Been reading reviews, metacritic is handy. They all (bar PCzone, Though they've never been cracking) rate it as one of the best MMO's at launch they've tested. I obviously laughed, but after reading each review (Gamespy 4/5 Stars, Gamespot 8/10, PC Gamer UK 86%,etc), i found they complained about the same stuff as me. The gamespy bloke said he wrote it off after few hours like me and took him a week before it kicked in. Then said it was amazing when you figure out what you're doing.

Researched the economy. Spit of EvE to be honest which i researched alot, so i already know how to play it if i wanted to. Same principle: Supply and demand, different stock/prices at different ports, available to only certain nations,etc.

Doesn't change the heavy instancing (not quite as bad as D&D) and the complete lack of social tools. They will add these, im 90% sure of it, it's already pencilled in. But fact is right now when i'm playing it's not, and when it will be is like guessing what a woman wants for xmas.

For a launch game though, i haven't found a gamebreaker yet, so gotta say working as intended. Will keep ya posted.

Edit: Think this will be an EvE at launch, i see endless similarities, only it has more appeal for a character based player like me. Problem is, it took years for EvE to become what it is, and could be for this too, so it's a question of get in early or wait and see.

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What server / nation / name ?

Erm, Roberts? (the EU/ENG one)

I'm pirate, and yeh they get alot less gold and can't trade as much, but somethign different, everyones a brit. Name in sig (Vegetto Ichikai incase its blurry)

Gone for a Japanese pirate look. Getting into it a little now, the differnce between going out on open sea to actually fighting in battle is actually really good and is mega realistic. Just wish there was more interaction with people, feels very solo at moment, and i've outgrown solo grinding/playing, want at least some people to chat to, community seems quiet ingame.

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Gyah I've re-rolled on that server 4 times so far due to people starting with different nations

Here we go again !

Yeh, but i've actually got the game, not a beta/trialist!

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It's actually no worse than EQ2 launch, it's identical, the combat is the same, as are the NPC's, graphics are like those on medium (except sea battle graphics are awesome), quests are similar, infact the quest lines aren't too bad. Still only on noob island.

Definately worth the time to try, whether it becomes amazing like the reviews or not will wait and see, but i'm going to give it a good test.

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I'm saw old Piet just logged in called 'Piet Pirat' lol, can't be coincedence he's talking about maroj melons.

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WTB buddy key to abuse Piet.

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http://lern2play.mine.nu/ !

If it's him, he seems oblivious to my name lol.

I'll send him a tell.

Gah says can't find him, either bugged lol, or he logged.

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Pretty sure he wouldn't sink so low.

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Veg is Miss Marples.

Only in a much nerdier way, and slightly less old.

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http://lern2play.mine.nu/ !

Bet it's him!

And who the hell is Harry Flint keep sending me tells saying "Yarrr!"

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lol.

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Check it out! Independently targeting particle beam phalanx. Vwap! Fry half a city with this puppy. We got tactical smart missiles, phase-plasma pulse rifles, RPGs, we got sonic electronic ball breakers! We got nukes, we got knives, sharp sticks...

Getting more into it now, there's fecking loads of quests and they're mostly good, all relevant and linked in someway, must've done about 30, which is good for me. Hoping there's a central hub where players hang out though like Bestine, then again they'll all be in boats.

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People hangs around Port Royal if you are Brit and you get to see Spanish/Frenchs/Pirates too.

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Check it out! Independently targeting particle beam phalanx. Vwap! Fry half a city with this puppy. We got tactical smart missiles, phase-plasma pulse rifles, RPGs, we got sonic electronic ball breakers! We got nukes, we got knives, sharp sticks...

I'm a piwat

Brits, dominate the english server by coincedence, and quite a few spanish. Not a load of pirates because they get less gold per kill and limited in PvP, i like being the unpopular classes (NC, Carbineer, Monk, Paladin..lol)

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And pirates cant have Ships of the Line.

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Check it out! Independently targeting particle beam phalanx. Vwap! Fry half a city with this puppy. We got tactical smart missiles, phase-plasma pulse rifles, RPGs, we got sonic electronic ball breakers! We got nukes, we got knives, sharp sticks...

so how is this game?

shit?

Great?

1-10, whats yer ratin'!

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8 but i eventually got bored at level 28

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Check it out! Independently targeting particle beam phalanx. Vwap! Fry half a city with this puppy. We got tactical smart missiles, phase-plasma pulse rifles, RPGs, we got sonic electronic ball breakers! We got nukes, we got knives, sharp sticks...

Tough one, i'm kinda anti-MMO now, they are ALL crap except WoW which really i can no longer access as a casual. I'm getting a seriously sick feeling to get the station pass lol. Though i still got the free month with this.

Quests: Lots, got 10 in my journal at any one time, but for most part it's running blockades, attacking fleets, boarding ships. Narration/lore is great, variation not so (suppose can only do so much with just sea)

Ground Combat: Not as bad as everyone says, in comparison to other MMO's. A fair comparison would be EQ2 release, just a bit faster. Three combat styles with what must be a dozen skill tree's in each. However, as far as i know, ground comabt is only fought on ships, ain't seen any in towns, but not sure.

Ship Combat: The key aspect of the game. Is tactically clever and involving. Taking into account the wind direction for you to get good speed/turning, then you're enemies position (you don't wan't his broadside with the guns facing you). I end up doing like a shark attack, circling around to hit the arse of the ship. It's good, amazing detail, but like EvE, i dunno how long you can just blow up ships for.

Character development: The character creation is pretty good, reminds me again of EQ2, similar settings. You can choose face, hat, belt, trousers,boots,vest,shirt,jacket,piercings,eye stuff, gloves,hair,etc. Though most people try to look like Jack Sparrow. Lots of skill tree's that effect mainly ship combat, such as speed. I haven't allocated a few of mine because it's hard to make a choice.

Ships: Lots of them, maybe 100+, but a ships a ship, mostly look the same to me. This is what you spend most of your active time in. For EvE is was a problem for me, in this it might be similar.

PvP: Haven't tried it yet, but hear the port battles offer little incentive at the moment: Losing your ship costs lots, winning gains you virtually nothing and ship combat can be slow.

Einvornment: Good graphics overall, but no jump, invisible walls, small maze-like towns and instances for virtually every situation. I hate instances. PvP is not open, you sail the open seas (which is kinda like a dumbed down map) and if you attack another ship, another isntance starts where the graphcis are turned up and you have a locked battle: not my cup of tea really.

Overall, it's interesting and different. I can't see a long termer here. People have capped in little over a month and the PvP is not rewarding. HUGE patch coming in next week or so will adress alot of things, but won't change the core game.
If you liked the idea of EvE, but found the depth a bit crazy and felt like it was an itneractive wallpaper, PotBS might be worth a try. Hardcore MMOers need not apply, doesn't offer enough to keep you hooked.

My rating would be 7.5/10: Fair-Good. (Reminds me of release SWG and EQ2 combined, though very few bugs, but it still has that slow feel and lack of variation)

The other choice right now is Tabular Rasa, which is the Planetside end of the specturm, but as such offers sod all but zerging.

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