[Traveller]

There is an absolute shit load.

I thought there was enough to be getting on with, but I just took a fort, and now have Naval missions to do as well.

And the diving bell opens up more areas with chests etc. Not progressed much with the main story but downloaded app for phone which lets you manage your fleet and archived stuff. I made a good 10k reales which I picked up next time I went on the PS3.

It's a bit irksome that I can't get a more piratey outfit. The Captain Morgan and Legend are pre-order bonuses, and I wasn't expecting the game to be this good so I missed out there. I'm having to stick to the whaler outfit as it's the only one that doesn't have the silly hood stuck on to it.

I'd love to see this on Ps4 now as it really is one of the most beautiful natural landscapes I've seen in a game, since Red Dead I think.

[Aptorian]

Been exploring the high seas and fighting endless naval battles in Assassins Creed all evening.

When you reach wanted level 4 and you run into a naval convoy while having 3 Hunter ships on your tail, you risk getting into an endless loop of fighting and boarding. I find myself getting surrounded by ships, beating most of them, then boarding one of them to use for repairs, then when the boarding session is over, new Hunter ships have arrived and the combat begins a new. There is something a bit terrifying about managing to defeat a Man O'War, boarding it, coming back onto the sea and there's ANOTHER Man O'War, right there and look! He brought 2 frigates with him. That's when you run for it, spot a smaller group of brigs and attack them to use for repairs while you mortar the Man O'war and start strafing it from a far while trying to avoid the insane broad sides they launch at you.

I think I managed to capture 6 Man O'wars in the course of maybe an hours play. The most epic moment was when I stormed the last hostile seafort and as I was clearing the place of collectibles a Hunter Man O'war and a frigate sail up to the fort even as a big storm hits the sea. Now the fort is firing at this GIGANTIC Man O'War (It seems even bigger when you are standing high up on a fort and the sails still continue up into the heavens), while rogue waves are battering the ships and freaking lightning bolts hits the smaller frigate. Meanwhile my own ship is just being pushed around like a rubber duck in a bath tub. I jump down the side of a wall. Use a row boat to teleport into my ship and leave harbor. Then I manoveaur the Man O'War in between the Fort on the coast and my ship out to sea. That bastard went down in less than 10 seconds. Boarded it and added it to my fleet. Son of a bitch has a cargo hold of 90, must be the biggest Man O'war I've captured yet.

I am still trying to find the last couple of Elite upgrades for the ship, then I am coming for the four Legendary ships.

Currently the 400th or so deadliest pirate in my region. I wonder what it takes to be number 1.

This post has been edited by Crustaceous Apt: 29 November 2013 - 08:45 PM

[Traveller]

I do love games where the combination of good environmental factors, enemy/Npc AI and game physics make memorable moments of goodness. Those storms are awesome.

Ran into a Legendary Ship earlier. I got a few shots in, but since apart from the hull I don't have any Elite upgrades, they didn't do a whole lot, so I left sharpish.

It did look awesome coming out of the fog like that though.

[Aptorian]

Oh god. I just realised something that completely changes the naval combat.

I've been miss-using those quick precession shots you can take at ships after you've given them a broadside. I thought you had to press and hold the button for each shot you take but apparently you can just keep the button held down and the cannon auto targets and does all the shots in rapid succession.

THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!

I mean, I was kicking ass before, but now I am just crushing ships like they were wooden toys. I can even go toe to toe with the Man O'wars as long as I don't too close to them.

[Traveller]

I've been pressing and holding until it flashes, then firing, then it lines up another target.

So if you keep holding, it goes through each on auto?

I don't know of that's good or bad. But then I wish there was some canister shot for sweeping decks, and more decks to fight through to take the ship.

My crew only seem to die if I shoot a barrel near them, or if I take a stupidly long time to clear the deck.

[Silencer]

@Traveller - why bother with PS4 version when the high end PC graphics are better? XD
The game does look pretty good on computer. Still has the AC issue of slightly underwhelming texture quality, but I guess that's the trade off for them working on consoles on such a scale... mind you, my computer doesn't even blink trying to run the game on Max settings. XD

Definitely agree there should have been the option to fire different ammo. Especially would have liked to be able to fire round shot from my bow chasers. It's little stuff like that which I miss from the likes of Pirates. Possibly even more than the ability to use a different ship.

But the game is fun regardless. I need to progress the main story a bit more.

And did I mention that the Captain Morgan outfit makes me badass?

