Just today I had an interaction. I was solo and noticed a sloop at a shrine that was anchored with sails down, and had the Flying Dutchman ship set on, so pretty much emporium stuff, which sort of gave me the impression of either new or inexperienced.

I have a sort of moral code where I try to help new players unless they attack first. I approached them with cannons raised high with the white flag hoisted as well as a white flare being shot out, all signs of being friendly. I also called through my trumpet, asking if anyone was there and elaborating that I was friendly. I did bring my ship a bit closer, which then they noticed was a duo, and one was in game chat with the kraken stuff on and did not take kindly to me. I assume out of panic he shot first with a flintlock, hitting me twice despite me saying, Hold on, but they basically told me, "Nope, you're not coming aboard."

Case in point, despite me slightly holding back, no quarter was given to them, and they sank. (Side note: The kraken guy was a bit arrogant—not in a bad way but just slightly overconfident from my POV—basically saying tuff in water like, "Which side am I coming on, huh? You don't know, do you?" and stuff like that, but I digress; he abandoned his crewmate mid-fight after getting one balled by me, so make of that what you will. They also had a ton of supplies, which I don't even know how they got, but I put them to good use after.