Sea of Thieves is a new type of multiplayer game set in a beautiful sandbox, fully equipped with all you need to live the pirate life. From the get-go, you have the freedom to explore a shared world, full of action and adventure. Whether you're setting sail solo, as a daring duo or with a group of friends, you'll encounter other crews on your journey. But will they be friendly or keen on plundering your loot? How will you respond?
The Ships
There are 2 ship options to choose from: The 3-4-player Galleon or 1-2-man Sloop. Sea of Thieves is very much a multiplayer game, but you have single-player options. If you want to set sail on your own, you can do so via the smaller Sloops, but the real fun comes when you're part of a larger crew. If you want to have fun with others, you can either play with three of your friends or join with strangers. Just make sure you have game chat turned on because you'll need to communicate throughout your journey.
The Galleon is designed for four crew members. Equipped with 8 cannons, (four on each side), it's an absolute powerhouse. You can certainly avoid a broadside volley, particularly if you're in a Sloop! As a result, it is also harder to sail. With three sails, it needs a coordinated crew to handle her effectively. You will need to raise, lower and tack all three sails to get the most out of the wind, and the anchor takes a lot more time to raise. With two lower decks, it's also a tougher job to fix on the go. But that also means more places to hide your treasure! The holes in the bottom deck fill up fast, and you will need to bail water out from the top of the ship. It's best to have some roles dished out to the crew, so everyone knows what they are doing in the heat of battle.
The Sloop is much smaller and a lot more underpowered than its bigger cousin. Equipped with only one cannon on each side, you will need to use all your cunning to take on a Galleon. With only one sail, it's much easier to navigate, but it lacks the speed with the wind. Your advantage here, however, is maneuverability. It has a much sharper turning arc than that of the Galleon, and if you need to escape, it sails faster into the wind. Don't be ashamed to make a slow getaway!
The Art of Sailing Together as a Crew
Getting used to sailing can be a bit tricky for newcomers--especially on a Galleon. Don't worry though. It's very intuitive, so it won't take long to get the hang of it. But here are a few tips for the new sailor:
Don't Get Too Close to Land – Some water can be deceivingly shallow, so be careful when venturing into unknown areas. You don't want to accidentally wreck the deck beneath the waves. It's worth trimming the sails to come in nice and slow, and don't forget to ask a crew mate to keep an eye out for shallows and reefs! You don't want to forget to drop anchor either.
Extinguish Lanterns – At night, the light from your lanterns are visible from miles away. In some circumstances you may need the light, such as in storms, but they can often attract unwanted attention. This is especially problematic if your ship is full of treasure!
Keep a Look out – If you have treasure worth guarding, it's a good idea to keep a brave crew member up in the crow's nest on top of the main masts. They'll get a bird's eye view on the horizon and spot any incoming ships…or of course, an unwary victim to your pirating ways! Muahahaha.
Raise Sails When Docked – Sails that are down are visible on the horizon, revealing your position to watchful eyes.
Aim Low – Aim for the water line or just below it. You want to hit the lower deck so that the enemy ship starts taking on water. Hitting the top of the ship may net the chance to hit one of their crew, but it won't sink their ship.
Angle Sails – You'll get a visual and audible cue when your sails catch the wind. They will billow out, and you'll hear a triumphant tone. Trust me when I say you'll know when all sails catch the wind. When in pursuit or evading a ship, it all comes down to how well each crew can sail.
Don’t forget, you can get a swash buckling 20% exclusive cash back on Sea of Thieves from Microsoft Store, as well as 4% on all other video games and the Xbox One X!
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