Can I play this game without ever participating in PVP?

taxguy

I had some questions about this game and would appreciate your input.

 

1. I LOVED Sid Meir's Pirates,which this game is based on. I don't like PVP. Can I play this game to level 50 without ever participating in PVP or is some PVP inevitable?

2. What is the best class for solo play in terms of leveling, "safety" etc.?

3. Can someone recommend a good, strong guild on a server that is still taking newbies?

Thanks

olddaddy

Originally posted by taxguy


I had some questions about this game and would appreciate your input.
 
1. I LOVED Sid Meir's Pirates,which this game is based on. I don't like PVP. Can I play this game to level 50 without ever participating in PVP or is some PVP inevitable?
Well, kinda. There are definate PvP and non-PvP areas, so, if you stay out of the PvP areas you will not have to PvP. The problem is that any port can become a PvP port at any time if one side attacks there. Eventually you just might have to run thru one of these PvP areas and risk getting attacked. Sometimes you may get lucky, sometimes not, it's just a combination of the luck of the draw, and how fast you can see them coming. On the plus side, your ship can be sunk multiple times before you ultimately lose it, and they are easy to replace.
2. What is the best class for solo play in terms of leveling, "safety" etc.?
Of the classes, you can solo as any of them, though Pirate is a more preditory class in line with PvP. As a Pirate you can't be a Trader, and therefore can never operate the master level economic buildings. Only a Trader can do that. As one of the three nations you can be anything other than a Pirate.
3. Can someone recommend a good, strong guild on a server that is still taking newbies?
Depends on what server you are on. If you decide to play, check out the server populations several times, weeknights, weekends, etc before making your final decision. Up until that point you can experiment with the game on any server.
Pretty much every server should have a society willing to take you. If you are a non-PvP player, and a trader, they will be delighted to have you. Traders are very weak in combat skills, so nobody will be asking you to join battles for port contention unless they are extremely desperate. In addition, the economic system can be quite involved, assembling all those components necessary to replace the ships lost in PvP, and you will have to carry cargo. If you go this route, don't jump in to the economy to deep, to fast, because it can be a real cash burner. Start small, and with a small warship so you can run missions (kill 10 of/Fedex), and grind for cash. Eventually work your way up to a add a small trade ship. Just remember, trade ships handle like pregnant turtles in combat. Oh, and when you get in trouble, drag out the combat and  use Nation chat to call for a warship. The other side may eventually sink you, or take your cargo, but your Society will be there to make them pay dearly for that. No Society likes it's cargo haulers getting jumped. The longer you delay the combat, the more time the warships have a chance to arrive. You would be surprised how many PvPers don't realize that the time they spend ganking a trader is lethal to them.
Privateer eventually allows you to gain skills to attack like a pirate in PvP areas, and Naval Officer is the game tank. Naval officers can have the Ships of the Line, but your society will expect you to PvP in port battle contention if they give you one of these. You can, however, earn the cash yourself to buy one on the market, though thye are expensive.
Personally, if you are going to solo, non-PvP, the small to medium ships will be fine for you, you can take on most any computer controlled mob with them. Even the PvP'ers are not running around in their level 50 ships in PvP areas because that is a fast way to lose them before port contention battles. So, most PvP'ers have their serious PvP port contention ship that only comes out of the garage for those days, and their smaller PvP ship that they everyday game with.
Thanks

 

angus858

Yes, you can play without PvP.  At any time only a small percentage of the map is ever covered by a PvP red zone.  The tricky thing is that it shifts by the hour.  You have an in-game map that shows you where the PvP is happening and even areas where PvP is likely to happen soon.  Check your map often and you can avoid it.

You could play PvE and solo with any class you want. 

I'd recommend Bonny as the best server for you.  It has a small but mature population and less PvP than most of the other servers.  Guadaloupe is another server with low populations but I can't vouch for the community as I haven't played there.

Costanius

You can focus completely on the Economy, produce stuff and do trade. But You will always also do some PvE against NPCs.

I absolutely recommend to join a society, because this game is centered around cooperation and working together. And it'll be easier to get new ships, ammo, outfittings and players to form a group with for PvE missions.

But in my opinion PvP, especially Port battles for port control, are the ice on the cake here...

Thoven

 

I have to agree with the previous posts.  PvP although prevalent, at least on my server (blackbeard) is easily avoidable.  Your in game map clearly shows PvP areas in a nice red ring which can be avoided.  

Some ports do become contested by if you treat it like crossing the road, and watch for traffic around you, it is still fairly easy to navigate.