It has now been several weeks since the release of S17, which fans have not been very pleased about. Before the season even rolled out into player’s games, there was disappointment in the effort of the content. As a casual pirate myself, I had no preconception on what separates the good from the bad. Despite all of the overwhelming disappointment in more tenured players, I wanted to give the new season a try before saying anything. In the same way I watch movies and shows, I do my best not to listen to reviews before forming my own. With still over two months to go in the season, there’s enough time to hop on the seas yourself and for. your own opinion. But if you’re too lazy to spend the time playing, don’t worry – I already did.
The latest update rolled out on August 17th with a focus on the new Smuggler’s League. It brought in new pieces of loot to sell to new Smugglers spread around big islands on the map, with one being the equivalent of pirate nukes. One of those bad boys can sink a brand new galleon. There’s a whole new set of commendations to be earned as well, which have frustrated the player-base, preventing them from achieving past commendations. This piece will be wholly subjective, as it gives my opinion on the new season.
Smuggler’s League
The Smugglers have established themselves on six large islands spread across the map. Hidden in caves and behind waterfalls and so on, these smugglers act as contraband outposts. You can sell contraband rum, paintings, explosive barrels, and books to them. While at first, I thought it was a promising concept, albeit very similar to merchant runs, it got stale quick. The loot is plenty and almost every island you sail to, you’ll find a stash of “exquisite” paintings, bottles of rum, and a logbook. But for the commendations, which most pirates aim for, you are forced to do the smuggler’s run voyages. Depending on the area of the map you’re in, the voyages are identical to one another.
At a certain point, it’s tiring to sail back and forth from Crescent Isle to Smuggler’s Bay. It’s easy, yes, but the great part about Sea of Thieves is the large, open map. It’s the same reason many players are deterred from doing the story missions five times over for a commendation. If Smuggler’s League was a genuine representative where you could earn something more than guild rep, I think it would be more enticing. But we are playing a pirate game after all, is this not smuggling to begin with? The one positive I would say that came out of S17 is the excess of guild rep. As someone relatively new to guilds, I have been cruising up levels selling Smuggler’s loot.
Rowboats
I have to make this a separate section just for the rant I am about to go on. I hate how there’s only one type of rowboat in existence. This simple, yet extremely noticeable fact, prevents me from achieving other commendations with rowboats. I understand before this season, it was still difficult to find specific liveries of rowboats. One commendation of the new season of Sea of Thieves requires you to latch ten of the new rowboats onto your ship. Okay, and then what? What am I supposed to do after I’ve attached all of these rowboats? Just give up?
You got me; this whole section wasn’t just about the lack of rowboats. In fact, it exposes a much larger issue with the game itself, which honestly could have a post of its own. This issue is the difficulty in achieving past commendations. For example, a commendation in Mercenary Voyages asks the players to turn in 50 Humble and 50 Generous gifts. Since starting to play regularly again last season, I have seen neither of these in-game. I have only heard from whispers that they still exist somewhere in the Sea of Thieves. Since season 17, I haven’t seen a rowboat other than those belonging to the new event. Rare, I beg of you, please let us do said commendations from previous seasons.
Is that it?
Really? Is that really it? A re-skinned merchant run voyage, failure to allow players the ability to achieve former commendations (which has existed for several seasons), and “community events” to make up for everything else lacking? I’m extremely disappointed in Rare for this product they’ve given the dedicated player base. I have seen incredible concepts and ideas regarding a new boss fight, or new weaponry and tools, or different types of voyages. Yet all we received on our end was a, excuse me, half-assed modified former season presented as brand new. If this is a future look at what’s to come in future seasons, I recommend Rare employees to start something new.
I had a lot of fun in the beginning, as someone who never played these merchant reskinned voyages. However, I can see how the community at large has a deep hatred for S17. There are valid complaints from all over from reddit to the game chat itself. While I have enjoyed watching my guild, “White Tip Monkeys”, climb in guild rep, it just isn’t enough to validate the mess this season has caused.
If you’re considering playing Sea of Thieves, wait a few more months. For now, season 17 is a disaster.