Plain sailing through the Skull and Bones final closed beta

thesixthaxis.com:

Skull and Bones has been through a lot. Born from the success of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, there was demand for a fully-fledged pirate game using the same style of high seas adventuring, but as it beset by delays and production issues, the game seemed permanently stuck in development hell. Now, some ten years on from Edward Kenway’s adventure, Skull and Bones is finally less than two months from release, and we’ve finally gone hands on with the game during its final closed beta.

With access granted to Skull and Bones’ opening six hours, things open with a battle against a fleet of ships, a battle you are destined to lose no matter how many British ships you sink. Once you get through that you find yourself floating on some driftwood, which in turn becomes the character creation screen as you stare deep into a puddle. That could easily have been the end of your newly created person, just floating until you dehydrate, drown or get eaten by a shark, but you’re luckily rescued by a couple of other pirates on a tiny dhow. You’re immediately made captain of the ship, armed with little more than spears and a can-do attitude, meaning that everything in the sea poses a legitimate threat. Even sharks.

Once you find land, you’re introduced to various other key elements, like accepting missions, combat, and gathering resources. With the basics under your rope belt, you’re then given leave to head for the open waters of the Indian Ocean. Arriving at the first pirate den in your dhow, you’re off to a decidedly humble start, with every other NPC pirate making fun of you. Then again, you have no reputation behind you and a rubbish ship, both of which you need to immediately rectify.

To build your first ocean-worthy ship you need