[Traveller]

Apart from the prissy shoes apparently, but I haven't seen it so I wouldn't know!

I guess we shouldn't complain too much about ammo, at least they included some variety which is more than i expected from an AC game.

Ship battles were all about the strategy though, so yes it would be nice to be able to use chain to cripple, and round to sink, with the wind being taken into account a bit more.

Best bit about Pirates! was hunting for a new Flagship, then stuffing it with crew and cannons. I don't miss the morale meter though. I used to have to take the crew on suicidal land missions to wittle them down and improve their share just to keep them happy.

This post has been edited by Traveller: 30 November 2013 - 01:23 PM

[Aptorian]

Just a heads up if you're collecting the Mayan stones for the bulletproof armor in AC4. You wont be able to complete the set before you reach act 10.

It was driving me mad looking for that last stone. I scoured every island and diving spot before I gave up. It always annoys me when they hide stuff inside closed off story areas. On the upside the armor looks badass.

Also it annoys me that they don't give you the rope dart before sequence 11. Most of the game is over now. I could have used it in a ton of places. The whole "GET OVER HERE" mechanic is fun though. That might be why they didn't give it to you earlier because it breaks the tougher enemies defence.

This post has been edited by Crustaceous Apt: 30 November 2013 - 02:52 PM

[Traveller]

Have you got the Templar armor yet?

[Aptorian]

Yes, I got that early on since it's pretty straight forward to get it. Just do the 4 assassin story chains.

I don't like it though. It's too bulky and the collar that envelopes Kenways neck is ugly. It makes sense, given the extra protection that it gives, but I don't like the look of it.

EDIT: About the elite ships. I will spoiler this in case you want your experience with them to be fresh:

Spoiler

I defeated the Elite ship up in the right corner. Wasn't too hard. It's two Man O'Wars that are extra tough to fight.

Then I tried the Elite ship in the upper left corner and got utterly destroyed. It's a big fat Man O'War that moves super fast and rams you with the mother of all cleavers as a prow. If you try to keep your distance it sprays you to death with cannon balls. I had no idea a ship could contain that many cannons let alone fire them like a hornets nest.

I am staying away from that bastard for the time being.

This post has been edited by Crustaceous Apt: 30 November 2013 - 07:39 PM

[Traveller]

The one I ran into was South East. I'm quite looking forward to taking them on once I get the upgrades.

I wonder if the tactic of staying off the stern to one side and following it round will work on the Legendaries.

[Aptorian]

The one in the left corner felt too fast to me but I almost had it this one time where I was sort keeping on its tail and just firing broadsides up its ass.

[Silencer]

They are meant to be overpowered, apparently. XD

@apt - do you have the elite upgrade for the swivels? According to the description, that's what allows you to fire at continuous points by holding the button. XD

[Aptorian]

Ah that explains it. Just thought I was obtuse.

My ship has 100% upgrades now. It's a bit of a beast but those elite ships are humbling.

[Traveller]

I found a Giant Squid.

If you find a wreck with a whale circling it, go inside the wreck with the tentacles sticking out of it...

This post has been edited by Traveller: 01 December 2013 - 04:19 PM

[Gothos]

Bioshock Infinite is amazing

[Morgoth]

Gothos, on 01 December 2013 - 09:42 PM, said:

Bioshock Infinite is amazing

Isn't it just.

I wish I could play it for the first time again.

[Satan]

Gothos, on 01 December 2013 - 09:42 PM, said:

Bioshock Infinite is amazing

I really wasn't that amazed by it. Granted, my computer is really a notch to old to play it and I've never been that impressed by the previous Bioshock games. But still, apart from the rail zipping system (which was nifty, but hardly revolutionary) and the colour palette, I just don't see the great appeal. Also, the voice acting was mediocre. I dd not feel any form of connection between Booker and ...that girl (?). And the ending is overrated.

[Rictus]

Gothos, on 01 December 2013 - 09:42 PM, said:

Bioshock Infinite is amazing

I found the combat atrocious. Enemies grew in strength with you and couldn't ever be easily dispatched. The lengthy encounters always bothered me for breaking the pace of the plot. A few minutes of "wow", then be set upon by a Handyman or whatever. The best example of this was when they had taken Elizabeth into that asylum-like building. Booker was screaming, 'I'm coming!' And he did, after having battled for five minutes or so to get there. Well, maybe I'm just a crappy marksman.

[Morgoth]

If you've ever played the Vanguard role in ME2 and/or 3 you will understand how to make combat in BI last for a fraction of its intended time.