Islands to explore, quests to take
Start on Gullhaven Isle, a small island of beaches, a lighthouse and a harbour town, for levels 1 to 5. Then take the ferry south-east to Tidecrown Isle and Port Sovereign, its walled capital, with the Canefields, Blackwater Fens and the cursed ruins of Fort Ashcombe beyond (levels 6 to 10).
Quest givers wear a “!”, the world map shows where to hand in, and the rest is yours to find. Walk into the taverns, shops and smithies: the buildings are open and furnished.
Classic combat, your own build
Tab-target combat in the old style: auto-attack, a global cooldown, cast bars, interrupts, and rules for range, facing and line of sight.
There are no classes. Each level gives you a talent point to spend in any of five branches: Swordsman, Marksman, Doctor, Bruiser or Craftsman. Go deep in one or mix two, and respec for free in port.
Ships that need a crew
One of you takes the wheel and sets the sails while the others man the port and starboard batteries. Every broadside is aimed by hand: put the circle on the water, lead the target, fire, and watch the balls land.
Patch the leaks and mend the rigging between volleys. Enemy ships are crewed too: shoot down a gunner and that battery goes quiet. When an enemy ship sinks, her survivors swim over and climb aboard to fight you on your own deck.
Adventures for your crew
Sail out, gather your party at the chart table and set course. You and your crew enter a private instance: salvage a wreck at Wreck Cove, hunt the pirate brigantine Black Gull, or storm the smugglers' fort on Rumrunner's Rock.
Everything in an adventure is elite, so come with at least one friend. Leave whenever you like and you're back where you set out.
Day, night and weather
Everyone shares one clock: a full day passes in about two hours, with long golden sunsets and a half-hour night that is blue and moonlit, never black. Lanterns and windows light up after dark.
Every area has its own music, and the music changes when cannons start firing. Weather that differs from place to place is next on the list, and adventures will bring their own storms.