PA:

Good job with Olvia Academy, and especially with the new zone, Bumblin' Buccaneers.  They're a playful lot whose vibe matches the tongue-in-cheek humor of this game that hooked me as soon as I encountered it years ago.  It's cool that Balenos has a spot to grind that has a little merit to it... (for anyone really, as newbs can run straight to Serendia, to Calpehon to Valencia and beyond.....), and lets players revisit their beginning stomping grounds with fresh fun.  Please, do continue to breathe new life into the original areas of the game.  There is so much talent and time invested in these spots, and they are the most detailed and living, and therefore most enjoyable, places in the game.  It's nice to be able to hang in places and have your time be somewhat rewarded.

One critique:  This zone is probably designed with players fresh from season graduation in mind: full PEN Tuvala is no good for this area, unless you have a S grade class (Man I wish classes were balanced).  My sister was playing with me last night, and as she is not as devoted to this game as I am, she brought a character with PEN Tuvala, and struggled.  Awakened Nova was her character, and perhaps it was due to that.  I was using Succession Valkyrie, but I had 313 AP, and 400+ DP, so, I got by.  Still, Succession Valk is a wallflower: she is nothing compared to Seraph, which is exaclty what I hoped Valkyrie was, when I made mine years ago........

So, as most of the vets have done Olvia Academy and might not ever go back again, perhaps you could lower the requirements for this zone?  250 AP is not quite Tuvala.......  and this is Olvia..........

Still I have had tons of fun here already, and hope to stop by from time to time in the future.  You did a good job here.  Side note: A lot of the monsters in starting zones have life and purpose to them.... they're not just standing in packs waiting to be killed, as all monsters are since Kamasylvia and Dreighan......  Bring them to life and have them doing things: talking, walking around........ breathe life back into the stale monster herds.

Thanks!

Oh, and do me a solid: I'm not having anything to do with Edania until you eliminate AP caps and stop forcing players to play in certain areas.  Give us our freedom, and we will play this game and perhaps spend more money, since they'll be having fun....  Thanks!

Peace and Freedom to all

Yeah, I took a character with PEN Tuvala gear through the Academy because I wanted to see it from the perspective of a new player just out of Season.  The first part of the Buccanneers was a grind, but doable.  Then came the part where you have to go further in to find the map.  I died at least three times on my way to get to it.  The Buccanners are definitely overpowered if they're meant to be scaled for newer players and characters, as is much of the Academy combat line.  For most of the remaining Academy quests, I had to swap to better-geared characters to complete them.

Maybe Academy content should be considered more as "aspirational"?  For new players especially, it's supposed to guide and encourage character growth. Tuvala is just the start.

And aren't there PEN boss armor and PEN capotia accessories and PEN blackstar weapon giveaways (enough of these even to create at least one sovereign weapon)?

So yes, better gear of all sorts beyond entry level is reasonable to expect.  As is expanding game knowledge and experience. How long do you think is reasonable to get to the point where completing academy quests is almost trivial?

What you describe actually sounds on target. Which is saying something in this game nowadays.

I did the quests with a pen tuvala character and didn't have issues. That could have been because of better crystals I guess, but it was in no way a struggle. 

Excpet it is desinged around the free crap PA has handed out, the 1 peice of TRI Slumbering, the PEN Blackstars, the PEN kharazad, the easy single Adventure Log.

With all the catchup crap they have givin to all accouunts (especialy new ones) its not as bad as you try to make it out.

True, but the free crap comes at the end of the questline, no?

From the perspective of a new player with no extra buffs, crystals, etc to fall back on, It must be kinda discouraging.  Wait..... nevermind, new players probably do get a PEN Blackstar when they get to level 60..... or 61, which is so insanely easy on Season servers..........

I guess my point is a bit moot, but still, these guys are insanely tanky.  My level 62 Seraph with 300+ AP slogs through them.  Due to those cursed AP caps, of course.

Man, I want that removed soooooo badly........

Free the players, PA!  Remove all PVE AP caps.  They're pointless.  If you don't want players making too much money, too fast, lower the drop amounts of trash loot.

I have to agree with OP, Pirate DP is WAY overtuned...

Hystria, Aakman, Pila Ku, hell even Gyfin (Upper) all have enemies that are noticeably less tanky. Turos and Gyfin Underground are the only two places the academy quests send player that have ttankier enemies... and we won't mention the meh  drops rates, with no bonuses.

I can literally go to Roud Sulphur Mine, kill 4k in the same time it takes me to get through 1k Academy Pirates.... that's just silly