What is wrong with Freetraders ??

[valkiria]

I think that the Developers must have issues against Freetraders for some reasons.

I mean, it looks to me as if design choices are made to make the life more miserable to us, whatever the reason may be.

For example, Freetraders are given the ability to put up advanced structure but only where rivers are.

Well, Ports with rivers were put in the Aintilles region which is almost always in red zones.

Deep harbours don't have rivers.
This means, that a Freetrader must do hauling bewteen a river port (if the advantage of advanced structures want to be used) and the deep harbour port.

Now, ship material is heavy and so, takes large cargo ships which are sitting ducks.

So, what we have ?

We have Freetraders forced to have to use large cargo ships but in Ports which very often go red and thus risk a lot without really being able to have a chance.

Personally, I prefer not playing when the Ports I need to haul out and in go red.
The risk is way too high as large ships don't have a chance against small ships.

So, this results in me not being able to play whenever my ports are red.

Is this how the developers wanted the game played ? Perhaps, but I still can't play it when the ports are red.

Things would be different IF large cargo ships were not made sitting ducks as they are now.

If Freetraders had at least a few chances to slip through, YES also with large cargo ships, perhaps more freetraders would take their risks.

As of now, though, it is pointless as large cargo ships do not have a chance versus these medium/small fast scouts and tacklers.

[Loktofeit]

Sounds like you're better off playing a class other than FreeTrader. The design is intentional. The locations are laid out as they are because it's supposed to be challenging to ship your cargo around. There's no challenge to just sailing between ports or clicking create buttons.

Also, if you're involved in such major crafting that you are using advanced structures and huge haulers, then you are more than likely part of a team. Have your team help you move stuff around, guard your ship, and clear the lanes for you.

[waterhouse]

Is your hauler fitted for speed/acceleration? I like combos of lightweight halyards and streamlined hulls with Studding Sails for effect. Add in a St. Elmo's mast and a spy glass. If you get lucky, there's also some cannon mods from loot that will give + to Battle speed.

Is your FT specec for speed/maneuverability? Ship Mastery, Dump Guns, etc.

Do you have consumables and ammo appropriate for getting away? Expert Sail Master, Mast Braces, Rum, Chain and/or Bar shot, etc.

Do you really need to use Advanced Structures or can you buy it from the AH at a markup? Evaluate whether the benefit you get from Advanced Structures outweighs the increased upkeep cost. Make sure that the added upkeep cost is not more than what the item may be selling on the AH for.

Advanced Structures are working as intended. The bonus they give requires some risk, both in the upkeep and the fact that trading in and out of the river port is risky when it's in PvP. Remember 4 Advanced Forges will give you the same labor potential of 5 regular Forges. If that's not enough of a bonus to you, then perhaps you shouldn't be suing advanced structures?

[Caldes]

Also- seems as if FLS wants to make the best parts of the economy vulnerable to PvP, and to promote group play. Escorts go a looong way to getting your goods across.

If you want to do the economy solo, however, advanced structures may not be for you.

[Deckeon]

Originally Posted by valkiria I think that the Developers must have issues against Freetraders for some reasons. I mean, it looks to me as if design choices are made to make the life more miserable to us, whatever the reason may be. For example, Freetraders are given the ability to put up advanced structure but only where rivers are. Well, Ports with rivers were put in the Aintilles region which is almost always in red zones. Deep harbours don't have rivers. This means, that a Freetrader must do hauling bewteen a river port (if the advantage of advanced structures want to be used) and the deep harbour port. Now, ship material is heavy and so, takes large cargo ships which are sitting ducks. So, what we have ? We have Freetraders forced to have to use large cargo ships but in Ports which very often go red and thus risk a lot without really being able to have a chance. Personally, I prefer not playing when the Ports I need to haul out and in go red. The risk is way too high as large ships don't have a chance against small ships. So, this results in me not being able to play whenever my ports are red. Is this how the developers wanted the game played ? Perhaps, but I still can't play it when the ports are red. Things would be different IF large cargo ships were not made sitting ducks as they are now. If Freetraders had at least a few chances to slip through, YES also with large cargo ships, perhaps more freetraders would take their risks. As of now, though, it is pointless as large cargo ships do not have a chance versus these medium/small fast scouts and tacklers.

Well this post makes me feel better actually - thanks.

[valkiria]

Originally Posted by Caldes Also- seems as if FLS wants to make the best parts of the economy vulnerable to PvP, and to promote group play. Escorts go a looong way to getting your goods across.

Unfortunately, often a Freetrader needs to do multiple hauling trips, perhaps even 10+ each taking some 10-15 minutes to go back and forth. So, this spells like having to have a group babisitting their palying time for 1-2 hours.

I think it is a bit too much to ask. Bother friends for 1 trip I can understand but be of annoyance for 2 hours I don't feel bugging others.

[Loktofeit]

Originally Posted by valkiria Unfortunately, often a Freetrader needs to do multiple hauling trips, perhaps even 10+ each taking some 10-15 minutes to go back and forth. So, this spells like having to have a group babisitting their palying time for 1-2 hours. I think it is a bit too much to ask. Bother friends for 1 trip I can understand but be of annoyance for 2 hours I don't feel bugging others.

Ask your society mates to help and see what their response is. You'll probably be surprised. When our society shipwrights need to haul goods, we don't think twice about helping out. I don't think we're unique in that. You also might want to plan your ports and trips a bit better to reduce travel time and the amount that needs to be moved.

[Cat Swift]

Use a large hauler to move goods to the closest port to your destination thats not in a red zone. Then get a speed fitted Bermuda Traders Sloop and make multiple short runs to move your stuff through the pvp zone.

Bingo, problem solved, and no one can even claim you are using questionable game mechanics to accomplish this.

No one catches Free Traders in speed fitted Trader Sloops. Theres multiple threads in other forums talking about this. Theres also a few threads claiming that FT's are a better combat class now than NO's and Priv's .... but thats a debate I will leave to the nationals.

[Avonwey]

Originally Posted by valkiria I think it is a bit too much to ask. Bother friends for 1 trip I can understand but be of annoyance for 2 hours I don't feel bugging others.

Are you in a society?

Because if you are, then your society should understand that keeping its Freetraders happy means everyone stays stocked with ships, ammo, consumables, etc.

Just try to organize what you're shipping so that you're not wasting valuable cargo space on items that can be bought locally. For example, Iron is pretty common so personally I wouldn't waste a lot of hauling time/space on it.

But if you're shipping deeds or anything more valuable (Zinc for example which is only found in a couple of spots) then your society should understand the importance of you getting to where you're going.

[Kylra]

Originally Posted by Cat Swift No one catches Free Traders in speed fitted Trader Sloops. Theres multiple threads in other forums talking about this. Theres also a few threads claiming that FT's are a better combat class now than NO's and Priv's .... but thats a debate I will leave to the nationals.

With proper outfitting, using the wind properly, and maybe having to pop a consumeable or three that can cost upwards of 2k total. That adds about 10 to the value of every item in your hold, if you are hlding 200 tons, and have to use everything. With a very large number of different items, this could be a profit killer. Oak for instance could go from 10 or 11 to 20 or 21 in value to the shipper that has to use those consumeables. So unless you are shipping something expensive per ton, such as Alexander deeds, the BTS won't really get you more profit. Shipping expensive stuff is really high risk though, and the BTS provides a way to mitigate that and make it worthwhile, as opposed to having freetraders stay out entirely, or cost their society or themselves thousands of doubloons (maybe hundreds of thousands if they get into a fight, but thousands just because of time they could spend grinding instead) to escort them.