New comer, some advice please.

[Ralancaster]

I have a few questions.

But first, I just started playing mmorpgs, this will be my third one ive played in awhile.

So, I read the guides about the fighting styles and career paths you can choose.

Whats a fun PvE build to play? maybe going into pvp later on. I was thinking about being a freetrader with a defensive style. But im worried ill be attacked by other players alot when i trade...

Also was thinking about PvP builds, but I need to get use to the game before I jump in, and do crazy stuff with other players.

but when i do PvP later I also would like to know if there is an anti bordering build. Maybe Navel officer with offensive build? Have a super stong ship to take them out before they even reach you, and if they do, I have good build to keep me alive during boarding. What skills would I need? This build will also be good a port battles. I don't think port battles have lots of boarding correct?

Also pirates, whats different about playing as pirates vs brits, french and spaniards? Is it harder for them to PvE or PVP? I would think soo..

Well anyway, I love all kinds of playing styles, but for now, I think I just want to PVE for awhile, any advice on how to start things up and what to look out for?

[PaulG]

A freetrader is a good choice if you want to PvE and even better if you want to play the economy.

PvP arears are clearly defined so its up to you whether you want to try them out or not.

New rules on group strength should make you safer from ganking/clubbing.

Most of the Freetrader's skills are defensive and it is one of the best classes to avoid boarding combat too.

PvE doesn't differ much from class to class or nation to nation but I think it is fair to say thay they are more PvE players in Britain and the pirate population.

If you really want to enjoy the PvE make sure you read the story lines, they are very well written and if you can resist avoid fleeting too much, its easy xp but boring, especially if you are just leeching xp.

[Ralancaster]

hey thanks for some advice but im not sure to jargon used in-game. What is fleeting? Clubbing?

Also what is group strength rules?

Im compleatly new at this game.

Any other advice will be nice too. I want to learn as most I can before I take off to play.

[PaulG]

Sorry for the jargon, fleeting is a handy way of express levelling and an easy source of in game money too. It involves grouping up with higher level players that then attack large groups of non player ships on the sea usually packs of 8 or 12 which whilst can be taken by a solo player they are more enjoyable in a group of six players.

Clubbing refers to high level players taking down low level players in the red whilst ganking would be a group of players ganging up on one. Thankfully these activities are much harder to do now that they have changed the strength mechanics.

At present the strength mechanics work by adding the player level to their ship level to give them a strength rating so for example a level 14 player in a level 12 ship have a strength of 26. The fight ratio of 2:1 means that the maximum strength of a player this player could be attacked by would be 52 and likewise the lowest level strength the player could attack would be 13.

[Grim DeGrim]

Free trader is fun and good for PVE. I highly recommend a Naval Officer too. This offers the big end game ships, and are excellent for PVE too. Plus, you will be able to add a good contribution to a Port Battle force.

My biggest advice: join a society. Almost all do PVE. Check out the society recruitment pages on the server forums (whichever server you are on).

Once you're interested in PVP, you may need to look for a society that has a deeper focus on that aspect of the game.

Good Luck.