclusively to one game, or one variation of that game; as an organization. Why not try to incorporate any of the games we can, that entail this time period; and fighting sail ships?

hmmmmm....

I'm gonna have to find a different handle for that forum have a "twin" I didn't know about

SW

Why not just call yeh self SLSeaWitch:)

As to Pobs

Well Firstly I dont have cable so that rules it out till I do and By the looks of things I will not be able to Have HMS Agamemnon as it will have been taken by that upstart newbie who started this thread:)

Still At least I have the seniority in Service in AOS to have the Agamemnon:)

Rear Admiral Rob ~RN
HMS Agamemnon