What can"t pirates do?

[smg77]

From my brief exposure to the game I don't see *any* compelling reason to play as a national. Pirates have all the advantages and very few disadvantages. I'd be willing to bet that soon there will be massive population issues because most people will reroll pirate after playing as a national for a while.

[OddjobXL]

I think once the economies really get rolling along you'll see Nationalist Societies that can produce ships much more cheaply than we're seeing now and very networked economies even outside the auctionhouses. Pirates can't produce much that other people need and can't make themselves so that makes their NPCs prime fodder for faction grinding. National Freetraders will likely mind their faction with other Nations in order to access the most auction houses possible and may very likely have unofficial personal ties with other commercially minded individuals.

It'll be human behavior that will naturally limit the power of Pirates. Economics on a grand scale. And the lack of the need for allies and friends the same way Nationals need them to function efficently.

Pirate strikes me as an ideal place to be for an alt on "someone else's" server where you can mess around and have fun with few commitments and no overhead or for a casual player or a player who sees PoTBS as an alternate MMO they have less time for.

National is a place for people who like working with others and thinking on a more strategic level and who have the time to really invest in developing an economic game, personal contacts and fighting for a more unified "cause". Taking and defending ports on a permanent basis is a big deal for the economic game here so people will be much more motivated to cooperate and coordinate.

[CathodeRay]

Originally Posted by smg77 From my brief exposure to the game I don't see *any* compelling reason to play as a national. Pirates have all the advantages and very few disadvantages. I'd be willing to bet that soon there will be massive population issues because most people will reroll pirate after playing as a national for a while.

This is complete nonsense, a mixed group of nationals will wipe the floor with a group of pirates in pvp due to the fact they bring a whole stack of group buffs and abilities that when combined are over whelming. If your society hasn't figured team work out yet that is their fault not that of pirates. The devs have noted it is a great deal harder for pirates at endgame and have said they are looking at ways to improve it, it is so bad.

Because of the points above and the use of sols the chances of any pirates winning maps is almost zero. Just wait until the map has been won a few times and the nationals start turning in their rewards for EXTRA skill points and other special awards.

Within the pirate economy many items cost far more to produce and therefore are more costly to purchase than for nationals, the economy was specifically balanced with pirates having the ability to capture ships in mind; pirates are no better off financially than nationals. If certain individuals have large sums of cash that is through their own efforts and not some flaw in the game. If you are a national without a ft alt to craft your own consumables, ammo or what have you, that is your fault, but it is not an option open to pirates who have to make do with the basic structures.

[Corison]

There is zero difference between a National Player and a Priv player as far as production goes. Pirates can make anything they want at the same cost as a national player. They can also build structures in enemy towns the same as a NO. They just have to flip the town or grind the standing. They can also pickup the skills like a FT to reduce taxes.

The only class that has any change is the Advanced Structures/Recp for FreeTraders which simply lowers production time.

[CathodeRay]

FT's get advanced recipes that can only be used with advanced structures these items cost less per item to produce than in standard buildings, ergo it costs pirates more to produce these items than it does nationals. Many of the advanced recipes are for base materials, reducing the cost of all finished items that require them, and the list of advanced recipes is going to be added to. The recipes are only available from certain ft trainers that pirates can never use regardless of standing.

A couple of quick examples from my server (roberts);
large armor planking 3, pirates 3k, nationals 1900
huge speed gun rig 3, pirates 4000, nationals 2k
huge streamlined hull 3, pirates 4500, nationals 2k

And so on, I didn't pick choice examples there was no need to, of course prices differ across servers and populations but this is the general trend, only ammo and loot items tend to follow the same price trends across nationalities.

There are other reasons for the difference and it has to do with the type of people that are drawn to different classes that they perceive will best suit their needs, but I really couldn't be bothered explaining it all.

[Corison]

Actualy no, FT Buildings produce the same items at the same Cost. It only produces them Faster. You may want to double check your info.

Production TIME is reduced (labor) the COST is the same.

If it cost more as a Pirate its because Pirates are CHOOSING not to develop their economy. Its not because they can't. Or because someone keeps telling them they are shafted so dont bother.

Example:
Advanced Plantation: Harvest Maize: 10 Units every 4 hours for 24 DB
Basic Plantation: Harvest Maize: 10 Units every 3.2 hours for 24 DB


FYI Yes my main is a Freetrader and I have Multiple Advanced structures up and running. I also have a Pirate on Kidd that has a very good consumable line up and running and he is in the mid 30's. There is zero difference between the consumable run I now produce as a pirate and the one my freetrader started with.

[CathodeRay]

Originally Posted by Corison Actualy no, FT Buildings produce the same items at the same Cost. It only produces them Faster. You may want to double check your info. Production TIME is reduced (labor) the COST is the same. If it cost more as a Pirate its because Pirates are CHOOSING not to develop their economy. Its not because they can't. Or because someone keeps telling them they are shafted so dont bother. Example: Advanced Plantation: Harvest Maize: 10 Units every 4 hours for 24 DB Basic Plantation: Harvest Maize: 10 Units every 3.2 hours for 24 DB FYI Yes my main is a Freetrader and I have Multiple Advanced structures up and running. I also have a Pirate on Kidd that has a very good consumable line up and running and he is in the mid 30's. There is zero difference between the consumable run I now produce as a pirate and the one my freetrader started with.

Then all I can say is I hope your a better pirate than you are free trader as you don't know a great deal about your mains class. I will help you, there are advanced RECIPES in game used in advanced structures that ONLY free traders have access to, these allow you to produce items cheaper than using the standard recipes. Just a couple of the top of my head;

Advanced Brass Smelting,
Advanced Iron Smelting,
Advanced Rum Distilling,
Advanced Lignum Blocks,
Advanced Bronze Roundshot Crafting
You can figure out where and how to get them yourself.

[RagabashMoon]

Originally Posted by Hexcaliber Then all I can say is I hope your a better pirate than you are free trader as you don't know a great deal about your mains class. I will help you, there are advanced RECIPES in game used in advanced structures that ONLY free traders have access to, these allow you to produce items cheaper than using the standard recipes. Just a couple of the top of my head; Advanced Brass Smelting, Advanced Iron Smelting, Advanced Rum Distilling, Advanced Lignum Blocks, Advanced Bronze Roundshot Crafting You can figure out where and how to get them yourself.

My freetrader has Advanced Sugar Refining, and it's as the other guy said. The COST to make the sugar is the same, as is the amount refined per "craft," it's only the TIME that is different.

[Corison]

Last I checked half of those Recpies were broken and actualy Increased the cost and again they Decreased the Labor.. I will double check but you may want to do the same.

[Corison]

Thanks for confirming Ragabash, I was wondering if I missed something. You never know.