Solo experience

[Morda]

I have been eyeballing this game for a long time, because I love old world ship games.

I really dislike multiplayer and when I read the description it made me sad because the game looks amazing. I searched forums for "solo" but still have some questions.

If I plan on playing this game 100% solo:
1) what type of experience can I expect to have? Will I be able to enjoy exploration, trading, and battling to the fullest?

2) what experiences would I be missing out on that can only be found in multiplayer? I mean strictly game-wise. I understand I wont be part of a massive armada with my friends fighting a faction of other players and that I would miss out on dealing with other people in other friedly and un friendly ways...but I do mean strictly game-content wise.

[Nauya]

1. Exploration and Trading you can definitely enjoy to their fullest. With battling you will also get the full experience albeit with a few things missing, see point 2. For battling though, It might be a bit difficult at first since AI are usually not as hardy as a well built player or as smart. But once you get the hang of things and learn to hire the AI and order them around, you can manage. There's actually quite a bit of solo players in the 200-300+ level range these days. Also, playing through the game solo will take much longer, so in a sense, you get elongated content, whether or not that's a good thing is entirely up to you.

2. The only experiences you'll really be missing is fighting against Pirate Kings and Dragons. They're specific to Multiplayer only. Right now, fighting a Dragon is the only way to obtain elemental ammo for your ship, but the dev is planning on adding another way for players who don't go on servers to get those ammunition types.

Also as a side note, lots of multiplayer servers have custom factions that give you special benefits. But you CAN make your own custom factions in your own game, so that won't really be a problem.

[Fhionnuisce]

I am a solo player 100% and have now 420 talent points. This game is ever changing - I have had some amazingly tough battles, and once you get up in the talent points you will have Pirate Lords and Dread Lords to deal with. Sometimes two Pirate Lords protecting their Dread Lord, in addition to the Captains jumping in the fray. You will also be able to summon other ships, but that is iffy as they may appear on the opposite side of the land from where you are. The trading and questing is to gain you money and supplies, pick up floating barrels and boxes for needed equipment, crew and supplies. Establish towns and develop them or existing towns through trade/quests to their max limit will make the supplies better; also, once you have grown the town to the max size, you can buy better ships, or upgrade your equipment/crew. The trading/questing part gets a little boring to me sometimes, but then again some lands are more profitable than others and I have my favorite lands I default to for trade. There will be sudden raids by pirates in the lands once conquered. As you progress in talent points, you will have a Pirate Lord appear consistently, randomly as your nemesis to battle. You can always go to an instance of questing/trading only or combat to make money/points, as well as heroic battles (not done this yet). The more talent points you get the more intense it gets. Some days a lot of frustration and beat your head on the desk - where did they come from?????? Arrrggghhhh! Sometimes you have to consider an alternative way to conquer if the traditional way isn't working. Strategy, thinking out of the box, determination are all necessary. Some lands I don't get killed, in others have had 40 deaths......

I build my own lands and make them as difficult as I like - though the starting lands only go up to level 39. Taught myself most of it and I have never gamed until last year.

Hope you like it as much as I do. There is a lot of thought to it if you want, or just battle - up to you.

[Crystal Rose]

@ MordaRazgrom! I usually play Windward solo and do a lot of trading. There are PvP (Player versus Player) areas. The game has 4 Bot ships that keep watch over their domain (their maps). Every room or map has the 4 Bot ships, and they are harmless. (I tried to blow up one of those little buggers just for fun...Nothing!) Anyway, the 4 Bot ships will leave you alone untill you except the 'Smuggle' request found in the seal letters. Once you're on a 'Smuggling' quest, the 4 Bot ships will view your ship as an enemy, (as if you were a Pirate Ship and they'll try to sink your ship). Then the fun begins trying to either ditch or blow up the 4 Bot ships and arrive safely to your destination with the goodies intact!
Personally I LOVE the game. There's LOTS of trading with cities and neighboring cities...And yes, There's Pirates! Eventually somewhere in the game, you're ship will be toast from either a PvP battle or from a Smuggling mission.
If you're looking for just an old fashion ship trading game, Windward might not be the game for you. The water's can be dangerous at times! Hope that helps you out. Happy Gaming!

[ruler]

I've played this game solo for about 100 hours. Well worth it. There's just something about sailing around doing trading that is extremely relaxing. The combat also doesn't get old.

[Morda]

One day I shall delve! Currently my Sunless Sea scratches my itch of sailing. Although combat in this game looks quite a bit better

[Wafflesaurus Supreme]

Originally posted by MordaRazgrom:

One day I shall delve! Currently my Sunless Sea scratches my itch of sailing. Although combat in this game looks quite a bit better

I have a gift copy or two in my inventory. If you want to check it out, just send me an add.

[Morda]

that is exceptionally kind of you! I can absolutely totally afford it, so it would be better to give the copy to someone who has money issues. I already have 300+ games in my Steam, it is just a matter of time of waiting and not succumbing to "I MUST HAVE ALL THE THINGS NAO" gamer addiction that I have :D

Again, you are very kind and I greatly appreciate it!

[Wafflesaurus Supreme]

Ah cool. Well don't forget that you can view public Broadcasts (the tab at the top of the page) to check out gameplay for free and ask any questions real-time.