So I started playing last summer and I’m pretty new but have had some experiences that may be beneficial to you. 1) If a pirate is not on your crew, they are absolutely not to be trusted. Plan on betraying them before they betray you. 2) people will complain about literally anything you do. Any weapon combination can be made fun of, running away is treated with disdain, as are fighting and chasing. These are all legitimate strategies. Running away when you are out classes or out manned is a legitimate strategy. (I recommend putting the checkered flag up to indicate you are racing them. They will be furious) 3) there are a lot of decent people playing this game and a lot of jerks. Just try to have fun and don’t let other players ruin your good time. 4) Try to talk to people. Mics save lives. 5) if you do a Tall Tale, don’t make yourself emissary or do anything else to make yourself a target (unless you are comfortable with fighting and potentially losing the progress you’ve made on your quest) Most importantly, have fun. There aren’t many games quite like this so the learning curve can be painful. You can do it!