Rethinking the Seasonal Reset in Skull and Bones
After investing over a hundred hours in building my Kingpin empire, I've found immense satisfaction in the journey. From leveling up all my Red Isle bases to setting up efficient collection routes, every moment has been a thrill. However, as the seasonal reset approaches, I can't help but feel a sense of unease.
The thought of losing all my hard-earned progress and upgrades in one fell swoop doesn't sit right with me. It's like experiencing a sudden mutiny across the seas every three months, leaving me scrambling to rebuild my empire. What's worse is seeing my meticulously acquired upgrades vanish into thin air, as if some rogue pirate has torched my paperwork.
Take, for example, the investment in upgrading smuggler skills to increase progress earned during hostile takeovers. Why bother spending thousands of Po8 on this route when the upgrades disappear with each season reset? (The economic balance between Po8 and Skull and Bones Silver is very important and hopefully a more reasonable adjustment will be given.) It's a discouraging cycle that undermines the sense of accomplishment.
Moreover, unlocking different Gins and Rums hardly seems worth it, considering the minimal increase in pay compared to the effort required. The disparity in rewards makes the grind feel more like a chore than an adventure.
The prospect of repeating the 100-hour grind every three months for a handful of new weapons or skins is disheartening. And even when new items are introduced, they often fail to offer a significant advantage over existing high-tier weapons. It's a stale loop that lacks excitement beyond the initial playthrough.
To remedy this, there needs to be a reevaluation of the in-game economy. Either the prices of new Skull and Bones items should reflect the vast empires players have built, or alternative methods of earning Po8 should be introduced. The current system feels like a one-sided exchange, where players do all the work while Kingpins like Scurlock reap the benefits without lifting a finger.
Mercenary missions, for instance, offer paltry rewards for the time invested, further exacerbating the imbalance. It's crucial to provide players with a sense of accomplishment commensurate with their efforts, especially considering the seasonal nature of the game.
While catering to new players is essential for the longevity of the game, it shouldn't come at the expense of veteran players' hard-earned progress. Starting late in a season shouldn't condemn players to perpetual catch-up, but rather offer a pathway to meaningful progression.
As I prepare to embark on another Po8 run with my trusty brigantine, the UPS Deliverer, I remain hopeful for future updates and improvements. With the right adjustments, Skull and Bones has the potential to offer a truly rewarding and immersive experience on the high seas.
MMOexp Skull and Bones Team