Max group size of 2 or 3 in the outer red

[CaptainKipper]

Just a thought while I was writing something else.

Given that the pirate/privateer thing conjures up images of lone ships or pairs stalking each other or merchants - rather than full on battle groups - would it be worth considering making the outer red zones a place where only small group combat happens.

Keep the inner zones as the place where 6+ groups can kick the rum out of each other in line fights, and the outer zones as the place where cat and mouse is played.

[Spinnaker Sam]

So you are suggesting that pirate PvP zones be group restricted? How would that work? A group of 6 would have to ungroup in order to enter the zone? or would it just prevent them from attacking anyone while they are a group of six? Thus granting them immunity from smaller groups. I don't see how it would be feasible to have two different group size rules when you can freely sail between the zones.

[Tsushima]

Originally Posted by Spinnaker Sam So you are suggesting that pirate PvP zones be group restricted? How would that work? A group of 6 would have to ungroup in order to enter the zone? or would it just prevent them from attacking anyone while they are a group of six? Thus granting them immunity from smaller groups. I don't see how it would be feasible to have two different group size rules when you can freely sail between the zones.

Perhaps just put a limit on the battles that are created within the outer zone. Limit the number of participants from each side to 2 or 3.
That way you can still form a regular full group and sail the outer red, but you can only commit half or a third of the group to one battle.

If you then chase someone with your group from the full PvP circle into the pirate PvP circle, you can safely split your group without risk of getting ganked.

Such a system would also make uneven battles closer to the edges easier to reinforce into even fights.
As it is now, it's hard to even out a gank without having lots of ships hanging around the edges of the zone.

I wouldn't be opposed to making the inner zone a bit bigger if such a feature were to be implemented.

[Spinnaker Sam]

That doesn't sound too group friendly. If I am travelling with a group of six friends, I don't like the idea of half of us having to wait while the other half fights out a battle. Nor do I like the idea of having to decide which 3 players will sit out the fight. Since we more often than not will be entering the zone from the outside, it would tend to break up groups of friends who are looking to do some contention grinding and I don't think a system that allows other players to prevent friends from playing together is a good feature to have.

[Kivek]

not exactly on topic but id like to see groups go up to a max of 8. keep battles at 6 but allow 8 players to group. this allows more cooridination in the red zones making it even more like a war zone rather then PvP zone and also means its slightly harder for thise random ***** to grief your group when your str is at 450.

[CaptainKipper]

To clarify my suggestion -

I am not saying restrict the group size, I am only suggesting that you can commit 2 or 3 (or whatever) ships to a battle in the outer red. Like Khla, i'd like to see the size of red circles made a bit bigger in some areas to make more room for battle.

If you're contention grinding, or fighting NPCs - then you can still take your 6. Perhaps it could even be that 6v6 can go ahead, but anything more than 2 or 3 v 1 (or possibly a calculation done on fleet strength) can't happen here.

The aim is not to make the red circles 'safer' from being attacked, but just more likely to result in a fight that has a chance of being close to even.

When you go into a fight you can't win whatever you do, its anti-fun. I can't beleive its even fun for the ones on the winning side because its a hollow victory, its like a guy in a race car being proud of beating a runner.... bizarre!

[kblack]

I proposed this thing when FLS introduced reinforcements.

Thus, I support the OP proposal

It will give Privs some role to play, breaking heavy groups in their route to the main battle area.

[Spinnaker Sam]

It will give Privs some role to play, breaking heavy groups in their route to the main battle area.

That would just make them the griefer class. Everyone would pile all kinds of hate onto Privs because their only purpose would be to split up groups of friends and ruin everyone else's time.

[CaptainKipper]

Originally Posted by Spinnaker Sam That would just make them the griefer class. Everyone would pile all kinds of hate onto Privs because their only purpose would be to split up groups of friends and ruin everyone else's time.

As opposed to 6 people piling onto 1 and ruining that players time?

[1llusion]

Originally Posted by CaptainKipper As opposed to 6 people piling onto 1 and ruining that players time?

6v1 and 3v1 will still result in the same thing with half competent captains...